Head of Singing and Director of the Chapel Choir

at  Oundle School

To start in January 2025, we are seeking an exceptional Head of Singing who is able to develop and inspire our pupils, and who wishes to participate in and contribute to the life of the School as a whole.

Oundle School is one of the country’s leading co-educational boarding and day schools, with 820 boarding and 320 day pupils. A further 250 day pupils attend Laxton Junior School.
Oundle School enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence as the core of an all-round education and supported by outstanding pastoral care. It is renowned for the quality of its teaching of music, and for being one of the leading and largest departments in the country. Developments over recent years have sought among other things to support the love of learning in all pupils by developing the non-examined curriculum.
We are seeking to appoint a Head of Singing and Director of the Chapel Choir to start January 2025. The successful candidate will be an outstanding choir-trainer with experience of training voices to the highest standards. It is likely that they will have worked in a Cathedral or Collegiate environment. This post will suit a musician of the highest calibre who will relish the responsibility for overseeing singing throughout the school, creating new opportunities for all pupils wishing to sing, running three of the five choirs including the Chapel Choir which sings each Sunday in Chapel, leading musicals, and teaching an allocated number of pupils. They will demonstrate a positive working style with enthusiasm and commitment, leading their team by example. They will be responsible for ensuring that the education of pupils is upheld as a priority and that the highest possible standards in work and conduct are achieved throughout the department.
The Head of Instrument will advise the Director of Music on specialist issues and developments relating to the teaching of lessons in their department, including the suitability of music for concerts, conservatoire entrance, Music Scholars, and any other matters in which the Director of Music may seek assistance.
Applicants must have a Performance Diploma or Music degree and display evidence of continuing professional development. Specialism in the field of choral singing is essential. You must have previous teaching experience of 1:1 and larger choirs of all ages and standards and be able to teach beginners through to Diploma standard.
The Music Department presently consists of; the Director of Music, Head of Academic Music and School Organist, Academic Music Teacher, five Heads of Instruments specialising in Wind & Brass, Singing, Strings & Alexander Technique, Keyboard, and Music Production. We also have a Music Studio Technician, and are supported by a large team of part-time visiting instrumental teachers and two part-time Administrators.
Music is taught in classes to all first and second forms (11 – 13 years). Pupils in the Third Form choose to study the subject and GCSE and A Level music courses are offered, along with a 6th form Diploma course option. The Music School has good facilities for music production and these play an important part in studio work, the music tech academic options, compositional work for GCSE/A level and recording projects around the school. There are weekly classes in theory and aural training.
All members of the academic staff contribute to the School’s extensive co-curricular provision and are expected to fully participate in the boarding school life that encompasses some evening and weekend duties.