Why are the conductors of amateur choirs such wazzocks?

[eemie]

Is it because they're bitter and disappointed at not being good enough to conduct Ex Cathedra or the Sixteen?

Seething after being read a lecture on the importance of the final rehearsal, on a day when I got up and drove 30 miles to get to choir in fog and rain, after 2 days in bed with a chest infection.

Endlessly demanding, childishly rude, jaw-droppingly inconsiderate - and that's the better ones.

I suppose if they had the people skills as well as the musicianship they would be conducting Ex Cathedra or similar.

Ah well.

Becasue many members of amateur choirs are very fickle about rehearsals.

Several of dh's friends were members of Ex Cathedra by the way, is Jeffrey Skidmore still their conductor.

sadly it's not just the amaeteur choirs - I've met plenty of conductors/dom's of catherdrals and big churches (the sort that go on tour and sing in catherdrals) who are equally wazzocky

The members of our choir are far from fickle, least of all ourselves. But the conductor wants to be able to impose extra and/or different rehearsal times without negotiation or consideration for child care needs.

Yes, it's still Jeffrey wish we could move to Birmingham.

Um, SOME conductors of amateur choirs

ours is usually lovely - he does get snitty when we're more rubbish than usual, but he has endless patience with the sopranos who can't always hit the top notes, or the basses who drag the tempo down to dirge. Never has a harsh word to say to us altos though .

Actually, I'd say than none of the adult choir conductors (as opposed to school choirs stuff) I've had have been rubbish - think I've just been lucky.

I had scary his day job was conducting the Clare Colege Cambridge choir, conductor at my Birmingham choir.

But its not just choir conductors, lots of my musical theatre students have a problem when their dance school principal schedules extra compulsory or you can't take part in the show rehearsals that clash with our rehearsals that have been scheduled for 12 months!