Auditions

 

Auditions are held during the first week of classes (September 7-10, 2010 in the Fall) each semester. The auditions will be held in room 253 (office of the Director of Choral Activities) in the Fine Arts Center. 


To schedule an audition, follow these steps:

  1. 1)Complete the online audition form. This form must be completed before your audition. The audition requirements for each ensemble are listed below (see #3).

  2. 2)Schedule your audition online for Chamber Choir, Recital Choir, University Chorale, and Women’s Choir. See below to schedule an audition for the Five College Early Music Collegium or Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Note that some audition times are set aside for a particular ensemble and others are open. Be sure to enter your audition time into your calendar, as you will not receive an email reminder. Sign up for the earliest available time.

   

    Tuesday, September 7

        10:00 AM-12:00 noon (open auditions)

        2:00 PM-6:00 PM (open auditions)


    Wednesday, September 8

        10:00 AM-12:00 noon (open auditions)

        2:00 PM-4:10 PM (returning Chamber Choir members only)

        6:30 PM-9:00 PM (returning University Chorale members only)


    Thursday, September 9

        10:00 AM-12:00 noon (open auditions)


    Friday, September 10

        10:00 AM-12:00 noon (open auditions)


  1. 3)Read the audition requirements below.


Chamber Choir:

Auditions for Chamber Choir will take place in two rounds. The first-round auditions will occur on Tuesday, September 7 and Wednesday, September 8 and will consist of scales to determine tone quality and range, pitch memory drills, and sight-reading. Call-backs will be posted on Thursday afternoon. Call-back auditions will take place from 2:30-4:10 PM on Friday, September 10 in Bezanson Recital Hall. Singers selected for the call- back auditions will be asked to perform a solo vocal piece and a prepared excerpt from a choral work. An accompanist will be provided. Please prepare your part with Latin text (measure 1 to the downbeat of m. 32 only) of Exsultate, Justi by Viadana for the call-back auditions. Click here for a copy of the score.


University Chorale, Recital Choir, and Women’s Choir:

No preparation necessary; Choral Placement Audition only. Choral Placement Auditions are brief and “pain-free.”  Those new to UMass choral ensembles or the university should sign up for one of the open auditions (September 7-10). Students are asked to sing scales to determine tone quality and range and pitch memory drills (simple three or four note patterns are played and you sing them back on “lah”) to test the ear.


Five College Early Music Collegium:

Early Music and auditions. For more information, email Robert Eisenstein or visit the website: www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/earlymusic/


Vocal Jazz Ensemble:

Vocal Jazz Ensemble auditions. For more information, email Catherine Jensen-Hole.


4) Email us with any questions you have about the auditions.


We look forward to meeting you and hearing you sing!