ABOUT THE MONTEVERDI CHOIR APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME

The Monteverdi Choir is now advertising for applicants for its 2008-2009 Apprenticeship Scheme. Inaugurated in 2007, the scheme has so far given six young singers the experience of working alongside the professional members of the Monteverdi Choir in a variety of projects.

 Click here for details of how to apply.

The aim of the scheme is to identify and recruit the most promising young singers currently available - those on the verge of entering the profession - and introduce them to the musical tradition of the Monteverdi Choir and the working practices of Sir John Eliot Gardiner by way of a year-long apprenticeship, involving participation in selected Monteverdi Choir projects and individual personal and professional mentorship from within the choir.

For the successful singers the benefits are manifold

• to be introduced to the highest level of choral singing available in the UK and on the international scene
• to spend time working in-depth on and performing a wide repertoire with the Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and the Choir's associated orchestras, by participating in and observing projects
• to receive mentorship from a professional regular singer within the choir, who can guide the singer both musically and in terms of career advice

This scheme is aimed at those coming to the end of their time as an undergraduate, who have achieved a high level of proficiency as a chorister during that period, and who are interested in pursuing professional careers - at least in the short- to mid-term - as choral or consort singers. It is intended that the apprenticeship scheme will give young singers an early taste of the world of professional choral singing, and be of benefit to them as they attempt to establish their careers or pursue further musical studies.

The Monteverdi Choir hopes to appoint up to six apprentices in the second year (2008-2009) of the scheme. Those selected will be invited to take part in at least one major tour with the choir, with the possibility of involvement in further projects throughout the year, taking full part in these projects. Apprentices will be paid a bursary for each project and will also receive additional musical and language coaching from Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir musical staff. All touring expenses (including per diems) will be covered by the Monteverdi Choir.

Throughout the course of the year apprentices will be welcome as observers at rehearsals for projects in which they are not taking part (including projects of the English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique). During the year apprentices will be asked to write regular, brief reports on their experience and at the end of the scheme they will be considered for further professional engagement by the Choir. At this time also an extra, one-off bursary payment of £500 will be made for successful completion of the year's apprenticeship.

For selected applicants, auditions and interviews will be held during May. Further details of this process will be sent to those selected to take part in this process.

Successful applicants will be expected to safeguard sets of dates for Monteverdi Choir projects in 2008-2009, details of which will be given at the time of audition. Exactly which projects the successful applicants participate in will be decided after the auditions, and as the year progresses, but it will be a contractual requirement of the Apprenticeship that the Monteverdi Choir be given first refusal on these dates - although notice of a minimum of 8 weeks will be given if any dates are not required - so broadly speaking the Apprenticeship is not compatible either with a full-time course of study or full-time, permanent employment. Singers undertaking full-time study or considering entering full-time employment during the course of the year are not therefore encouraged to apply. In 2007-2008 apprentices have taken part in, on average, 12 weeks of singing as part of Monteverdi Choir projects. In addition to the Choir's projects, apprentices will be expected to take part in extra rehearsals, workshops and masterclasses through the year by arrangement, probably totalling an extra five days (approximately) in all.

 Click here for details of how to apply.