Role: Royal Albert Hall Songbook – Freelance Musician
Location: Multiple Locations Across London and Home Counties
Salary/hourly rate: £103.00 per performance (£206 per day).
Hours: Selected Tuesdays throughout the year between 10.00am & 4.00pm
THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL SONGBOOK
The Royal Albert Hall Songbook is a free, interactive concert which explores the vast musical history of one of the world’s most iconic venues.
Professional musicians from the Hall’s resident Engagement Ensemble ‘Albert’s Band’ lead participants on a nostalgic journey through the musical history of the Royal Albert Hall through songs, stories and audience participation.
During the one-hour concert, the audience enjoy a series of incredible songs that have been performed at the Hall by artists including Dame Vera Lynn, Ella Fitzgerald, Sir Tom Jones, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. All participants will receive a commemorative songbook containing the lyrics to the music played and photos from the Hall’s archives.
The concert is aimed at an older audience and is available to visit a variety of locations including care homes, hospitals, day centres and hospices, throughout London and the Home Counties.
THE ROLE
The Royal Albert Hall’s Engagement team are seeking an enthusiastic and competent professional standard guitarist and singer to deliver our Royal Albert Hall Songbook performance as part of the Supporting Communities strand of our Engagement programme.
The successful candidate will join an established team of musicians to deliver the sessions on selected Tuesdays throughout the year in a variety of older adult settings across London and the Home counties. Two performances are delivered on each date and the performances take place between 10.00am & 4.00pm.
All of the musical items are specially arranged so being able to read music, as well as play and sing at the same time to a high standard are essential skills. The musicians share the introductions and any interactions with the audience members in a relaxed and friendly manor.
We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We recognise the value a diverse workforce brings, and we are especially keen for people currently underrepresented in our organisation and the wider sector to apply.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
- Ability to read music and perform with other musicians.
- Professional standard guitar and singing skills and confident public speaking.
- Experience of performing a range of musical genres and styles.
- A passion and commitment to cultural inclusion and the role of music in supporting wellbeing.
- Ability to work as part of a sociable and professional team of musicians.
- Ability to adapt to unexpected situations that may arise during the delivery of the individual sessions.
- Flexible availability throughout the year and generally available on Tuesdays
- Understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and reflect this in your workshop practice, being sensitive to the range of backgrounds and experiences.
- Understanding and commitment to safeguarding and adhering to RAH Safeguarding policy.
Desirable:
- Experience of working in older adult settings
- Knowledge of the Royal Albert Hall and it’s history
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The successful candidate will receive training in advance of delivering the sessions, which will include being paid to observe sessions and having rehearsals with existing members of the team.
This will be followed by a gradual integration into the team as part of an initial trial period.
Once the training and trial period have been successfully completed, the successful candidate will then be required to deliver half of the sessions each year.
The successful candidate must be willing to sign a Royal Albert Hall Freelance Framework Agreement and also complete a Royal Albert Hall New Supplier Form in order to be paid.
Please email engagement@royalalberthall.com if you have any questions or require any additional information.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply for this role please email a covering letter and CV to engagement@royalalberthall.com by midday on Thursday 18 May. Please explain why you are a suitable candidate for the role and include examples of previous relevant experience. Please feel free to include links to videos or recordings of you performing if you feel they are relevant and support your application. We will invite successful candidates to attend a live interview and audition which will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 25 May. You will be asked to prepare two short songs from the songbook programme to introduce and perform. The music and script will be sent to you in advance.