EquALIty, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir (AOMC) believes in equality and values diversity in all its dealings. 

Equality is about ensuring that access to opportunities in all Choir activity, with the exception of gender in performances *, is available to all by taking account of people’s differing needs and capabilities. Diversity is about recognising and valuing differences through inclusion, regardless of difference or perceived difference. 

We aim to inspire and enrich the lives of every generation of music lover, bringing world-class choral music to the widest possible audience.  The AOMC is a sociable and welcoming community, with a common love of singing male voice choral music in venues across the UK and overseas. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages and celebrates the diverse experiences and perspectives of our members.  We recognise the importance of promoting diversity in the choir’s membership and in the audiences that we reach*. 

We recognise that in many of these areas we could do more or better. This includes increasing the diversity in our membership, removing barriers to access, increasing the diversity of those we perform with, those we perform to, and those whose works we perform.  To do this  we aim to continue to develop the choir as a welcoming and inclusive family of musicians. Widen and diversify the audiences that we perform to, including by keeping ticket prices low where possible, and performing in a variety of venues. Preserve the quality of music making and the things that make the choir a unique and special place, so that as wide a range of people as possible can experience high-quality choral music. 

* Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir is a male voice choir and requires all choristers to be able to sing to a quality determined by the Musical Director in one of four male orientated voice ranges – tenor, second tenor, baritone or bass. Members are required to pass a voice test and to be able to attend in-person rehearsals.