Radcliffe Ladies Choir 2027: Paid Piano Accompanist Wanted in Nottinghamshire — Apply by 23 October
A piano position at a Nottinghamshire community choir
Radcliffe Ladies Choir, a longstanding group based in Radcliffe-on-Trent near Nottingham, is looking for a new piano accompanist. The current accompanist is moving overseas at the end of 2026, and the choir is recruiting a replacement to begin early in 2027. This is an ongoing paid musical role, not a prize, a composition commission or a single paid recital.
The ensemble sings a wide range of material, from classical music to popular repertoire and pieces associated with musical theatre and film. Recent summer concert programmes have included 'Stage and Screen' and 'Music for summer's evening'. An accompanist who enjoys helping a community ensemble learn different genres may find the post especially interesting.
Wednesday rehearsals and local concert commitments
The regular rehearsal is held during school term time on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in St Mary's Church Hall, Main Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire NG12 2FD. During school half-term breaks that last two weeks, the choir generally rehearses in one of the weeks and takes the other off. Regular travel and attendance are important conditions of the appointment.
The choir usually presents two principal concerts, in July and December, in Radcliffe or surrounding villages, sometimes adding smaller events. The accompanist will play for rehearsals and concerts, give singers clear examples of vocal lines on the keyboard and provide a dependable musical foundation under the Musical Director's guidance. The notice describes approximately two or three concert engagements a year overall.
What the pianist should be prepared to do
Strong sight-reading, sensitivity to choral balance and readiness to move between classical and pop styles are practical qualities for this role. Demonstrating individual voice parts requires the ability to isolate a melody or harmony quickly, even when the full piano accompaniment is more elaborate. A candidate can also prepare to explain experience following a conductor and adjusting tempo to support singers learning new material.
These suggestions follow from the duties in the public advert; they are not an invented formal exam list. The choir has not published a mandatory grading certificate, a fixed set of audition pieces or a demand for professional solo-piano competition wins. Applicants should ask the Musical Director which demonstration or prepared repertoire, if any, will be requested at the interview.
Negotiated remuneration rather than a fixed salary
The position is remunerated, but the rate will be agreed between the selected pianist and the choir's committee. No annual salary or per-rehearsal figure is stated. It would therefore be misleading to describe the vacancy as a full-time salaried appointment or promise a specific amount per concert. The successful candidate needs to agree the actual schedule and financial terms directly.
An applicant may want to clarify payment for extra rehearsals, smaller events, concert preparation, cancellation arrangements and travel. Because the choir meets in Nottinghamshire in person, it is also important to confirm that the assignment fits existing teaching or accompaniment commitments. No accommodation or visa sponsorship is offered in the public description.
23 October deadline and November interviews
Applications close on Friday 23 October 2026 at 11:00 p.m. UK local time. The notice asks for a CV and a brief covering letter or email, directed to choir secretary Sheila Brumfitt via the email contact supplied on the Making Music listing. Musical Director Paul Hayward is also named as a contact for questions about the role.
Auditions and interviews are expected during November 2026, with the appointment beginning early in 2027. Interested musicians should check the live announcement for accurate contact links, submit their information before the stated deadline and keep some flexibility for an audition date. The notice on Making Music remains the primary reference for amendments.
Source: Radcliffe Ladies Choir's public recruitment announcement hosted by the UK charity Making Music, reviewed 18 October 2026. The post is remunerated but no exact rate is promised in the advertisement.