MEMBERS

Members resources – GCU documents and policies for quick reference

With around 120 members from across London and the South East, we’re keen to make sure everyone has access to all our resources whenever you need to, wherever you are.

GCU – Membership Subscriptions 2024-25

The Committee sets the annual membership subscriptions as follows:

  1. Those aged 35 or older on 1st September 2024 - £300.

  2. Those aged under 35 on 1st September 2024 who are not full-time students - £150.

  3. Those aged under 35 on 1st September 2024 who are also full-time students - £75.

  4. Those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit or Pension Credit - £75.


The above subscriptions are to be paid in one lump-sum by cheque or bank transfer by 30th September 2024.

For those members who wish to pay in instalments the Committee sets the membership subscription instalment amounts as follows:

  1. Those aged 35 or older on 1st September 2024 – 8 monthly instalments of £39 each. The first instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th September 2024 and the final instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th April 2025.

  2. Those aged under 35 on 1st September 2024 who are not full-time students – 8 monthly instalments of £20 each. The first instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th September 2024 and the final instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th April 2025.

  3. Those aged under 35 on 1st September 2024 who are also full-time students – 8 monthly instalments of £10 each. The first instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th September 2024 and the final instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th April 2025.

  4. Those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit or Pension Credit – 8 monthly instalments of £10 each. The first instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th September 2024 and the final instalment to be paid by standing order by 30th April 2025.

All members are required to pay the full annual subscription, whether in 8 instalments or one lump-sum (as above).  When a member joins part-way through the rehearsal period for a concert, the full amount for the rehearsal period (and the remainder of the season)will be payable, if the member participates in a public performance.

Exceptionally, the Committee may agree to accept a lower subscription from a member in special circumstances, such as particular financial hardship.

Payments should be made by cheque (Goldsmiths Choral Union) or to the GCU bank account:

Bank: HSBC UK Bank Plc
Account name: Goldsmiths Choral Union
Sort code: 40-03-04
Account number: 50388912

Please use a reference –
SUBS24-25/Surname Forename
e.g. SUBS24-25/Bloggs John

Christmas Carols 2022

Listen to our Christmas Music concert which we performed at Holy Trinity Sloane Square on 16th December 2022.

Many thanks to Dave Allen for making this recording, which is approximately 90 minutes duration.

Lockdown recordings

These recordings were made by Steve Jones' group's Wednesday evening sessions during the Covid-19 pandemic lock-down period

Sharon Pierson: My Christmas Wish

Mendelssohn: Psalm 43

Brian Wright, conductor and musical director from 1972 to 2022.

CONCERT HISTORY DOWNLOAD

Concert history

The complete concert history of the Goldsmith Choral Union since 1933 is available to download.

Frederick Haggis, principal conductor and musical director for forty years from 1932.

CONCERT HISTORY DOWNLOAD

Music Staff

Jack Apperley - Music Director

Jack graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where, under the tutelage of Patrick Russill, he obtained a Masters in Choral Conducting. He was awarded a Distinction and received the Sir Thomas Armstrong Choral Leadership Prize. He studied Music at the University of Birmingham where he was mentored by Simon Halsey CBE.

Previously, Jack was an assistant Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus where he helped prepare the chorus for conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Antonio Pappano and John Adams.

As Music Director of Goldsmiths Choral Union, he has conducted the choir in performances of Haydn’s The Creation, McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine, and Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass. Recent performances include Bach’s Magnificat, Alec Roth’s A Time to Dance, John Rutter’s The Sprig of Time, Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs, Haydn’s Te Deum and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor.

Currently he is the Music Director and Conductor of the Epsom Chamber Choir and the chamber choir Concordia Voices. Jack is increasingly in demand as a conductor and chorus master, both in the UK and Europe. He has recently worked with the Hungarian National Choir, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and Choeur de Radio France.

See Jack’s website for more information about him: https://jackapperley.com/biography

Stephen Jones - Accompanist and Assistant Conductor

Stephen Jones studied piano at London’s Trinity College of Music with John Bingham and singing with John Huw Davies.

Over the years he has sung with the London Sinfonietta, St Paul’s Cathedral choir, Collegium Musicum of London, and the choir of St Peter’s Eaton Square, as well as an Evangelist and oratorio soloist.

He is Founder Director of the award-winning City Chamber Choir and Hertfordshire based Aeolian Singers, and is widely experienced as conductor, repetiteur, continuo player, singing teacher and composer.

For more information, see www.citychamberchoir.org.uk.