Singing With The Choral Arts Society

Thank you for your interest in singing with The Choral Arts Society of Washington, widely acknowledged as one of the finest symphonic choruses in the nation. The Chorus comprises 190 volunteer singers ranging from high school students to retirees. As you probably realize, new applicants are accepted only as openings are available in order to maintain the optimum balance of parts within the group.

Auditions for first-time applicants are held in late Spring and again in late August or early September. You may contact the Chorus Manager, (202) 244-3669 ext. 21 to schedule an audition. Please be sure to read all of the following information before requesting an audition.

Auditions for returning chorus members are usually held in late spring. Occasionally we hold mid-year auditions for new singers if the need arises or if space becomes available. Those whose names we have on file will be called if this occurs.

Location
Auditions and most rehearsals are held most often in Satterlee Hall, the Parish Hall at St. Alban's Episcopal Church.

St. Alban's Church is located at the corner of Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues, NW, on the grounds of The National Cathedral. Driving north on Wisconsin, cross Massachusetts, and make the next possible right turn through a stone archway onto Lychgate Rd. The first building on the right with the red doors is Satterlee Hall. See the map below.  Parking is available on the church property.

Categories of Singing Membership

Full Member
A full member must be available for and able to commit to the rehearsal and performance schedule for 2007-2008 (not including optional performance opportunities). Note: If an applicant is not available and able to commit to the rehearsal and performance schedule, a special waiver may be requested at the time of the audition (space provided on the audition form). Approval will be at the sole discretion of the Artistic Director.

Guest Chorister
A guest chorister is a qualified singer who is not available for the full rehearsal and performance schedule (not including optional performance opportunities), but who may be interested in singing in one or more performances of The Choral Arts Society during the course of the season. The Choral Arts Society may extend an invitation to a guest chorister to join the chorus for an individual concert as the need may arise. In addition, a guest chorister may request an opportunity to join the chorus for a specific concert. In either event, the participation of a guest chorister in an individual concert will be at the discretion of the music director. Guest choristers are advised that there is no absolute guarantee that there will be an opportunity to sing with the chorus during the course of the season.

Guidelines for Full Members
You are expected to fulfill your commitment to the rehearsal and performance schedule (not including optional performance opportunities) as indicated at the time of your audition, and reaffirmed at the time of your invitation. If you must miss any rehearsals or performances for which you had previously indicated your availability, you are requested to notify the Chorus Manager as soon as possible. Based on such unanticipated absences, the music director reserves the right to ask a full member to step down from a given concert, or to withdraw for the remainder of the season. The music director reserves the right to revoke full membership for any chorister at any time based on attendance, musical reasons, or any other considerations. You may request a leave of absence during the season for any reason, at any time. Approval will be at the discretion of the music director, and if granted, will not change your status as a full member.

Choral Arts Auditions

Audition Process
Initial auditions will be approximately 10-15 minutes long, and held with Joseph Holt, Associate Conductor and Pianist. Follow-up auditions for those called back are held with Artistic Director Norman Scribner. In auditions, you will be asked to demonstrate all or some of the following:

Range - Scales and simple vocalization, and possibly a familiar song in several different keys;

Pitch perception /Tonal memory - Matching a series of tones from the piano and singing tones at intervals above or below a given tone;

Rhythm - Clapping or speaking written rhythm patterns;

Sight Reading - A short passage or something from the standard SATB choral repertoire will be provided (i.e., Messiah, Brahms' Requiem, Bach's B Minor Mass)

Presentation/Tone Quality - Short prepared solo. If you are accustomed to singing as a soloist, bring something you know well that will show off your voice. If not, choose something simple with which you will be totally comfortable (a hymn, folk song, or your voice part from a four-part choral work). You may bring music if you wish to be accompanied, or you may accompany yourself or sing a cappella. You will not need to bring your own accompanist.

 

Notification

You will receive a response to your initial audition by phone or mail within three weeks of your audition.

Follow-up audition results are based on a competitive ranking of musical ability along with an acceptable statement of availability and commitment to the rehearsal and performance schedule (not including optional performance opportunities).

Qualified choristers for whom there are openings for full membership will be notified by phone before the first rehearsal in early September.. Choristers who accept their invitation will be asked at that time to reaffirm their availability and commitment to the rehearsal and performance schedule as indicated on their audition form.

Qualified choristers for whom there are no openings for full membership at the time of their audition will be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is maintained for the current year only, with applicants ranked in order of ability regardless of the date of application. Invitations will be extended to choristers on the waiting list to become full members as vacancies occur during the year, to substitute for full members who must miss a given performance, to enlarge the chorus for special occasions, or to join the chorus for optional performance opportunities.

Note: All choristers (former members, waiting list, and new applicants) who are interested in singing membership for the following season must reaudition prior to the beginning of the new season.

Rehearsals

Full rehearsals with piano are held every Tuesday evening, 7:30-10:00pm in Satterlee Hall at St. Alban's Episcopal Church at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW on the grounds of the National Cathedral.

Part rehearsals, usually one or two per concert, are scheduled on Saturday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Monday evenings in Satterlee Hall.

Orchestra rehearsals, usually two per concert, are scheduled within the week preceding each concert. However, this is subject to the availability of the orchestra and The Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Every effort is made to schedule orchestra rehearsals on evenings and weekends, but some fall unavoidably during weekday working hours.

Please see above map for location.

Membership Dues and Expenses

Music
You are asked to purchase the music performed during the year, which you then keep. (Anticipated expense under $60.00) Note: Some works will be available on loan without charge from publishers or from The Choral Arts Society's own permanent library, and must be returned after their use. You are asked to purchase and a large-format black choral folder ($12.00), which you then keep for permanent use.  You may be asked to purchase an octavo-sized black choral folder ($7.00).

Concert Dress
You are asked to be responsible for the standard CASW concert dress:

Women
• Purchase of standard concert gown
   (Approximately $105.00 - payment plan available)
• Black shoes

Men
• Tuxedo or black suit, black bow tie, white shirt (red bow tie
   for Christmas)
• Black shoes

Dues
There are no annual dues for singing members of The Choral Arts Society.

Singing members may make a need-based request for waiver of charges for music or concert dress.

Performances

Subscription series concerts are performed at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, and occasionally at other local venues. Most concerts with The National Symphony Orchestra are also at The Kennedy Center.

In addition to singing with chorus during the regular season, The Choral Arts Society also provides these optional opportunities to sing in the Washington community.

• Television - The Choral Arts Society may be invited to appear on such nationally televised programs as Kennedy Center Honors (first weekend in December), Ford's Theatre Gala (early June), and A Capitol Fourth with The National Symphony (July 4th).
• Special Events and Ceremonial Appearances