Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Our organisation encompasses the UK’s oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and an award-winning Learning Programme. Our ticketing system Spektrix uses four cookies that are essential to making our website function properly. For further information please refer to our cookie policy.

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Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

"The real star of the show turned out to be the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir"
Liverpool Echo

“The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir totally stole the show, well surpassing the incredibly high standards which they already regularly attain”
Arts Desk

Founded in 1840, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir has always been central to the life of Liverpool Philharmonic.

In recent years, the Choir has performed Bach St Matthew Passion and Mass in B minor, Orff Carmina Burana, Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Mahler Symphony No.2, Rachmaninov Vespers, Verdi Requiem, Karl Jenkins Stabat Mater, James MacMillan St John Passion, Durufle Requiem, Britten War Requiem and of course the annual Spirit of Christmas concerts, and Handel Messiah. The Choir has appeared in many of the UK’s major concert venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, and has sung on a number of foreign tours. The Choir have often been recorded, most recently as part of Vaughan Williams complete symphonic cycle, released in 2019.

All this has been achieved by amateur singers from Merseyside and the surrounding areas aged from 18 years old, who have a variety of day-jobs including students, teachers, doctors and actors. The entry requirements are demanding, and with nearly 60 rehearsals each year and up to 20 performances, this is a serious commitment. But members are given the marvellous experience of singing great music to the highest standard with some of the world’s finest conductors, orchestras and soloists.

Join us!
The Choir rehearse on Monday evenings in term time, with additional rehearsals in the lead up to concerts.

Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir are required to be members of Liverpool Philharmonic at an annual fee of £100 for Silver Membership (£32.50 Bronze Membership for full time students and claimants in receipt of job seekers allowance).

Ian Tracey, acknowledged as one of the outstanding British choral trainers, has been Chorus Master of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir since 1985.

We are currently particularly interested to receive applications from tenors and basses.

Auditions
Applications are collected throughout the year and auditions are arranged once there are enough candidates to fill a session. Apply now, using the form below. Your application will be automatically stored on file and we will contact you once the next audition date has been confirmed.

Do I need to be able to read music?

Yes. As there is a limited amount of rehearsal time for each project, all Choir members must be able to read music and sight-sing to at least, or equivalent to, Associated Board Grade 6 standard. If you're unsure about these requirements, please email rlpc@liverpoolphil.com or phone 0151 210 2895.
What do I have to do in an audition?

Auditions last approximately 10-15 minutes and you are required to sing a prepared piece – this should be a solo song of your choice (for example, not the alto part from a choral work). You can sing this from the copy or from memory. Please remember to bring another two copies for the accompanist to use and for the Chorusmaster to study as you sing.

All candidates will be accompanied on the piano by the official choir accompanist in their chosen item: they will then be required to read some music from sight and be given a few aural tests and some vocal exercises to help establish the vocal range. A warm-up room is provided ten minutes before each audition time and, in that time, the accompanist will rehearse the chosen solo item and give the candidate a short piece to study.
Can I observe a rehearsal before auditioning?

Prospective new members are very welcome to try out a rehearsal before auditioning. Open rehearsals for prospective applicants are held at various times throughout the year and are generally arranged to precede audition dates, once these have been set. Please email rlpc@liverpoolphil.com or call 0151 210 2895 for further information.

If you love to sing, why not join us?

apply online

or email rlpc@liverpoolphil.com or telephone 0151 210 2895.

Equal Opportunities Statement
As an equal opportunities organisation we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disabled people are currently under-represented within our organisation, we would particularly welcome applications from BAME and disabled applicants. All invitations to join the choir will be made on merit.