Full time Teacher of Music
A full time Teacher of Music is sought for September 2014 (or April 2014 if available). We are
looking to appoint an inspirational musician with well proven communication skills to play a vital
part in the day to day running of the Music Department. This role is suitable for those looking for a
first post or for those looking for a fresh step in their career. The Glenalmond Music Department is
a very friendly and energetic department, has a high profile both internally and externally and plays
a major part in the life of the College. During term time, musical responsibilities can occur on any
day of the week and a full commitment to the 24/7 life of a busy boarding school is a prerequisite.
Responsibilities
The precise responsibilities of the position are as follows:
 To be an able and confident teacher of classroom Music from Second Form (Year 8/Key Stage 3)
through GCSE to A level; although the actual experience of teaching specific courses is not a
prerequisite, the deep and detailed knowledge required to deliver such courses is necessary and
expected
 To direct and lead large instrumental ensembles such as String Orchestra, Orchestra and
Concert Band
 To direct and lead Cantores, our Third Form girls' choir
 To form, to coach and to mentor chamber music groups
 To act, together with the Director of Music, as an accompanist for our pupils in exam and
concert situations
 To assist with administrative and routine tasks as requested by the Director of Music
 To teach a limited number (to be agreed on appointment) of instrumental lessons, as per
individual specialism
 Although not essential, ability on the organ would be an advantage
Chapel and singing
As Glenalmond is predominantly a boarding school, the Chapel plays an important role in the life of
the community. There is a daily Chapel Service on weekdays as well as a Sunday Service; day pupils
are required to attend on certain Sundays as well as the boarders. The Director of Music leads the
whole School for hymn singing (Congregational Practice) on Fridays. The Chapel Choir currently
numbers around 60 and sings an anthem or setting each Sunday. It leads the singing at the annual
Glenalmond Choral Day, attended by Prep Schools from Scotland and the north of England. There
is a strong tradition of recording, with four choral CDs released in the last ten years. Music for the
Chapel Choir has been commissioned in recent years from Bob Chilcott and Peter Gritton. The
Chapel Choir joins with members of staff, parents and local friends of the College to form a Choral
Society which rehearses in the Michaelmas and Lent terms for a large scale performance with
orchestra in March. This year the Choral Society is preparing movements from Handel's Messiah
for performance in Perth Concert Hall. Recent repertoire has included Requiems by Mozart, Fauré
and Howard Goodall, Britten's St Nicolas, Dyson's Canterbury Pilgrims, Vaughan Williams' Five
Mystical Songs, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and masses by Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. In recent years
the Choral Society has performed in St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth; Dunblane Cathedral and St Mary's
Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh. The Chapel Organ was new in 2007, a two manual tracker
instrument built by Harrison & Harrison of Durham and inaugurated by Naji Hakim. The Chamber
Choir, an ensemble comprised of the best singers in the College, toured to Northern Italy in
summer 2011 and tours to the Costa Blanca in Spain in July this year. The junior girls’ choir,
Cantores, which acts as a feeder for Chapel Choir, was formed 18 months ago and has already
performed in external and internal concerts, winning its class at Perform in Perth 2013.
Concerts, Recitals & Masterclasses
Informal weekly lunchtime concerts are given on Thursdays throughout the year. The large
ensembles and the chamber groups perform in the Ensembles Concert at the end of November and
in the Spring into Summer Concert towards the start of the Trinity term. Glenalmond musicians
perform regularly outside the College, with concerts in the past year in Perth, Dundee and
Edinburgh in addition to performing at local community events. Our musicians also enter the
spring Perform in Perth competitive festival, last year winning 95% of their classes. For two years
running we have had musicians representing Glenalmond in the final "best of the best" concerts.
Other annual internal events include the Instrumental Festival, Piano Prize and Singing Festival.
The most prestigious prize competition of the year is the Glenalmond Music Performance Cup, held
on the last Sunday of the Lent term. Entries for this are pre-auditioned and a standard in excess of
Grade 7 is required to gain eligibility to play. The whole school takes part in the annual House
Singing Competition, which features pupil lead work in both close harmony and whole House
unison singing. A hugely entertaining X Factor style House music competition has also been
introduced in recent years.
Professional artists coming to perform at Glenalmond have included Steven Osborne, James
O'Donnell, Nicolas Daniel, Paul Turner, Majestic Brass, the Alba Quartet, the RAF Band, Alison
Balsom, David Briggs, Natalie Clein, Emma Johnson, Andrew Watkinson, Andrew Kennedy, Thomas
Trotter, Lucy Wakeford and the late David Sanger.
The Chapel Choir have in the past enjoyed masterclasses with Jamie Burton, Matthew Owens and
Paul Spicer and string players spent a day with the Alba Quartet. Music Scholars are given the
opportunity to attend professional concerts outside Glenalmond at the music department's
expense, with recent trips to see Nicola Benedetti in Dundee, The Planets with the RSNO in
Glasgow and an upcoming trip to the RSNO in Perth performing Walton's Symphony No. 1.
Musicals
Glenalmond has a long tradition of performing musicals to the highest standards, with pupils and
staff from all areas of the school keen to take part. Last term's production of Les Misérables drew
much critical acclaim, with the previous term's junior production of Oliver similarly lauded. Other
recent productions include Godspell, Camp Rock, Cabaret, West Side Story and How to succeed in
business without really trying. Several of these shows have transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Staff & Instrumental Teaching
The full time music staff, Dr Tim Ridley (Director of Music), Brian Elrick (Senior Piping Instructor)
and the Teacher of Music all have their own offices in the Music School. Around 25 visiting music
teachers come to Glenalmond each week, with most staff travelling from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
The immediate administration of their work, and the timetabling of individual pupil lessons, is dealt
with by Mrs Wendy Dunn, the Music School Administrator, who works Monday to Friday in the
Music School General Office.
