Collegium Musicum of London is a sociable, enthusiastic and ambitious chamber choir which prides itself on achieving high standards. New members are always welcome, so If you can read music, and want to sing in a dynamic chamber ensemble with a BBC prize-winning conductor, CML may be the place for you! Just contact the choir Fixer to arrange a very straightforward audition.

The choir aims to sing around four concerts per year. Rehearsals take place on the day of the concert (generally Saturdays), and for six or seven Wednesday evenings in advance, from 7.00pm to 10.00 pm, at The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Exmouth Market, London EC1 (nearest tubes: Farringdon, Angel). Most rehearsals are rounded off with a few drinks in the convivial Wilmington Arms, nearby.

Re-auditions are also held for the whole choir about once every two years.

If you are interested in joining Collegium Musicum of London, please email the choir Fixer here.

Subscriptions

Some of our concerts are quite expensive to put on, if instrumentalists or professional soloists are involved let alone a full orchestra. In common with nearly all other choirs, our members pay subscriptions to assist towards expenses. It assists administration if subscriptions are paid by cheque, but cash is accepted when necessary.

Subscriptions comprise two elements; the rates for the calendar year 2011 as follows:

Basic membership: A membership fee for the calendar year, payable by all singers other than those still completing their probationary concert - £50 (concessions - £35). Basic subscriptions payable in January.

For those whose first concert as a full member, after completing their probationary concert, falls in July or later, a reduced rate of annual membership, at £30 (£20 concessions), is payable for the remainder of that year; this rate also applies to existing members re-joining after July following an absence. The full rate will then be payable from the following January.

Note that membership does not guarantee selection for all concerts. It does however confer a right to vote at General Meetings, and to stand for election to the Committee.

Concert participation: all singers, including those on probation, must also pay £30 per programme they take part in (concessions - £20). A 'programme' may either be a single concert or a concert which has two performances.

Concessions: these include all those in full-time education or the unemployed. Special consideration will be made for others finding difficulty in paying subscriptions.

There's a special concessionary rate for those under 25: pay just £10 to sing in any concert. No annual subscription, no per concert fee - just £10 to sing.

Auditions

Please email the choir Fixer here with any queries you may have or to arrange an audition.

You can audition at any time up to immediately before the first or second rehearsal of a particular programme (the full programme and rehearsal schedule is outlined on the members' page of this website).

Following your audition, we will confirm within a day or two - usually by e-mail - if you have been accepted as a probationary member.

Probationary membership will extend for one of CML’s programmes. During this time, your suitability will be assessed to ensure that you are able both to reach performance standard and attain the blend of sound we hope to achieve for the choir. You'll also be able to assess whether we're the type of group you'd like to continue singing with.

Our Musical Director will write again, after your first concert, to say if we are happy for you to become a full member. And if you are content to continue singing with the choir at this point you will be required to pay the annual subscription (yearly or half-yearly rate, depending on the time of year you become a full member).

Format of the Audition (10–15 mins)

1. You will be asked to prepare:

a) the first 100 bars of the "Gloria" from Bach's B Minor Mass.
Sopranos may opt for either Sop1 or Sop2 as they prefer.

b) an unaccompanied folksong, or piece of lyrical character, of your choice.
This may be sung in any key.

2. There will also be a set of sight-singing tests, of increasing difficulty.

Time will be allowed in the audition for a proper warm-up.