Committee

Chair - Rosemary

The Chair's job is to draw all the threads together and see that everything gets done. They must ensure smooth communications between the Music Director, the committee, the members of the choir, and our adoring fans.

Chairing meetings
Regular committee meetings occur throughout the year, and it is the Chair's responsibility to ensure that these are organised, and to run them. The Chair keeps members' contact details, a register of attendance and is the final check on how the choir presents itself at concerts.

Notifying members
The Chair gives out notices at rehearsals, and can invite others to do so. If information is given out that requires a written follow-up, it is the Chair's responsibility to ensure that this occurs..

Forward planning
All planning and discussion of ideas for the future are channeled to the Chair, who can appoint sub-committees for particular projects. The current Chair also acts as key holder and refreshments organiser.

Secretary - Laura

The .Secretary will normally take care of all communication both internal and external to the choir.

What does that mean?
That means liaising with venues, soloists, accompanists, MDs, choir members, and ensuring that all channels are maintained according to current Data Protection guidance.

First point of contact
The secretary is also normally the first to respond to queries from external sources, usually from people wanting to find out more about us, or to find out how they might join us, or borrow items from our library.

Summary
It's a role that makes easier all other interactions in the choir, through the exercise of empathy and clarity in communication with all parties.

Music Director - Keith

The Music Director (MD) is appointed to create, rehearse, and direct programmes of music that align with the William Byrd Singers's stated musical aims. They take rehearsals, audition prospective singers, review existing members vocal health, and train the choir in good vocal technique, interpretation, and musicality.

The Music Director is expected to have a wide and deep knowledge of the choral repertoire, especially those eras that are the William Byrd Singers's particular interest. They will be familiar with the various styles of musical notation and performance practice of those periods, and will be involved in the musical life of the area in many other ways.

The Music Director may be an accomplished instrumentalist; in either case, they will know how best to use accompanying forces to make a programme of music satisfyingly varied

Publicity Officer - Leslie

The Publicity Officer ensures our activities and events are promoted as widely as possible using a range of media such as newspapers, online event listings and radio. They also make use of the choir's three social media accounts and in this way work closely with the Digital Officer to ensure that advertising campaigns are coherent and consistent.

In addition, the Publicity Officer will promote fund-raising events, and so also work closely with the Fund-Raising Officer.

Librarian - Rob

The Librarian organises the sourcing of music scores for all members, including the MD where necessary. Making sure that the scores are available for the first rehearsal of the season, and that there are enough scores for everyone, is the Librarian's first responsibility.

This can mean organising a print run for a public domain score; hiring a set from another library or institution; or purchasing a set from a publisher. In the second of those cases, it is the Librarian's responsibility to ensure that all scores received are returned in good condition, in good time.

The Librarian also administers the William Byrd Singers Music Library, a collection of over 20,000 scores, some extremely rare and even unique. The Librarian handles requests to borrow sets from the Library, organising their preparation, despatch and return, ensuring any and all fees payable are sent to the Treasurer. The Librarian also maintains good records of the Library's contents, ensuring that the catalogue of works held is accurate and up-to-date.

Webmaster - Rob

The .Webmaster is the go-to contact for all website administration functions, and ensures the smooth running of its various interlocking parts. Those parts may have other individuals dedicated to overseeing their upkeep, but the .Webmaster is where the buck stops.

So, if you can't log in to your account; if you can't buy tickets for an event; if you can't make changes you think you should be able to make, or view content you think you should be able to; send Rob a message, and he will sort it out.

Digital Officer - Leslie

The choir currently makes use of three social media platforms: Facebook, X and Instagram. The Digital Officer posts regularly across all channels to share what we are doing with the world. Using social media not only allows us to promote our events but also ensures we participate in the wider choral community. This provides us opportunities for collaboration, as well as a good old natter with like-minded online groups.

The Digital Officer stays abreast of the digital platforms where our audience might be found, and makes sure that our content is available and up-to-date.