Roles:
- Director of Youth and Community Choruses
- Big Sing Choir Director (Please note that these roles can be separate or combined)
Reporting to: Head of Learning and Participation
Contract: Temporary freelance contract from September 2025 to July 2026 inclusive
Fees:
Role 1: Director of Youth and Community Choruses
- Youth & Community Chorus Fee £8,000
- Professional Chorus (Macbeth) £5,000
Role 2: Big Sing Project Fee £3,400
In all cases fees are inclusive of any travel expenses.
Location: Within a 15-mile radius around Longborough, on-site at Longborough Festival Opera, and in London.
About the role
We are seeking a highly skilled, experienced, and enthusiastic individual to work with our Youth Chorus, Community Chorus, and Professional Chorus. Our Youth Chorus will perform in Hansel and Gretel in 2026, and our Community Chorus and Professional Chorus will perform in Macbeth in 2026. This role may also include directing our new and exciting Big Sing Project.
Due to the nature of these roles, you will often be required to work evenings and weekends.
About Longborough Festival Opera
Longborough Festival Opera is a registered charity, with an intimate, 500-seat purpose-built opera house, overlooking spectacular views in the Cotswolds. Every summer, we present a critically acclaimed festival that has an ever-growing local, national, and international reputation for audacity and ambition. In 2024, we produced Wagner's epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, heralding an exciting time of development and broadening ambition as we approach our 30th anniversary of opera on this site in 2027.
We also run a year-round programme of community education and participation activities, including in-school music making, the Longborough Youth Chorus, the Longborough Community Chorus and our Playground Opera, interactive versions of classic operas touring in schools.
Founded by Martin & Lizzie Graham, the family spirit continues at Longborough, with daughter and acclaimed director Polly Graham, who joined in 2018 as Artistic Director. In 2024 Emily Gottlieb joined as Executive Director, bringing a wealth of experience from her time at the National Opera Studio and Royal Opera House. Longborough is at an exciting time of development with many strategic aspirations and plans.
Role 1 : Director of Youth and Community Choruses
Youth Chorus:
You will be responsible for directing and leading the youth chorus, fostering a love for music, and developing the vocal skills of young singers aged range from 7 to 21. This role involves selecting repertoire, conducting performances, and mentoring youth in vocal techniques and musicianship, and in coaching and conducting the Youth Chorus towards performance in a professional production at LFO.
Key Responsibilities:
- Rehearsal Direction: - Conduct and play for regular rehearsals (Sunday afternoons), ensuring an engaging and productive environment. - Teach vocal techniques, breathing exercises, and music theory to enhance singers' skills. - Develop warm-up routines that promote vocal health and confidence.
- Repertoire Selection: - Working together with the Artistic Director and the Head of Learning and Participation to curate a diverse and age-appropriate repertoire that challenges and inspires young singers.
- Performance Coordination: - Prepare the youth chorus for concerts and community events. - Collaborate with other musicians and organizations for joint performances.
- Mentorship and Development: - Provide individual feedback and support to singers, encouraging personal growth and teamwork. - Create a positive and inclusive atmosphere that fosters collaboration and respect among chorus members
- Community Engagement: - Promote the youth chorus within the community and encourage participation. - Develop outreach programs to involve underrepresented youth in music.
Professional and Community Choruses:
You will have a strong background in theatre and opera, a love for community engagement, and the ability to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. This role is responsible for coaching and conducting the Community and Professional Choruses towards a performance in a professional production at LFO.
Key responsibilities:
- Conduct Rehearsals: Lead regular rehearsals, ensuring proper vocal technique, musicianship, and teamwork among chorus members. Rehearsals for the Professional chorus take place in London, and the Community Chorus will rehearse locally to Longborough Festival Opera.
- Performance Preparation: Prepare the chorus to participate in Macbeth at Longborough Festival Opera, ensuring all members are confident and well-rehearsed.
- Education and Mentorship: Provide vocal coaching and mentorship to chorus members, helping them to develop their skills and confidence.
Role 2 : Big Sing Project Director
Longborough Festival Opera is committed to promoting the joy of singing and enhancing musical education in schools. We believe that music fosters creativity, collaboration, and confidence among children. We are seeking a passionate and experienced Big Sing Choir Director to lead a project aimed at developing a vibrant choir program that engages both students and teachers. This role includes repertoire development, producing learning tracks, conducting initial sessions with teachers, and training children in various schools. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in choral music, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for inspiring young singers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Repertoire Development: - Collaborating with the Artistic Director and Head of Learning and Participation, to curate and develop a repertoire of songs suitable for children. - Ensure that the repertoire aligns with the educational goals and interests of the participating schools.
- Producing and Leading Tracks: - Create high-quality audio tracks for the selected repertoire, including arrangement and production. - Lead rehearsals, guiding singers in vocal techniques, harmonization, and performance skills.
- Early Sessions with Teachers: - Conduct introductory training sessions with teachers to equip them with the tools and techniques to support the choir program. - Collaborate with teachers to integrate singing into the classroom and encourage ongoing participation.
- Training Children in Schools: - Facilitate engaging choir sessions in multiple schools, focusing on vocal development, teamwork, and performance preparation. - Inspire and motivate children to express themselves through music and develop a love for singing.
- Performance Co-ordination: - Lead the Big Sing performance, ensuring a positive experience for the children and teachers - Collaborate with school staff to promote the Big Sing Project and encourage community engagement.
Key Dates
- Youth Chorus Christmas Concert - Sunday 7th December 2025
Provisional Outlined Dates - Macbeth Professional and Community Chorus
- Rehearsals in London 19th May - 18th June 2026 – Professional Chorus
- Rehearsals on-site 22nd June – 1st July 2026 - Professional and Community Chorus
Big Sing Project Performance - Wednesday 15th July 2026
Provisional outlined Dates – Hansel and Gretel Youth Chorus
- Rehearsals onsite Monday 20th July - Thursday 30th July 2026
Person Specification
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Proven experience conducting youth or children’s choirs and opera choruses, with a strong understanding of vocal techniques and ensemble dynamics.
- Strong vocal and keyboard skills, with experience as a repetiteur
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse groups of people.
- Ability to read music proficiently and arrange choral pieces as needed.
- Passion for working with youth and a deep understanding of age-appropriate vocal pedagogy.
- Passion for community music-making and a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
Desirable
- DBS Checked
- Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle for travel.
To Apply
Please electronically submit your CV and a covering letter to
Emma Campbell, Head of Learning and Participation: emma@lfo.org.uk
In the covering letter, please explain your interest in the role and how your skills and experience are suitable for the position, making particular reference to the person specification.
When you submit your application, please complete our anonymised equality monitoring form:
https://forms.gle/acTseM2upWgZ...
For any questions or to arrange an informal chat about the role/organisation, please contact Emma Campbell; emma@lfo.org.uk
- Applications close Monday 21st July
- First interviews (online) Monday 28th July
- Second interviews (in person at Longborough): TBC
Note: This Job Description reflects the current situation. It does not preclude change or development that might be required in the future.