Facilities
The Department is housed in a purpose-built building of 1963, designed by Basil Spence and
recently acquiring listed building status. There is a recital hall, 8 practice/teaching rooms, offices
and a Music Technology studio with a separate recording facility. All the rooms are named after
famous Scottish musicians, with personal endorsements given and artwork donated by artists such
as James MacMillan, Judith Weir, Evelyn Glennie, Annie Lennox, Thea Musgrave and the widow of
the late Martin Bennett.
Music Technology
Considerable investment has been made in Music Technology. Facilities presently comprise 10
iMac computers, running Sibelius 5 and Logic Pro 9 software.
Instruments
There is a stock of College orchestral instruments though pupils are encouraged to acquire their
own as soon as possible. There is a new Yamaha C7X grand piano in the recital hall (inaugurated by
Steven Osborne playing Beethoven's Hammerklavier last September) and there are Welmar upright
pianos (purchased in 1998) in all practice rooms. The College is also the recent beneficiary of a gift
of a continuo organ which will be installed in the recital hall later this term.
Scholarships
Music Scholarships are offered for entry in all years and range from remission of fees plus free
instrumental tuition to Exhibitions of free instrumental tuition only. We have good connections
with preparatory schools and past and present pupils at Glenalmond include former choristers of St
John's College, Cambridge; Bristol Cathedral; St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh; Liverpool
Metropolitan Cathedral and Guildford Cathedral. Last year's Head Chorister from St Mary's
Cathedral, Edinburgh is a current pupil, with this year's similar incumbent already the recipient of a
Choral Scholarship offer. Glenalmond Music Scholars currently hold positions in the National Youth
Orchestra of Scotland, Perth Youth Orchestra, Aberdeen Youth Orchestra, Edinburgh Youth
Orchestra and the National Youth Choirs of both Scotland and Great Britain. One of our current
scholars has just completed conservatoire auditions and, among various offers, has been offered a
top scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh Conservatoire. There are several ex-scholars reading
music at various universities around the UK and a recently departed organist secured an Organ
Scholarship at Oriel College, Oxford.
Academic Teaching
In years 8 & 9 (Second & Third Form) all pupils receive one period of music weekly: thereafter
Music is available at GCSE (Edexcel), with Edexcel A level as a Sixth Form study. The Director of
Music teaches Edexcel Music Technology at AS and A2 level.
For further details regarding the musical requirements of the post, or for an informal chat, please
contact the Director of Music, Tim Ridley, timridley@glenalmondcollege.co.uk or telephone 01738
842138.
The College
Founded in 1851 by William Gladstone and others, Glenalmond College is a fully co-educational
boarding and day school, set in the stunning Perthshire countryside and enjoying magnificent
grounds of over 300 acres in an unrivalled setting at the foot of the Grampian hills. There are
currently 384 pupils at Glenalmond between the ages of 12 and 18. The principal point of entry is
at 13 but we have a small Second Form group which is geared towards those transferring at 12
from the Scottish primary system. Glenalmond became fully co-educational in 1995 admitting girls
in the Third Form for the first time, having taken girls into the Sixth Form in 1990. There are
presently five boys' boarding houses and three girls' houses, of which one is a year group house.
The School has excellent academic and extra-mural facilities. In addition to many cricket, rugby
and hockey pitches, there are tennis courts, squash courts, fives courts, an athletics track and a
nine-hole golf course, a swimming pool, a sports hall and two all-weather playing surfaces. The
recently refurbished Robin Thomson Theatre building is the venue for our drama and musical
productions. The School has a strong CCF contingent, an outstanding Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Scheme and a Community Service programme which operates locally on a regular basis.
Broader responsibilities and expectations
All members of staff are expected to play a full part in the life of the College beyond their own
teaching speciality. There is immense scope for sport, music, outdoor pursuits and drama and an
ability to contribute significantly in one or more of these areas will be expected. We are looking for
a willingness to be fully committed to the boarding school ethos although previous experience is
not a pre-requisite. All members of Staff are attached to one of the Boarding Houses and have
tutorial responsibilities for a small group of pupils, as well as being expected to participate in the
boarding life of the College (e.g. boarding duties and weekend social duties).
Terms
The College has its own pay scale. For the proper furtherance of their duties, full-time members of
staff are required to live on the campus and housing is provided free of rent or Council Tax. Fee
concessions are available for staff children who attend Glenalmond and there are various
reciprocal arrangements with local Prep schools. All members of staff are expected to be
registered with an appropriate regulatory body e.g. GTC Scotland. Further details on this are
available by request.
Applications for the post
Glenalmond is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children: applicants must
be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past
employers/Disclosure Scotland at enhanced level. Appointments will be conditional on references
acceptable to the College.
All applications on the College Application Form should include a full CV showing months and years
in employment and providing names and full contact details of a minimum of two referees.
Detailed information about Glenalmond, together with a copy of this job description and an
application form, can be found at www.glenalmondcollege.co.uk. Questions can be addressed to
warden@glenalmondcollege.co.uk.
Please return completed applications by 24th January by post (marked Private & Confidential) to:
The Warden
Glenalmond College
Perth
PH1 3RY
Or by email to warden@glenalmondcollege.co.uk