Chorus

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Auditioning for the Choral Arts Chorus
 
 
Requesting An Audition
 
You may contact the Chorus Manager at any time during the year to request an audition.  If you call between audition periods, your name and contact information will be added to a list and you will be notified as soon as the next round of auditions is scheduled.
Please read the following information carefully before requesting an audition.
 
 
Process
  • Schedule:  Auditions for new applicants are scheduled throughout the season.
  • Length:  Your audition will last 15 minutes.
  • Re-audition:  All singers (including former members, guest choristers, and singers on the waiting list) must re-audition prior to the beginning of each new performance season.
 

Membership Categories  

Full Member

  • Full members are asked to commit to most, if not all, of the rehearsals and performances designated for the full chorus on the performance schedule.
  • Chamber choruses are recruited from the full membership during the course of the season through open solicitation or by individual invitation.  Participation in chamber chorus performances is not a requirement of full membership.
  • If at any time during the course of the season a chorister becomes unable to fulfill his or her commitment to the requirements for full membership, the Artistic Director may ask that he or she take a leave of absence for a given rehearsal/performance cycle, transfer to the guest chorister roster, or resign from the Chorus.
Guest Chorister
  • Guest choristers are qualified singers who may wish to sing with the Chorus in one or more performances during the course of the season, but who are not available and able to commit to the requirements of full membership.
  • The Artistic Director may invite a guest chorister to sing in a given rehearsal/performance cycle if the need arises.
  • Guest choristers may request to sing in a given rehearsal/performance cycle if he or she so desires.  Inclusion is at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
  • There is no absolute guarantee that a guest chorister will have an opportunity to sing with the Chorus during the course of the season.
 
 
Requirements
 
During the audition you will be asked to demonstrate some or all of the following:
  • Range:  Singing scales and other vocalizations, and possibly a familiar song in several different key signatures.
  • Pitch Perception/Tonal Memory:  Matching a series of tones played on the piano and singing tones at intervals above or below a given tone.
  • Rhythm:  Clapping or speaking printed rhythmic patterns.
  • Sight-singing:  Performing a short passage of music presented to you at the audition.
  • Performance and Tone Quality:  Singing a short prepared solo. If you are accustomed to solo singing, bring something you know well that shows off your voice.  If not, choose something with which you are comfortable (a hymn, folk song, or your voice part from a choral work).  You may accompany yourself, sing a cappella, or bring music if you need accompaniment.  You do not need to bring your own accompanist; one will be provided for you, if needed.
 
 
Location
 
Auditions are held most often at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church – Satterlee Hall.
  • Address:  3001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015.  Google Maps
  • Directions:
    • The church is located at the corner of Wisconsin & Massachusetts Avenues, NW.  The entrance to the church driveway (Lychgate Road) is on the East side of Wisconsin Avenue, between Washington National Cathedral and Massachusetts Avenue.
    • Satterlee Hall is in the first building on your right as you enter Lychgate Road.
  • Parking:
    • Ground-level parking is available on the street (DC parking restrictions apply) and on the campus of St. Alban's Church and Washington National Cathedral (after 3:30pm Monday - Friday, and all day Saturday & Sunday).
    • Underground parking is available in the Cathedral's parking garage (for detailed information on rates and hours of operation please visit www.nationalcathedral.org).

Entrance to St. Alban's Episcopal Church Campus
Entrance to Satterlee Hall

 
 
Notification
  • Applicants for Full Membership:  You will be notified about your audition results by phone or mail.
    • Full Member:  Qualified singers for whom there are openings will be invited to join the Chorus for the current season.
    • Waiting List:  Qualified singers for whom there are no openings will be placed on a waiting list, which is maintained in order of musical ability, for the current season.  Singers on the waiting list may be invited to become full members if vacancies occur during the season, to substitute for a given rehearsal/performance cycle, to augment the Chorus if required, or to join the Chorus for optional performance opportunities.
  • Applicants for Guest Chorister:  You will be notified about your audition results by phone or mail.

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