MU School of Music Choral Activities

Auditions

Choral auditions for ensemble placement will take place the final Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the week prior to the first day of class. Please read the procedure for auditions below.

Audition Requirements
(for all students except returning members of University Singers)

  1. Please complete the front side of the audition form found outside the door to FAB 210.
  2. Prepare a classical (contest-level) solo to sing at the audition. Please bring a recorded accompaniment. (If accompaniment is not available, we’ll do the best we can!) If you do not have a solo prepared, we’ll proceed to number 4.
  3. Be prepared to vocalize and demonstrate the strengths and flexibility of your voice.
  4. Be prepared to demonstrate your sight-reading skills.
  5. Be prepared to demonstrate your tonal memory skills.
  6. Plan on completing the above process in 5-6 minutes.

By Sunday morning, the day prior to the first day of classes, a list will be posted either

a. placing you in one of the existing ensembles;

b. asking you to attend the first University Singers rehearsal on Monday, the first day of classes, from 12:15-1:45 (McKee 204) to continue to the next round of auditions; or

c. both a. and b. above.

This list will be posted on the Choral Board in the north hallway, first floor of FAB. This board faces FAB 138 (faculty mailroom). You must check ALL choirs listed carefully to make sure you find your proper placement.

  1. Those students placed in one of the choral ensembles (Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, Hitt St., Choral Union) should plan to attend the first rehearsal of their respective ensembles.
  2. Those of you asked to attend the U. Singer rehearsal will practice the music as a large group on the first Monday during the University Singer class period. You will then be assigned to an octet that will perform the rehearsed music and a short sight-reading example in the second round of auditions on Tuesday evening between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. in FAB 145. You will need to be there the whole time—some of you will have to audition more than one time to complete the octets.
  3. Every effort will be made to have each student assigned to an ensemble by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday.