Artists are remarkably good at hiding how classical music is made, with most rehearsals strictly off limits. What magic happens there? What are the first steps? And what does it really take to get music ready for performance? The RPS is pleased to invite Dorking Choral Society members into the rehearsal room to join two of the nation’s greatest performers, and find out how they shape a piece of music and draw out its true essence. For a limited time, you can watch what happened when baritone Roderick Williams OBE and pianist Joanna MacGregor CBE, who had never collaborated before, set out to rehearse favourite songs by Schubert and Britten together. Now that you’ve met Roderick, you can see him in action with Joanna, and watch the inspiration which ignites when two greats come together to make music.

If you enjoy watching this, you can access a plethora of films from artists such as Nicky Spence, Nicola Benedetti, Sir John Tomlinson and Kadiatu and Stuart Kanneh-Mason - among others - on the RPS website in our Members Area. We warmly invite you to consider joining: as an RPS Member, you can book first to attend our insightful talks and events; enjoy the RPS Magazine, a treasury of inspirational news and views on what's happening in classical music; explore the dedicated Members Area of our website; and nominate for all the prestigious RPS Awards, having a say in who deserves classical music's top honours. Your subscription directly drives our charitable work, helping performers and composers to fulfil their calling.

As musicians yourselves, Dorking Choral Society members will know how important keeping music going throughout the pandemic has been for both personal and public morale. Now that we are gradually returning to something approaching normality, the work that the RPS does to help classical music and musicians is even more vital, as musicians nationwide find themselves in precarious positions following 18 months of little work. At the RPS, we strive for every individual Member to feel a greater sense of connection and fellowship with what makes Britain 'philharmonic', and with our mission to celebrate and protect classical music.

Click the button below to find out more about becoming a Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

If you have any questions about Membership, please don’t hesitate to contact us at members@philharmonicsociety.uk. We’d love to hear from you!