Auditioning for a choir can be a very positive experience, especially if you prepare and know what will be expected. In this article you will be reading about which choirs require auditions, what foods to avoid prior to auditioning, getting familiar with the section terms of a choir, the difference between private and group auditions, how to keep your cool under pressure, and what happens if you do or don’t get in. Most importantly, this article will give the reader a general idea of what to expect during the auditioning process.

Joining a professional choir can be a positive and rewarding experience.

Not all choirs are "audition-only." Between public and church organizations, you can easily find a non-auditioned, fun chorus for the average person who just loves to sing. Local church and school choirs offer fun choral experiences without the hassle of auditioning. However, for a more serious singer, such as one who wants to achieve excellence and expand his or her level of musical ability, there are plenty of audition-only choirs.
 
All choirs include the common sections known as soprano and alto. Soprano consists of the higher voice range and alto consists of the lower voice range. Children’s choirs (known as treble choirs) are comprised of only soprano and alto sections. In high school choirs and adult choirs, the sections of tenor and bass are added. These four section choirs are most commonly-known as SATB groups. Men sing in the bass clef range; tenor being the men’s soprano and bass being the men’s alto. Women of a choir sing in the treble clef, which is the most familiar clef to many musicians. It helps if you are already familiar with these terms and can read music before joining a chorus. Playing an instrument is a great way to gain an education in music and is a clear advantage in auditioning for a choir because you have already learned the fundamentals. When meeting with a choral director, after hearing your vocal range and ability, he or she will decide on the section and level your voice is best suited to sing. It is not unusual for audition-only choirs to have, within their organizations, three or more different choruses in which you can be placed. These choirs are divided to better display the different ages and levels of achievement.

Auditioning requires the proper preparation. It is always important to eat right, especially before an audition. You want your voice to be at its best, so avoid such foods as carbonated beverages and dairy products. Carbonated beverages can be upsetting to the stomach and cause unwanted belching and other gastric disturbances. Dairy products can also cause problems that affect your voice. These create an unwanted coating, which may result in coughing or other clogging of your throat.

It is always important to know how to keep your cool when under pressure in auditions. Becoming nervous is very common and expected. When nervous, it is a good idea to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to regain your composure. Take a bottle of water and keep it by your side, so you can take a sip when you feel nervous. Water is good for you, it prevents dry mouth, and it keeps you from feeling faint. The director wants you to be relaxed so that you can feel confident and so that the director can hear your voice at its best. Auditions should not be a stressful time. Think of it as showing off your voice, because the director really does want to hear it and wants you to do well. Choir directors need to determine if your abilities are what he or she is looking for in a choir member. You are auditioning for a choir, so apparently you love music and know a thing or two about it. So don’t sweat it and have fun, because it will be over much sooner than you think.

Often, there is the option of a private or group audition. The private audition is the most common. If one has never been a part of the choir and is meeting the director for the first time, private auditioning would be the best choice. Group auditions usually take place when children from the younger aged chorus move to an older aged group, but are still conducted by the same director. Either way, the auditioning process consists of the same requirements. No one gets special treatment and your vocal ability is heard and assessed in both circumstances. For special National or Regional audition-choir festivals or competitions, the audition might consist of having a professionally recorded CD or cassette tape of vocal requirements sent to the organization for which you are applying. The requirements for the recording will vary, depending on the choral section for which you are trying out. It will generally consist of singing scales within your range, singing a well-known song a capella (without accompaniment), and performing a complete song of a certain genre, which they will suggest in either English or a foreign language. In this case, you do not have to travel to audition in person; instead, it is done through the mail. You are notified of your results by return mail.

Now it is time for you to audition. You have set up a day and time and you are excited and ready. It is always a good idea to arrive early to meet the director and get familiar with the surroundings. The audition itself will probably be a lot less stressful than you are anticipating and most likely shorter than you assumed it would be. Before any singing starts, the choir director will most likely ask you about your interest in music and your musical background. The director might want to know if you have ever played an instrument, if you have ever been in a choir before, and how long you have had an interest in singing. If you do not have any musical experience at all, which is fine, the director just wants to talk to you about why you want to be in a choir and how you came to love singing. After talking to the director, one of the most important things to do in a choir audition is to warm up your voice. This is also necessary before you come to choir rehearsals or any singing programs. Simple scales will do the trick, getting your voice “limber” and ready for singing. A basic audition consists of scales followed by simple sightreading (depending upon your age and the choir level). Then, the director might ask you to sing a familiar song and perhaps give you a chance to sing some harmony. The requirements depend on your age, ability, and musical experience. Upper level choirs usually demand that you be able to sing in tune, handle complicated harmony, be able to sightread easily, and perhaps recognize key signatures. If you are young or not very experienced with music and are entering the beginning choir level, the audition will be much easier than any of the other choir levels. An entry-level choir audition usually requires you to have the ability to carry a tune and to remember and sing short musical phrases. The requirements might also include familiarity with some note names and some music reading skills. This being said, you might still make it into a choir if you lack a few of these requirements, since the director may cover these skills during the regular routine
at rehearsals.

My first audition was so much fun, yet I was nervous, as anyone would be.  It was hard when I first joined my choir; I was very young and everything was new to me. I met the director without knowing anything about her. I auditioned and, luckily, got in. When trying out for the older-aged group a year later, I auditioned with a group of my friends who were also moving up. Having my friends there seemed like a good idea at first, but it also made the audition more stressful. I wanted to do my best, not only for the director, but also for my friends. One girl broke down and started crying; it was too much pressure. That is the bad thing about group auditions. You are not focusing solely on the director, as you should be, but instead trying to impress your friends.

So what now? Did you get in or not? There is always the chance of not making the choir for which you tried out. There are plenty of choirs nationwide, so do not get discouraged too fast, you can always audition somewhere else and do better. Sometimes, the whole auditioning process culminates in not being accepted. It is disappointing news for anyone, but choir directors are supportive. There is always the opportunity, whether you get in or not, of vocal training to make your voice stronger. You can always try again next year or try somewhere else. Do not think about all the negatives of why the director probably did not accept you, but think about the fact that you now have the experience of an audition. If you did make the choir, you will have something wonderful to look forward to when you first join. It is a time to learn about music and make some good friends.

Many people across the United States and the world take joy from choral singing. Through these choirs memories are made, friendships are formed, and music is brought to life. Singing in a choir is a wonderful opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation for music, gain musical knowledge, and to grow as a musician. Auditioning for and being in a choir is indeed a worthwhile experience! M.M.