Skip to body

Music

Choral Auditions FAQs

Choral Home | Ensembles |  Choral Festival | Mission
Voice Home | Voice Auditions | Instructors | Jury Forms | Opera

To find specific audition information for Chamber Choir, click here. General audition questions are answered below.

WHICH CHOIRS ARE AUDITIONED AND WHICH ARE NOT?

You must complete an audition to become a singer in Chamber Choir or Women's Choir. If it is determined that a non-auditioned choir will be a better fit for you, we will let you know that fact, as well as informing you as to which choir or choirs we suggest you consider. If you audition for Chamber and Dr. Weidenaar thinks your current ability level would fit better with Women’s Choir, or vice versa, you will be given that option.

You do NOT need to audition for University Chorale, Men’s Choir, or Central Singers. You may simply sign up for the class and come to the first rehearsal. You are, however, welcome to audition if you like. You are also welcome to contact the director of the particular group to either receive more information about the group or even to meet with them and let them hear you sing a bit (recommended if have very little or no prior singing experience, or if you don’t know which part you sing.) Course numbers and meeting times can be found on the choral ensembles page.

All of us directors know that many people are nervous about singing alone, so you can be assured of a positive and supportive environment if you decide to sing for us.

top of page

WHAT IF I AUDITION FOR CHAMBER CHOIR AND DR. WEIDENAAR THINKS ANOTHER CHOIR WOULD BE A BETTER POSSIBLE FIT?

It is important for you (and, frankly, for the ensemble) that you are placed in a choir which best matches your musical ability and vocal training. I will let you know my thoughts at the end of your audition or soon after. Placing you in a choir other than the one you auditioned for is done in consultation with you and only with your approval, of course.

top of page

WHEN ARE AUDITIONS?

Sign up sheets for those interested in Chamber Choir or Women’s Choir will be posted on the bulletin board outside Dr. Weidenaar’s Office #122 in the Music Building on and after Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. You may also email Dr. Weidenaar at Gary.Weidenaar@cwu.edu to have him sign you up for a time.

FOR EITHER GROUP’S AUDITION, PLEASE ARRIVE a few minutes before your scheduled time. It will greatly help if you know your student number, phone and address, and email address. If you completed a pre-audition in at the end of this past spring quarter – please remind me of that fact when you sign up.

top of page

HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION?

This year ALL choir audition sign ups will be done online. Follow this link to sign up.

Fall 2012 Audition Times:

  • Sunday, September 16, times 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Monday, September 17, times 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM , 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday, September 18. times 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM , 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Try to take the earliest time available for two reasons:

  1. Later times fill up and sometimes there is an overflowing demand the last day before classes start
  2. The earlier you go, the more time you have to plan your schedule, while Dr. Weidenaar has more time to assimilate auditionees into the choirs.

top of page

MUST I BE A MUSIC MAJOR TO BE IN A CHOIR?

Absolutely not! In fact, in some groups there are more non-majors than majors. All groups, including Chamber Choir, usually have non-majors among their members. If you like to sing, there's a CWU Choir for you!

WHO MUST AUDITION?

You must complete an audition only if you are considering either Chamber Choir and/or Women’s Choir. You do NOT need to complete an audition if you are interested in Chorale (MUS 267/467/567 – called also University Chorale), Men’s Choir (MUS 228/428), or Laboratory Choir (MUS 235/435). You may simply sign up for those classes and come to the first rehearsal. You are, however, welcome to complete an audition if you like. At that time, you will be advised about whether the Men's Choir, University Chorale, Central Singers or one of the two auditioned ensembles are the most appropriate, given your schedule, experience, course load, class conflicts, etc.

You are also welcome to contact the director of the group to either receive more information about the group or even to meet with them and let them hear you sing a bit (recommended if you have very little or no prior singing experience, or if you don’t know which part you sing.)

All of us directors know that many people are nervous about singing alone, so you can be assured of a positive and supportive environment if you decide to sing for us.

Remember, if you wish to be considered for Women's Chorale or Chamber Choir, a full audition is required to enter either of those groups.

top of page

WHAT DO AUDITIONS CONSIST OF?

