Magdala students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, among their number you will find teachers, civil servants, mechanics and legal secretaries. The one thing they all have in common is a love of singing. However, being a student of Magdala also offers them the opportunity to become involved in a huge range of activities, to which they would not otherwise have access.

As a member of Magdala, you will perform with the Magdala Chorus, delivering high quality vocal entertainment from grand opera to Broadway showstoppers. The Magdala Chorus performs a wide repertoire in a range of venues from local village halls to Nottingham's Theatre Royal, Albert Hall and Nottingham Playhouse.

Members of Magdala can also take part in our highly successful education outreach programme, Opera Start, where they can participate with school children in a series of workshops and public performances. Work in schools has always been an important part of Magdala's programme. Opera Start is a highly participatory event which brings a creative learning experience, with opera as a tool, into the lives of young people for whom it would otherwise be a closed book and gives new skills and fulfillment to the Magdala students who deliver it.

The majority of Magdala students are in full time employment and therefore their training is undertaken on a part-time basis involving individual singing lessons with Michelle Wegwart and twice weekly chorus rehearsals. Some students have been with the Magdala Chorus for over 10 years, others have been with us for just a couple of years.

Involvement with Magdala requires a great deal of commitment, bookings for performances and education workshops are often organised a year in advance and Magdala students sign up to a contract on an annual basis. All of our students possess a real passion for singing and any potential new students have to demonstrate this commitment.

There are limited places available in the Magdala Chorus and potential new students are invited to attend a half hour consultation with Michelle Wegwart to ascertain their suitability and commitment.