Join the Choir

Applications for the 2023-24 academic year are closed. We sometimes have vaccancies for new members after Christmas. If you are interested, please get in touch via our contact page.

Am I eligible to join ULCC?

The majority of our members are students or recent graduates from University of London affiliated institutions. However, we welcome all students and alumni (including foreign exchange) of any university or higher educational institution (HEI) based in London.

You do not have to be studying Music, but you will need to be able to read sheet music. Previous choral experience is encouraged (but not required!).

If in doubt, please get in touch.

How does the recruitment process work?

Firstly, we ask prospective candidates to fill out an application, which requests the following information:

Your personal details
Your university/HEI and course
A summary of your previous singing experience - e.g. previous choirs, musical grades, performances etc.
Your preferred vocal range (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
Reference information

Referencing

As part of our application process, we kindly ask that you provide us with a short reference from a singing teacher, choir leader or someone who has been instrumental in your previous singing experience and development. If you are unable to provide a reference, don't worry! Providing a reference is not mandatory in the application process, however we strongly encourage you to include one if you are able.

To provide your reference, please contact the individual who you wish to be your reference provider and advise them to email a short paragraph to Anthony, ULCC's President at president.ulcc@gmail.com. Please ensure that your reference provider includes your name (the applicant) in the subject line of their email. If you have any questions regarding this process, or are having difficulty contacting your reference provider, please do not hesitate to contact us at the email above and we will do our best to assist you. (This information is repeated in the application form).

How does the audition work?

After you have submitted an application form, we will review your application and if you meet the criteria you'll be invited to audition.

A short piece or extract of music of your choice (with or without accompaniment). We encourage you to prepare this in advance! If you're singing with an accompaniment, it would help us to have the music in advance. We will contact your prior to your audition to arrange this.
Some basic range and aural tests
A sight reading test, accompanied by three other members of the choir

The application process - including audition - is not designed to be competitive! It is merely a chance for us to meet you, and for you to ask any questions. Our auditions are super friendly and not an event you should feel nervous or anxious about.

When and where do we rehearse and perform?

Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings during university term time, between 6:30 and 8:30pm, including during reading weeks.

ULCC rehearses at St Mary Le Strand, London WC2R 1ES. From time to time, we may have to rehearse in an alternative location in Central London.

Usually, we perform between 3 to 5 times a year. This includes concerts, choral Evensong, informal carol singing and some specialist work for a private clients, businesses, and podcasts. The choir also performs choral Evensong on a Sunday evening each month at St Mary Le Strand.

The high standard and success of our choir rests on the commitment of its members. Therefore, attendance at these rehearsals and our termly concerts is compulsory. However, we fully accept that sometimes difficulties or clashes arise. If this is the case, we ask that you let us know in advance so that we can plan ahead.

Our less formal events and tours are most often held on a voluntary basis.

What do we sing?

Our repertoire include works selected from a huge variety of sacred and secular traditions. Providing a list of all our recent repertoire would be a thoroughly exhaustive task, but we’ve done it anyway. You can find it here.

You can also listen to some of our recent recordings on our Listen page.

How much does ULCC membership cost?
If you are successful at the audition stage, we ask that you pay for ULCC membership. All members of ULCC pay for membership on a rolling year basis, depending on how long they stay with the choir.

Membership is £80 per academic year. Members can pay this amount in one sum at the first rehearsal or in 2 instalments across the year.

Funds raised from our membership go directly towards the costs of running rehearsals, hiring performance venues, paying for our professional conductor and providing sheet music.

The ULCC family

The ULCC is not just a choir!

We are not even professionals - at our very core, we are really a group of friends. And so regular social evenings, dinners, games nights and other events which all very much compliment our singing repertoire. We strongly encourage everyone in the choir to attend our social evenings and we take care to choose venues that are friendly to a student budget!

Any further questions?

You can us our contact form, or email George at president.ulcc@gmail.com or contact us via our social media platforms.