Membership FAQ

Interested in becoming a Member of Cappella Newcastle?

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the choir and membership.

When do you rehearse?

We meet on Wednesdays in term time. We sing from 7pm - 9pm, with 10 min break in the middle.

Where do you rehearse?

Our current venue is St James United Reformed Church, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8JF

Are you a church choir?

Not at all, we are not affiliated with any church and welcome members of all religions and none.

What sort of music do you sing?

We sing secular and sacred choral music from the Renaissance to the modern day. We sing accompanied and a cappella music scored for between 4 and 8 voice parts.

These are some of our favourite pieces from recent repertoire:

• Victoria - O quam gloriosum
• Gabriel Jackson - To the Field of Stars
• Charles Parry - Songs of Farewell
• Wood - Hail Gladdening Light
• Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor
• Poulenc - Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence
• Tavener - Dum Transisset
• Byrd - Mass for four parts
• Zelenka - Miserere
• Rachmaninov - Russian pieces
• Hasse - Miserere
• Tomkins - When David Heard
• Sheppard - Libera nos
• Buxtehude - Membra Jesu nostri; Magnificat
• Tallis - Salvator mundi
• Pearsall - Lay a garland
• Schutz - Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock
• My love lived in a northern land
• Monteverdi - Vespers 1610
• Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium
• Anything by William Byrd!

How experienced a singer do I need to be?

You need to be able to follow a harmony line and sing accurately and confidently - there will be a short audition to check this and your vocal range if you decide to join.

What if I can’t read music?

We learn all our pieces from sheet music rather than by ear, so you definitely need to be familiar with musical notation. Being able to sight read well is a big advantage as we often learn multiple new pieces at once.

How do I join?

First come along to one of our rehearsals and see what you think. If you decide you would like to join the choir, you will be given a short audition by our Musical Director.

If you would like to attend a rehearsal with a view to joining the choir please contact our Secretary, secretary@cappellanewcastle.org.uk

How much does it cost?

The membership fee for 2023-24 season is £144 for the year, or £12 per month by direct debit. We offer a reduced annual fee of £18 for people who receive Universal Credit or Pensions Credit and for students. 

Sheet music is purchased by choir members so is an additional cost. This varies but is typically £10-£20 a term. People on the reduced membership fee are not asked to pay for music.

Do you have any videos or recordings?

We have a few live recordings on our YouTube channel so far– see https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYEWwn6HM73woPH2KmM9mYQ/videos

Where and when do you perform?

We work towards a big concert towards the end of each term, usually held in one of the churches in Jesmond or Newcastle city centre. We sometimes sing at church services, e.g. Evensong or at carol services at Christmas.

Do I have to commit to a full year if I join?

New members are welcome to pay for a single term at first (currently £48) and try us out for a term with no commitment. Members joining mid-way through the season will pay a pro-rata fee.

What if I can’t come every week?

We rely on a good turnout and balance of voice parts, so regular attendance is really important. We wouldn’t expect members to miss more than one or two rehearsals a term.