Join our Board of Trustees
The Fourth Choir is seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join the board managing our LGBTQ+ charitable entity and arts organisation
The Fourth Choir was founded in 2013 to give professional and non-professional LGBTQ+ singers and allies the opportunity to sing a cappella choral music to the highest standard possible, and since then has since performed more than 100 times in over 40 venues: from well-known performance venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, King’s Place, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, to less traditional spaces including Heaven nightclub, the Brunel Tunnel and the inflatable Colourscape pavilion.
We are an auditioned choir of around 50 members (typically performing with 32-36 singers) with high expectations of our singers in terms of attendance, commitment and continued musical development, including working with 1-1 singing tutors, sight-reading and musical theory.
Fostering a fully inclusive musical environment is at the heart of what we do, and we work to affirm the identities of our members, support their wellbeing, challenge stereotypes and explore innovative themes through our activities and concert programming.
We are an auditioned choir of around 50 members (typically performing with 32-36 singers) with high expectations of our singers in terms of attendance, commitment and continued musical development, including working with 1-1 singing tutors, sight-reading and musical theory.
Fostering a fully inclusive musical environment is at the heart of what we do, and we work to affirm the identities of our members, support their wellbeing, challenge stereotypes and explore innovative themes through our activities and concert programming.
Our structure and management
The choir is a registered charity (charity number 1156769) and incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). We are governed and managed by a small board of trustees, all of whom are currently active singers with the choir. As well as governing and directing the strategic development of the choir, our trustees also manage ongoing operations, with each taking a lead role for a particular function.
We employ a professional Musical Director, who is responsible for our programming and musical leadership, and also work on occasion with a range of Guest Conductors.
Read more about our current board here and our Musical Director here.
To continue building upon the success of our first decade, we are seeking to recruit external trustees to a number of key positions, who can bring external perspective, experience in key areas and help to build the capacity of our management team.
We employ a professional Musical Director, who is responsible for our programming and musical leadership, and also work on occasion with a range of Guest Conductors.
Read more about our current board here and our Musical Director here.
To continue building upon the success of our first decade, we are seeking to recruit external trustees to a number of key positions, who can bring external perspective, experience in key areas and help to build the capacity of our management team.
Open positions
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Treasurer
Responsibilities
Preferred experience
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Secretary
Responsibilities
Preferred experience
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Philanthropy Lead
Responsibilities
Preferred experience
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The roles highlighted above are those which we have identified as being in particular need at this time. If you are interested in getting involved with the management of the choir in a different capacity, we would still love to hear from you. Please let us know in your application what you would like to bring to our team.
For all the above roles, we particularly encourage applications from candidates from marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds. We are committed to making this process accessible to candidates with disabilities or neurodiverse experience. Please let us know about your needs and we will work with you to make reasonable adjustments to ensure you can perform at your best throughout your application.
Applicants must have a strong understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly with respect to the LGBTQ+ community and be happy to support the choir's values (see below).
An appreciation for or experience with the arts, classical and choral music is also highly desirable.
Commitments
The Trustees typically meet once per month for a 90 minute planning meeting. Currently this is from 6:30-8pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Occasional additional meetings may be scheduled if the choir has a particularly busy schedule, or for longer-term strategy meetings, training events, external collaboration meetings or hiring processes.
Administrative work outside of meetings may take up to 5 hours per week.
All trustees perform their role in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration. Costs incurred as part of the role, such as travel expenses, may be reimbursed by the choir on agreement in advance. Software required to fulfil any duties as a trustee will be provided by the choir.
Given the focus on long-term development of the choir, we would like applications from individuals with an interest in volunteering as a Trustee for a period of 3 years or more.
Administrative work outside of meetings may take up to 5 hours per week.
All trustees perform their role in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration. Costs incurred as part of the role, such as travel expenses, may be reimbursed by the choir on agreement in advance. Software required to fulfil any duties as a trustee will be provided by the choir.
Given the focus on long-term development of the choir, we would like applications from individuals with an interest in volunteering as a Trustee for a period of 3 years or more.
More about the Choir
Our Values
Our aims
We have been a registered charity since April 2014 and our charitable aims are to raise awareness and appreciation for choral music while promoting equality and diversity, with particular reference to the LGBT+ community.
Our membership
We have a membership of around 50 singers but typically perform with 32-36. Our members include professional musicians, music teachers and advanced amateur singers. We are proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community and also welcome allies who wish to support our aims.
Our rehearsals
The choir rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings in Lambeth, from 7.00-9.30pm. External trustees are not expected to attend weekly rehearsals but may choose to drop in, or to join for social drinks afterwards.
Our calendar
We have three terms per year: Spring Term from January to Easter; Summer Term from Easter to July and Autumn Term from September to Christmas. A typical year would include 4 self-promoted concerts, each with different repertoire, and up to similar number of paid performances.
See our past events and concerts for an overview of our performance history.
- We are proud to be a choir of LGBTQ+ singers and allies
- We are passionate about musical excellence, about improving our skills and having fun
- We nurture an inclusive space and celebrate diversity
- We are creative, collaborative and ambitious
- We are a supportive, big-hearted and welcoming community
Our aims
We have been a registered charity since April 2014 and our charitable aims are to raise awareness and appreciation for choral music while promoting equality and diversity, with particular reference to the LGBT+ community.
Our membership
We have a membership of around 50 singers but typically perform with 32-36. Our members include professional musicians, music teachers and advanced amateur singers. We are proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community and also welcome allies who wish to support our aims.
Our rehearsals
The choir rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings in Lambeth, from 7.00-9.30pm. External trustees are not expected to attend weekly rehearsals but may choose to drop in, or to join for social drinks afterwards.
Our calendar
We have three terms per year: Spring Term from January to Easter; Summer Term from Easter to July and Autumn Term from September to Christmas. A typical year would include 4 self-promoted concerts, each with different repertoire, and up to similar number of paid performances.
See our past events and concerts for an overview of our performance history.
Application process
- Initial expressions of interest are welcomed until 31 March 2025
- Shortlisting and interviews with the Trustees will take place in April
- We expect to make initial appointments in May to begin working with the choir for the start of our Summer Term.
Apply
Complete the form below to apply to join. If you have any questions before applying, please contact the trustees via [email protected]
