Are most classical choirs like this?

[Choirquestion]

It’s an amateur choir, rehearses at a local church, we don’t go on big tours or sing in famous buildings or anything.

As there were lots of sopranos compared to everyone else, what they did was to introduce some choral scholars who get paid a small amount, it originally seemed like three of them but now there’s more like six or eight, all men including male altos, and they all know each other. As far as I know, they are all ex-students of our conductor, and it’s starting to feel like an old boys club. They do all the solos, not just in the choir music but they also sing their own solo songs during concerts. They’re all very nice people and I don’t have a personal issue with anyone, I just feel a bit annoyed with the setup.

Is this normal for a choir or should I look at some others?

Nope..not normal in my experience.
I sing in a large Choral Society. There are no paid members. But we do pay soloists. For the large works we do (Verdi's Requiem next). The members wouldn't be up to the required level for those solos.
We have too many altos and not enough sopranos! Oddly.

Thanks. I don’t have an issue with a few people being paid, I just don’t like the feeling because it feels a bit like an old boys club and I feel like the rest of us are there to back them up.

I joined this choir in Sept after singing in Community Choirs for years. I expected it to be cliquey and a bit snobbish. But it isnt at all..just a lot of lovely (if a bit old) people pasionate about singing

No not normal. We do allow up to 25 year olds not to pay but otherwise everyone is on the same fees. Yes the same people get solos but that’s because they are good, he actually is really encouraging and has given me one but I’m nervous I think, I’ve agreed to do it as a duet instead

We bring in soloists for big performances (Haydn, The Creation next) and also find for smaller solos the same people get to sing them. Such is life.

Interesting.

Weird choir shit like this is not unusual in my experience. But that doesn't mean you need to put up with it, if there are other choirs available!

I think I will continue looking for another choir.

Is there a committee you could feed back to (whether you stay or leave)? You are probably not the only choir member who dislikes this, it might be worth a try.
Not entirely the same but I recently joined a local choral society which is mostly fine but there are a lot of unwritten rules (what sort of black clothing is suitable for concerts, Beryl always sits there...) and after a while I spoke to one of the committee about how unwritten rules could put off newer members, and they did take it on board.

There is a committee but I’d feel so bad for saying it as they’ve been so nice to me, and I don’t have a personal issue with anyone.

No. That sounds odd. I wouldn't be happy my fees going towards a load of paid male professionals.

Choirs struggle badly to get men though. A few I know resort to having a couple who are absolutely bloody awful. Tone deaf. And obviously they get certain solos. It's quite cringe.

But they need to adapt with who they've got. Otherwise it's not fair and why should someone be paid just because they have a lower voice?

Our church choir is mostly female parts. It is really hard to get male singers.

We have paid choral scholars from the local university, and it's easy to get sopranos, but really hard to get tenors and bass. The boys just don't want to get up in the morning (allegedly).

Saying that, our choral scholars have absolutely transformed the choir, both by their own presence and by inviting their friends.

Yes, that’s the thing, the choir does sound really good and has a really good, strong bass section. The guys aren't being cliquey on purpose, just that they all know each other because our conductor hired them. The choir as a whole has been really nice to me and very welcoming, I just quietly resent the old boys feel, almost like I’m in their backup choir.

I feel bad for complaining about it because I’m sure there’s some far more cliquey choirs out there, but I do feel this bit of resentment even though the choir has given me a sense of belonging. I only joined a few years ago and don’t want to rock the boat when there are so many other choirs out there that I could try.

Choirs struggle badly to get men though

My BiL was recruited to his university choir by someone who leaned out of a window as he passed by humming to himself in his usual absent-minded fashion -- "Oy, you, tall guy, do you want to sing?"