1. What if I'm not good enough?

This is a common perception from outsiders, but it is usually a misplaced one! Actually there are people with very different musical backgrounds in the choir.

Some people joined us as complete beginners; others have been singing for 50 years. What is important is an ability and willingness to develop vocally and learn musically. If you have this, you will have such a wonderful opportunity to develop musically that in a couple of seasons you will notice you have really developed. Indeed some of our members have gone from strength to strength and taken up singing lessons and entered exams. You don't have to: you can take it at whatever pace you feel comfortable with or commitments allow. Others adopt a more gradual approach preferring to confine their musical development to rehearsal time. We are also undergoing a renaissance and have ambitious plans to expand: you could be one of the new 40 members we aim to have recruited by 2010. There's never been a better time to join BFCS. Click here if you want information on a NEW choral singing course run in conjunction with our partner Bradford College.

2. What if you like singing and music but you don't know much about choral music ?

From our point of view: No problem. From yours: You are in for a treat. What an education! Some of the best music ever written has been for this oldest and finest of instruments the choir. Choral music has been a feature of western art since Greek times. The bulk of the repertoire was written from the early-modern times, through to Bach and Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and on to Beethoven. Choral music was hugely popular in the nineteenth century, especially in the big Victorian towns like Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford. Despite the advent of cinema, radio, TV and the internet, choral music remains as popular as ever. Indeed it is rumoured to be second only to football as a national pursuit. Some of the things you like about say folk music or pop music will be present in choral music. Lots of our members come with limited knowledge of repertoire, but soon develop an appreciation of it. You'll find that Tom our exciting new Musical Director, with his passion for and encyclopaedic knowledge of music and singing will provide you with a real education.

3. Is it very dull and boring?

Absolutely not. While rehearsals can be challenging, they are never dull and there are plenty of opportunities for light relief: Tom our MD has a great sense of humour. In fact you become so engrossed you'll wonder where the time went when it's time to leave. Then there's the social side of things. Whether an after-rehearsal drink or a meal out or a trip to the opera there's no shortage of opportunities to meet people and make friends.

4. I've never done this sort of thing before and I'm quite nervous. What should I do?

Come along and try us out. There is no obligation, just an exciting opportunity to add a whole new dimension to your life. You won't be the first person to feel trepidation at the prospect of coming along, but "feel the fear and do it anyway" as Susan Jeffers puts it. All our new members are given a singing friend on arrival. They look after you, find your page, explain what's going on, answer concerns, can introduce you to people and most of all show you that we're all learning together, making mistakes. If you decide it's not for you, that's fine, but most people after overcoming the initial nervousness come back and go on to be full members.

5. Artistically speaking, some choirs tread water. Is BFCS going anywhere?

Absolutely we are. Our new vibrant and talented, young MD has big plans to develop the Festival Choral Society as do its forward-looking Committee. BFCS is a choir with a prestigious past and an incredibly exciting future. We are keen to neglect neither. Our annual Messiah is one example of how we acknowledge our heritage; our willingness to tackle the more unusual and challenging will continue to shape our future. All art must renew itself constantly and we want to ensure whatever we sing is musically alive and technically of the highest standards. We also want to stretch our members, vocally, musically and culturally. We want to be open to as broad a range of people as possible, but that doesn't mean we are happy with the second rate. Welcoming as many people as possible to aim for high musical standards will remain our guiding principle as we continue to the next stage of our ambitious renaissance. In the short term we aim to increase the number and widen the demographic of our membership, drive up the quality of the Choir's voice through innovative and inspiring vocal and aural training. In the longer term, this means an increasingly exciting and ambitious repertoire, touring and appearances on the media.

6. When and where do you rehearse?

Every Wednesday at the picturesque United Reformed Church in Saltaire with additional rehearsals on the day of the concert.

Click here for details on how tojoin.

7. Is there an audition?

We prefer the term 'voice audit'. Tom, our Musical Director, is more interested in finding out about your voice, its range and where you'd best fit in the choir. He'll invite you to sing something you have chosen and prepared for. He'll also ask questions about your experience. There is no "wrong" answer to this. If you've limited (or have no) experience or sightreading skills, he might put you with a more confident or experienced singer. It's also a fantastic opportunity to have some feedback from an expert on your own voice. In anycase, it won't be for several weeks and when you're ready and comfortable: we want you to feel you've found your feet first!