CHORAL SCHOLARSHIPS 2026/2027

Woking Choral Society is looking for experienced and confident singers, with skills in sight singing and solo singing to join the choir as choral scholars. We are one of the UK’s foremost amateur choirs, comprising some 60 members under the leadership of conductor Cole Bendall, who was appointed as the choir’s eighth musical director in 2022.  Notable guest conductors in our 125 year history include Sir Edward Elgar (conducting a concert of his own works in 1920) and Woking resident Dame Ethel Smyth. A new Musical Director will be in place from January 2027.

We welcome applications from singers of diverse ages, experiences and backgrounds – we anticipate this role will be of particular benefit to singers currently studying as an undergraduate or postgraduate at university or college who wish to gain professional experience to develop their musical career.

As a choral scholar, you would support your assigned section and, in addition to singing with the section, be expected to help support and encourage your colleagues in their own vocal development. You will also have the opportunity to promote the choir on social media and work closely with our professional conductor and accompanist, Suzy Ruffles. We will expect your attendance at all of our concerts (usually one per term), and no less than 80% of rehearsals. Where opportunities allow and where appropriate for the chosen candidates, we will also help provide further opportunities for career development including small concert solos, understudying larger concert solo roles, and conducting and choir coaching skills with our Musical Director.

Details of the scheme for 2026-2027 are below.
The scheme will run from September 2026 to June 2027 and is aimed at 4 scholars, one for each voice part. We rehearse weekly, effectively during school terms with a concert at the end of the term. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings at 19:30 in St Andrews Church in Goldsworth Park, Woking – our members are able to offer a lift to and from Woking Station for those who come by train. Auditions will be held in September 2026 with successful candidates starting with us in the third week in September.

Our concert dates for 2026-2027 are:

  • 28th November 2026 – Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius in G Live, Guildford. This is a joint concert with 3 other choirs, totalling about 200 singers, accompanied by the London Mozart Players

  • 20th March 2027 – TBA

  • 26th June 2027 – TBA

The scholarships are for £1200 per annum (ie for the year September to July) paid in instalments monthly in arrears during term time. Help with travel may also be considered.

Applications are currently open and auditions will take place as needed in mid September.

Applications can be made online here - alternatively, please use our contact form for further queries.