Information for prospective and new members

Welcome to Aberdeen Bach Choir’s prospective member information page.  Our choir has been in established for 65 years and we perform a wide range of sacred choral music from the Renaissance period through to the 20th Century, with an emphasis on the works of J.S. Bach of course.  Our members have varying degrees of musical expertise. We are by no means all expert musicians or sight readers, but we define what it takes to be a choir member as:

to be able to sing accurately and in tune, with a secure sense of rhythm and be familiar with musical notation.

If that sounds like you, I am sure you will enjoy the experience of rehearsing and performing with us.

Angela Slater, Chair

How to Join

Aberdeen Bach Choir is especially keen to recruit new singers, particularly male voices. Currently, there is no audition process - an ability to sing in tune is the minimum requirement! Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact the Membership Secretary – by email in advance.

We intend to restart rehearsals on Tuesday 23 or Tuesday 30 August 2022 at High Hilton Church from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.   Rehearsals will continue at the same venue (subject to there being no reintroduction of tighter local or national restrictions), with a two week break during the school October holiday.

The annual subscription rates set at the AGM on 17 August 2021 were £60 (full) or £45 (concessions).  Students pay nothing!  Newcomers are allowed two or three weeks settling in before confirming their membership and being asked to pay their subscription. There is normally a small charge for music hire, or you can buy the music for some performances.

Regular attendance throughout the season is important. Even if you are very familiar with a work we are singing, we all need to know and understand how Peter wants us to interpret the music.  For this reason, anyone who misses more than four Tuesday rehearsals in any one term may be asked not to take part in the performance. If you are unable to attend any rehearsals, please contact the membership Secretary, Sandra Massey.  Attendance at rehearsals on the weekend of the performance is essential and absence will be allowed only under exceptional circumstances.

Further information about a performance this term will be available here in due course.

Our concert dress is formal evening attire. Gentlemen wear dinner suit, white shirt and black bow tie. If you don't have suitable clothing, please speak to Kate Mason, one of our first altos, who has access to a small collection of men’s formal wear. Ladies wear a long black dress, or a long black skirt with a black evening blouse or top. If your skirt is not full length, please wear opaque black tights. If preferred, smart dress black trousers may also be worn although not in the front row. Sleeves must be at least elbow length.

Please apply perfumes and deodorants very sparingly as strong smells can disrupt some people’s breathing whilst singing.  Please avoid too much bling if wearing jewellery and ladies should not wear wrist jewellery if wearing elbow length sleeves.

We like to think of ourselves as a friendly choir, and if you make yourself known to one of our Committee members (the Membership Secretary, Sandra Massey, is likely to approach any new faces who have not already contacted her), we will ensure you are introduced to someone who sings the same part as you, to help you fit in quickly. 

On the weekend of performances (normally on a Sunday evening in St Machar's Cathedral), the usual practice is to have rehearsals with orchestra and soloists (where applicable) on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons; sometimes the Saturday rehearsal may be in the evening.