They are relaxed, friendly, and nothing to be uneasy about. Auditions give us a chance to get to know you individually before the quarter gets underway.

Women’s Choir Auditions include:

  • Singing. Preferably, sing 60 seconds of an aria or art song - unaccompanied. If you don’t have anything of that nature, you may sing “My country tis of thee”, or the first half of the “Star-Spangled Banner”.
  • Vocalizing. You will vocalize through your range.
  • Singing an excerpt. a part of a piece of music assigned to be learned for the audition. You may view, or download, the pdf file here, or pick it up from an envelope on Dr. Weidenaar’s door, Rm. 122
  • Pitch Retention. You will sing back series of pitches after they are played for you on the piano.
  • Sight reading. You will sing something roughly equivalent to a Bach Chorale.

Chamber Choir Audition Info:

  • For information specific to Chamber choir auditions, click here

top of page

WHAT DO I HAVE TO PREPARE?

Women’s Choir – Preferably, sing 60 seconds of an aria or art song - unaccompanied. If you don’t have anything of that nature, you may sing “My country tis of thee”, or the first half of the “Star-Spangled Banner”. Also, learn this excerpt. If your vocal range has allowed you to sing more than one part in a choir, learn whichever part you feel the most comfortable with.

Chamber Choir – For information specific to Chamber choir auditions, click here. 

top of page

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?

Your student number, phone number, address, and email address. Please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time to fill out the necessary and important paperwork. All Women's Choir and female Chamber Choir hopefuls will be measured for the required dress (which is purchased by you). If you have purchased your CWU choir dress in the past 2 years, you are all set – since we are using the same model again this year.

top of page

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS CHOIRS AT CWU?

Visit our Choral Ensembles page. There you will find information such as course numbers, meeting times, descriptions of each group and links to their individual pages.

top of page

WHAT IF I'VE ALREADY (OR I HAVEN’T YET) ENROLLED IN A CHOIR?

If you've already enrolled in a choir, please let us know. It is very common for singers to go through drops and adds to change the ensemble in which they originally enrolled. If you HAVE to sign up for a choir because of financial aid or other issues, sign up for either Mens Choir or Chorale. It is both easy and normal procedure to drop one choir and add another during the first week of the quarter.

If you feel you only have one or two time slots free because of required classes, let us know that - in many cases, there are options of which you may not be aware. We try and balance voices and voice parts with your wishes and needs as best we can.

Also, be aware that there is no need to physically sign up for a choir before its first rehearsal. You are given a reasonable amount of time by the registrar's office to drop and add with no penalty .

For Fall 2012, late fees are as follows: Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, a $25 late registration fee is assessed. From Oct. 3 - Nov. 1, the fee is $50. From Nov. 2 - Nov. 30, the late registration fee is $75.

You MUST be signed up for an ensemble – you may NOT take part unless you are on the roster. There are no exceptions.

If you HAVE signed up, you may drop one choir and replace it with another (if needed) - see your instructor for how.

If you HAVEN’T signed up for a choir yet, you may do so within the first week of the quarter.

top of page

IF THERE ARE TWO COURSE & LINE NUMBERS, WHICH ONE DO I LIST?

Although there are at least two line numbers for each choir, it is the same ensemble. The lower course number (in the 200's) is for freshman and sophomores, the upper number (in the 400's) generally for juniors or seniors. In the case of Chamber Choir and University Chorale, the upper line number (in the 500's) is a number for graduate students.

You MUST be signed up for an ensemble – you may NOT take part unless you are on the roster. There are no exceptions.

top of page

WHEN WILL RESULTS BE POSTED?

Women’s Choir – results for the Fall 2012 quarter, will be posted at 10:00 am Friday, September 21, both on Dr. Weidenaar’s Office door (Rm. 122) and on the choral bulletin board near the choir room (room 153) The Women’s Choir’s first meeting will be at 12:00 on Friday, Sept. 21 

Chamber Choir – For information specific to Chamber choir auditions, click here.

top of page

 

  • Printer-friendly version
  • Send by email
  • PDF version