Tenor Lay Clerk
1 week ago
**Job Title**: Tenor Lay Clerk (Fixed Term Contract)
**Location**: Durham Cathedral
**Hours**: 14.5 hours per week
**Salary**: In the region of £20,000 per annum
Durham Cathedral Choir consists of up to 48 Choristers, (boys and girls singing in alternation), 6 Choral Scholars and 6 Lay Clerks. The Choir sings the daily Cathedral services during Choir term. The Choir performs a wide, exciting and varying repertoire extending from plainsong works written in Durham eight centuries ago to works written in the last ten years, including works commissioned especially for the Cathedral. It also appears regularly in concerts, in both the Cathedral and elsewhere. The Choir also tours from time to time.
Durham, with its thriving University, its magnificent setting, and its historic background has much to offer as a place to settle: a busy musical and cultural life, with Newcastle very close (14 miles), and such centres as York, Edinburgh and London all quickly reached by train. The Cathedral Choir is a happy and sociable team whose comradeship extends well outside the Choir stalls.
The post is fixed term for the academic year in the first instance, running from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 inclusive. Should the Cathedral be in the position to extend the contract, the Lay Clerkship will be reviewed at the end of the academic year, with continued membership of the choral foundation being dependent on satisfactory performance.
**Safeguarding**
This post involves Regulated Activity with children.
Durham Cathedral is committed to safeguarding. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. For further details, please refer to our Safeguarding Policy Statement.
**Shortlisting date**: Tuesday 18th June 2024
**Interview date**:Monday 24th June 2024
**Preferred start date**: Sunday 1st September 2024
Lay Clerks sing eight services per week across six days:
**Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday**
4.55 - 5.20 Practice
5.30 - 6.10 Evensong
**Friday (Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars only on Fridays)**
4.45 - 5.20 Practice
5.30 - 6.10 Evensong
**Saturday**
4.55 - 5.20 Practice
5.30 - 6.15 Evensong
**Sunday**
9.05 - 9.50 Practice
10.00 - 10.45 Matins
11.15 - 12.30 Sung Eucharist
3.00 - 3.20 Practice
3.30 - 4.30 Evensong
Monday is usually a day off. If Evensong is sung by the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars only on a different day then the Friday timetable is used. The Cathedral reserves the right to amend the days and times that Lay Clerks are required to sing.
There are normally no commitments for Lay Clerks outside Choir terms, which are the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation (DCSF) term-times together with extensions up to Easter Sunday, to the second Sunday in July, and to Evensong on Christmas Day. In addition, there is occasionally a period of a few days before the start of the DCSF Epiphany term during which services are sung by the lower voices. Depending on the date of Easter, it is sometimes necessary to divide the Easter holiday into two separate periods. The Choral Scholars are not normally present in September, or sometimes also at the start of the Epiphany and Easter Terms, depending on the dates of University Terms. The Choral Scholars do however stay in residence until the end of each choir term. There is a half term break (normally a long week-end) during each term.
This section outlines the requirements and qualities the post-holder needs in order to fulfil the post. These are divided into ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria. ‘Essential’ criteria are those that the post-holder absolutely must have in order to do the job; that is the job cannot be done without those qualities. ‘Desirable’ criteria are those qualities that would be either useful, an advantage or preferable to have in order to do the job or those which can be trained to do; that is the job can be done without those qualities.
**Essential Criteria**:
GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English
Well-developed singing voice with a good range and tone
Significant experience of singing in a choir or vocal group
Knowledge of safeguarding practices
Able to read music
Strong sight-reading ability
Able to work as part of a team
Confident performer, both as a soloist and with a choir
Reliable, punctual and organised, smartness of appearance
Professional manner, suitable for working with children and adults
In sympathy with the mission and ministry of the Cathedral and St John’s College*
Willing to carry out the lay clerkship flexibly
**Desirable Criteria**:
Singing qualification (ABRSM or equivalent)
Experience of singing for services in an Anglican church
Knowledge of Anglican church repertoire
- *While it is not a requirement of the role to be a communicant member of the Church of England, the Assistant Organist and Director of Music at St John’s College will conduct and play for services so it is essential that the role holder is in sympathy with Christian worship._
**Job Type**: Part-time
Pay:
