Sound Company in Harmony Farnham Seeks Paid Jazz and A Cappella Vocal Coach — Deadline 30 November
Small male a cappella ensemble seeks its next artistic leader
Sound Company in Harmony, based near Farnham in Surrey, is looking for a Musical Director and Vocal Coach to help shape the group's musical future. The current ensemble is described as an established male a cappella chorus of approximately eight singers. It performs four-part arrangements drawing on swing, jazz, barbershop, sea shanties and other close-harmony styles for local events and festivals.
The position is an opportunity for someone who enjoys the expressive detail of small-group singing rather than directing a large orchestra. Coaching will involve tuning, blend, breathing, phrasing and stage confidence. An applicant may bring transferable experience from contemporary vocal ensembles, barbershop groups or jazz harmony without assuming that prior work in one specific genre is an absolute prerequisite.
Fortnightly rehearsals near Farnham, with public performances
The successful candidate is expected to lead rehearsals every two weeks in the Farnham area and direct the ensemble during public appearances. The venue listed with the advert is the Royal British Legion Club, 1 The Green, The Sands, Farnham, GU10 1LL, though dates and venue arrangements should be confirmed when discussing the role.
This is a local in-person responsibility. A coach needs enough availability to rehearse singers regularly, identify areas for development and prepare an evolving performance repertoire. For musicians based further from Surrey, travel time should be balanced against the frequency of rehearsals and the potential for weekend concerts.
A broad mix of musical and interpersonal abilities
The choir highlights strong musicianship, good communication, patience and enthusiasm. Experience of choir coaching or close-harmony singing is desirable rather than described as an absolute gatekeeping requirement. A candidate should be able to make technical feedback constructive and enjoyable while bringing imaginative ideas for new pieces and stronger vocal performance.
The group also hopes to broaden its membership, so leadership will extend beyond drilling notes. Someone able to develop a welcoming rehearsal culture, help singers feel confident and support recruitment or visibility may fit the group's ambitions. The public job advert provides an outline; the detailed responsibilities and authority over repertoire should be confirmed directly.
Paid freelance arrangement with negotiable fees
The position is described as paid and freelance, with fees to be negotiated. The organisation also refers to agreed travel expenses for performances. There is no public numerical rehearsal rate, so it would be incorrect to promise a particular salary or amount per concert. Candidates can ask for expected annual rehearsal counts, payment frequency and compensation for additional appearances.
A prospective director may also want to clarify whether rehearsal venue bookings, learning materials and any separate sectional coaching are organised by the choir or the freelancer. As with other community ensembles, the agreement should specify cancellations and scheduling changes in writing, rather than relying on assumptions drawn from a short website listing.
Deadline and first contact with the ensemble
The Making Music listing gives a closing time of noon (UK local time) on 30 November 2026 and indicates that the ideal start is early 2027. Interested applicants are directed to the choir's chair, Hugh North, through the recruitment notice. Its public contact number is 07748 648493 and the organisation's website is www.soundcompany.co.uk.
A concise enquiry can introduce previous work with jazz singing, harmony coaching and community musicians, and request clarification of the full appointment process. The vacancy does not specify a single mandatory audition piece or elaborate document list, so it is best to use the live contact details rather than invent requirements.
Source: Sound Company in Harmony recruitment notice on the UK Making Music platform, published October 2026, consulted 18 October. The choir provides a negotiable freelance fee, not an advertised fixed salary.