1. How can I join Gosforth Musical Society?
New members are welcome to join us at one of our Monday rehearsals to get a feel for the society and decide whether you want to join up. The best time to join is at the start of a rehearsal period for a new show (September or December/January) when we start going through the music for our upcoming production. But, we welcome people all year around! Just get in touch on facebook or via gosforthmusical@gmail.com for more information.
2. Do I need to audition?
There is no formal audition process to join the chorus. Our MD might sometimes ask you to sing a couple of scales with the piano to get an idea of your vocal range and know which section to place you in. We do usually hold auditions for principal parts. The process is decided by our director and musical director on a show by show basis, but usually involves reading a section of lib, and singing one piece (usually a selection from an upcoming show).
3. Where and when do you rehearse?
Rehearsals are Mondays (general cast) and Wednesdays (principals) at 7:30pm at the Gosforth Trinity Community Centre (near the South Gosforth double-roundabout, NOT Gosforth Trinity Church on the high street!).
4. How often do you perform?
At least two shows a year! Usually our “main” show (with orchestra) is in Spring, with rehearsals starting in December. Our autumm show is usually in November or December, with rehearsals starting on the first week of September.
5. What are your membership fees?
New members are welcome to come along to try out a few rehearsals at no cost. If you did decide to join, membership fees are £80 a year, with the option to spread the costs into two £40 payments across the year. Membership fees help us to cover some of our running costs like stage insurance and rehearsal venue hire.
6. Where do you perform?
Whilst this is subject to change dependent on venue availability, the majority of our Spring performances take place in the Gosforth Jubilee Theatre, a grade II listed theatre hidden away in the heart of St Nicholas Hospital. For our autumn productons, we have tended to use the Gosforth Trinity Church or the Gosforth Civic Theatre.
7. Can we join your orchestra?
The orchestra for our Spring show is sourced from members of the New Tyneside Orchestra.
8. Can we hire your theatre?
We get questions on this a lot, and we don’t run a theatre! We organise hire of the Jubilee Theatre in Gosforth through their resident group, First Act Theatre, who should be the first point of contact for any enquiries. Hire of the Gosforth Civic Theatre and Gosforth Trinity Church are organised directly through the organisations.
Any other questions? Just get in touch at gosforthmusicalsociety@gmail.com