Audition Logistics for the 2020-2021 Season

We are excited to announce auditions for our 20-21 season. Please know that all people who join us for the 20-21 virtual season will be asked to do an in-person audition when we return to a standard season if they wish to continue in the chorus.

What will this audition look like?

Thanks for your interest in auditioning for the Richmond Symphony Chorus. Our recent auditions closed on September 1 but we may hold auditions again later this season.  If you're interested in being notified about these, please go to Contact Us and let us know.  In the meantime, following is a look at how our auditions were conducted earlier this month as well as how we have typically conducted auditions in person.
September 1 Auditions
Because of the special dangers of gathering together to sing, our audition process will be a bit different. For those interested in joining us, we ask that you fill out a form and submit a video recording of yourself singing a few quick things (see below). Please fill out the form and submit the video via email or the form no later than September 1 to Chorus@RichmondSymphony.com. If you are accepted, we ask that you commit to participating in at least one-half of our scheduled season as a provisional member. Then, whenever the social distancing restrictions lift, we will have you audition in person.

​This season, we begin virtual rehearsals via Zoom on Tuesday, September 8, and these will continue weekly on Tuesday nights from 7:30-9:00.  We'll first be preparing "Shenandoah" for a virtual performance and then rehearsing Christmas repertoire for a holiday virtual performance. We also have a spring virtual performance in our plans.

Audition Process

Because of the special dangers of gathering together to sing, our audition process will be a bit different.  For those interested in joining us, we ask that you do two things:
1. FILL OUT THE AUDITION FORM: CLICK HERE.
2. SUBMIT A VIDEO RECORDING CONTAINING THREE THINGS.  (You can record them all together, separately, or edit them together. We're flexible. You can send them to us at Chorus@RichmondSymphony.com, share them to a video service (like YouTube or Vimeo) and share the link with us, or attach the video file(s) to the form above.
  • The melody of one of these three pieces (in a key that is comfortable for you - first verse only - unaccompanied):
  • A simple solfege exercise (intervals using your Do-Re-Mis):
    • Sing intervals from "Do" as indicated on this sheet music: HERE.
  • A simple rhythm exercise:
    • ​Sing the attached rhythm on a note that is comfortable for you.  EXCERPT HERE.  We recommend a G natural!​ ​

When?

We are no longer accepting videos.

Need help?  Just let us know!

Contact us HERE!

What auditions typically look like!

We believe that a chorus is a collection of strengths. Thus, we have developed (in normal times) a comprehensive audition process that involves group and solo singing and assessment of languages, rhythm, ear training, and group participation.
​
For the audition, we will ask you to perform prepared repertoire, to vocalize, and to demonstrate skill in rhythm, ear training, and language acquisition. The first 10 minutes of your audition will be in a group/choral setting.  Then, you will individually visit rooms for vocalizing, rhythm, ear training, and language. We believe that the breadth of this list gives each singer the opportunity to demonstrate what they would contribute to the Richmond Symphony Chorus. See below for details, materials, and guides to help you do your best. There will be a few minutes between each of these sessions when you will need to wait while others are being auditioned, so feel free to bring a book, Kindle, crossword puzzle, or anything else quiet to pass the time. We will certainly try to keep your wait to a minimum and hope to finish hearing everyone within one hour. Our chorus members and the audition committee fully understand the stress of going through an audition and will do all they can to put you at ease. We hope you may even enjoy the audition! Thank you for your interest in joining the Chorus and for your willingness to audition. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Contact Barbara Baker at bbaker37@verizon.net.
IN A GROUP
PREPARED REPERTOIRE
In a group of about 8-10 people, you will sing through and participate in a 10-minute mini-rehearsal of "And With His Stripes" from Handel's Messiah (links are posted to the right). You should learn the music ahead of time, but you don’t need to memorize it. (If you’re unsure of whether you’re a soprano or alto, tenor or baritone, please learn both parts.)    
PRINTABLE SCORE
 (or, you may use your own score to Messiah if you have one)
and_with_his_stripes_audition_music.pdf
File Size: 1246 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
ON LINE HELP
- CYBERBASS (Scroll down the page to find the audio help for "And With His Stripes")

​VIDEOS:
-Soprano Part (link to a YouTube)
- Alto Part (link to a YouTube)
- Tenor Part (link to a YouTube)
- Bass Part (link to a YouTube)

INDIVIDUALLY

VOCALIZATION
You’ll meet with our director, Erin Freeman, our rehearsal pianist, Ingrid Keller, and our four friendly and encouraging section leaders. You may be asked to do any or all of the following:
  • sing “My Country ‘tis of Thee,” with piano accompaniment, beginning on various pitches; we’ll provide the lyrics if you need them 
  • sing through the Handel Messiah selection again with the four section leaders joining you.  
  • perform warm-up style vocal exercises, at the direction of Erin Freeman, to determine where your range lies 
RHYTHM SKILLS
You’ll meet with a member of the Chorus to sing the rhythm exercise you prepared on your own (posted to the right in .pdf and .doc formats). You’ll sing that on a comfortable pitch, using a syllable of your choice (such as “dee” or “da”). When you first arrive for your audition, we’ll give you a second rhythm exercise to study and sing as well. You have the opportunity to study that second exercise before you enter the rhythm skills room.
rhythm_exercise_1_2014.pdf
File Size: 124 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
rhythm_exercise_1_2014.doc
File Size: 105 kb
File Type: doc
Download File
EAR TRAINING:  A member of our Chorus will play a series of pitches on the piano and ask you to sing those back to evaluate how well you hear intervals.
GERMAN
You’ll meet with another member of the Chorus who will listen to you speak the German text you prepared prior to the audition and may coach you to improve your pronunciation. This is not to assess how well you speak German but rather your ability to learn lyrics in a foreign language. The German excerpt (from Beethoven Symphony 9) with sound clips to help you are posted to the right.    
TEXT:
german_excerpt.pdf
File Size: 24 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
german_excerpt.doc
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: doc
Download File
RECORDINGS: