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Opera North is England’s national opera company in the North and one of Europe’s leading arts organisations. As part of its Learning & Engagement portfolio, the company runs three in house youth choral ensembles: Opera North Children’s Chorus; Opera North Young Voices and Opera North Youth Chorus. An opportunity has now arisen for a Youth Chorus Master to lead the upper two ensembles.
Opera North Young Voices (young people aged 11 – 14) have performed at the ‘Beach Bandstand’ as part of the Aldeburgh Festival and with the Orchestra of Opera North as part of the Kirklees Concert Series at Dewsbury Town Hall. In January 2022 they performed Brundibár, accompanied by musicians from Royal Northern Sinfonia, at the Brundibar Festival, Sage Gateshead.
Recent performances of the Opera North Youth Chorus (aged 15 –19) include Chabrier’s The Runaway Royal, alongside the Opera North Youth Orchestra, in Leeds Grand Theatre (2024), Trial by Jury at The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton (2023), and a new co-commission, with Garsington Opera, of Selfish Giant by John Barber (2022). The Youth Chorus have also devised several new works, working with established composers and librettists. In November 2017 the Youth Chorus joined young people from Den Jyske Opera for co-devised performances in Denmark as part of the Aarhus European City of Culture celebrations.
In September 2025 the Youth Chorus and Young Voices will join forces with the Opera North Youth Orchestra to open the 2025/26 Opera North Season with the UK premiere of the ‘Hamburg’ version of The Secret of the Black Spider.
Collaborating with Opera North colleagues, the Youth Chorus Master will direct the Opera North Youth Chorus and Young Voices at weekly rehearsals, residential courses, concerts and special events; conducting performances where required and leading on the artistic programming to ensure high artistic standards and an annual programme of activity which integrates core skills with concerts and staged shows.
The successful candidate will have substantial experience of working professionally as a choral director and significant experience of working with young people. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance.
Salary: £40,420 per annum (pro rata)
Contract type: Permanent Part-Time.
Deadline for applications: 10:00 a.m, Thursday 31st July, 2025
For an application pack, please visit: https://www.operanorth.co.uk/about/jobs
To apply for this role, please send a CV via the Hireful website. If you need any help completing your application, including any adjustments to the application process, please contact appointments@operanorth.co.uk to make us aware.
We create music and opera for everyone, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and sections of the community. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants of the global majority and/or those who are disabled. We are committed to meeting any access requirements for the successful applicant.
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