Profession choirmaster / choirmistress

Choirmasters/choirmistresses manage various aspects of the vocal, and sometimes instrumental, performances of musical groups, such as choirs, ensembles, or glee clubs.

Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Musical genres

  Different musical styles and genres such as blues, jazz, reggae, rock, or indie.

• Musical theory

  The body of interrelated concepts that constitutes the theoretical background of music.

• Music literature

  Literature about music theory, specific music styles, periods, composers or musicians, or specific pieces. This includes a variety of materials such as magazines, journals, books and academic literature.

Skills

• Work with soloists

  Communicate with solo artists and concert masters to discuss and prepare for performances.

• Strive for excellence in musical performance

  Continually commit to perfecting your instrumental or vocal performance.

• Develop musical ideas

  Explore and develop musical concepts based on sources such as imagination or environmental sounds.

• Plan musical performances

  Schedule rehearsals and music performances, arrange details such as locations, select accompanists and instrumentalists.

• Direct fundraising activities

  Plan and direct fundraising, sponsoring and promotional activities.

• Select vocalists

  Select vocalists and individual singers for solos.

• Conduct guest soloists

  Guide guest solo musicians in addition to ensemble members.

• Collaborate with music librarians

  Communicate and work together with music librarians to ensure permanent availability of scores.

• Select musical performers

  Organise auditions and select performers for musical performances.

• Position musicians

  Position qualified musicians within musical groups, orchestras or ensembles, to obtain a correct balance among instrumental or vocal sections.

• Supervise musicians

  Guide musicians during rehearsals, live performances or studio recording sessions.

• Supervise music groups

  Direct music groups, individual musicians or complete orchestras at rehearsals and during live or studio performances, in order to improve the overall tonal and harmonic balance, dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.

• Communicate performance aspects

  Use body gestures to shape the music, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, colour, pitch, volume, and other live performance aspects.

• Engage composers

  Engage services of professional composers to write the score for a music piece.

• Read musical score

  Read the musical score during rehearsal and live performance.

• Manage musical staff

  Assign and manage staff tasks in areas such as scoring, arranging, copying music and vocal coaching.

• Study musical scores

  Study musical scores and develop various interpretations.

• Work with composers

  Communicate with composers to discuss various interpretations of their work.

• Coordinate performance tours

  Schedule planning for a series of event dates, plan timetables, organise venues, accommodations and transportation for longer tours.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB