Join Us

The Choir offers a warm welcome to prospective new members. Auditions are held throughout the year on a regular basis. If you would like to sing with us, please contact the Membership Secretary, Pam Poad, on 01392 499211 or epc@exephil.org.uk .

Become more involved

The social event on 5 June 2006 demonstrated how willing Choir members are to join in and do things, be that a 'solo' spot, or washing up dishes after a supper for 100 people! It is particularly encouraging to have people offer to become more involved in the life of the Choir. This was so well revealed when particular jobs needed to be done last season, and volunteers came forward very quickly. But we still need more help.

Are you willing to edit a newsletter to Choir members? Could you help with securing adverts for concerts? At the beginning of the season, hundreds of brochures need to be bundled for circulation to all Devon libraries. Could you assist with that?

Ticket sales and fund-raising are always important. Ideas for fund-raising include: quiz evening, auction of favours, barn dance with fish+chip supper, change bottle, dingbat sheets. If you have any other ideas, or there is anything you feel you could get more involved in, either individually or as part of a group, please get in touch.

General Information

Rehearsals - Rehearsals take place at the Salvation Army Temple in Friars Walk, Exeter, on Monday nights from 7.10pm to 9.15pm. The rehearsal before each concert is held at the venue itself, usually Exeter Cathedral, from 7.00pm to 9.30pm, unless otherwise stated. More detailed information about dates for rehearsals, Singing Mornings and concerts is given in the Programme Information and Diary Dates . Please contact the Membership Secretary, Pam Poad on epc@exephil.org.uk  or 01392 499211 if you cannot attend any rehearsal.

Singing Mornings - Singing Mornings are held at a central Exeter location, such as the Maynard School or Southernhay United Reformed Church, from 10.15am to 1.00pm on a Saturday approximately two weeks before each performance. These are essential preparation for each concert and all members are expected to attend. Singing Mornings are an invigorating combination of hard work, good fun and musical reward.

Attendance - Members are expected to attend not less than 80% of rehearsals each session, plus the singing mornings. Please note that, with the full backing of the Committee, this rule will in future be more stringently enforced. This is not intended to be punitive but, if the choir's high standards are to be maintained, the rule must be strictly applied, however pressing and valid the reasons for non-attendance may be. Members are also expected to take part in all concerts. If after expressing your intention to be present at a concert you subsequently discover that you are unable to attend, you must advise the Membership Secretary immediately.

Concert Dress -
Ladies: full-length, plain black skirt and Choir blouse, black shoes (flat or low-heeled for comfort) and black tights. In order to present a uniform appearance, please do not wear sparkling jewellery; this catches the light noticeably and is better left for the soloists.
Gentlemen: black formal dinner jacket, black trousers, black bow tie, black cummerbund (if worn), black socks and shoes.

Music - The Choir Librarian arranges the hire of music for all performances and copies are available at a charge set by the hirers. All Choir members will require Carols for Choirs, Books 1 and 2 (Novello), for use in the Carol Concerts. The Librarian provides boxes where you should return hired copies on the night of the performance. It is most important that this is done on the night as all copies have to be accounted for and the hirers levy additional charges if copies are not returned in complete sets.

Folders - All choir members are expected to use a folder in concerts, unless otherwise agreed. These will be issued before your first concert in return for a deposit payment of £5, returnable on leaving the Choir if your folder is returned in good condition.

Temporary withdrawal - In fairness to other members of the Choir, membership cannot normally be suspended with an automatic return. Temporary withdrawal on the grounds of ill-health or other good reason may be permitted by the Committee, after consideration of the particular circumstances.

Exeter Philharmonic Choir is run by an Executive Committee comprising the President of the Choir, Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and four other members, together with the Director of Music. In addition, other choir members organise publicity, hire of music, tickets, production of concert programme, honorary membership, sponsorship, social arrangements and concert arrangements. The Committee is always glad to receive comments, suggestions and offers of help from members. Please ring on 01392 499211 or email epc@exephil.org.uk  .

The Annual General Meeting is normally held on a Monday evening in October.

Concert Arrangements

Afternoon of concert - Rehearsal in concert venue. Members must be in their seats in good time. As this is the only occasion on which Choir, Orchestra and Soloists rehearse together, you are asked to make every effort to attend.

Evening of concert - Members should arrive by 7.00pm and be ready to warm up by 7.10pm. Members then file in, in usual seating order, and remain standing until the entire Choir is assembled. The Choir then sit at a pre-arranged signal. Please take with you on stage only your music in its folder and, if necessary for ladies, a very small black bag. Choir members will be able to file off the stage during the interval.

Please bring with you to the concert only what is necessary. It is not possible to guarantee security at concert venues, although every effort is made to do so, and neither the staff of the venue nor the Committee can be responsible for the safety of personal property.

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