AUDITION INFORMATION FOR ADVANCED CHOIRS
Madrigals Auditions for 2025-26:
April 23, 2025 @ 3:30 pm
Foothill Campus - Choir Room 406
Advanced Treble Ensemble Auditions for 2025-26:
April 24, 2025 @ 3:30 pm
Foothill Campus - Choir Room 406
AUDITION PROCESS:
Auditions are a four-stage process that includes a solo performance, a quartet performance, sight reading, and blending. Auditioning takes place with all singers in the choir room together. After each stage, singers will leave the choir room, a call back will be posted, and singers on the list will return to complete the audition's next stage.
Stage 1:
Students must learn an excerpt of the provided choral piece "Danny Boy" for Madrigals and "Poor Wayfarin' Stranger" for Advanced Treble Ensemble. Each student will sing their part solo and be adjudicated on tone quality, vowel formations, intonation, and resonance.
Stage 2:
The next part of the audition process will evaluate each student's ability to independently sing their part (SATB, SSA). Students will sing"Danny Boy" or"Poor Wayfarin' Stranger" in quartets.
Stage 3:
Next, each student will sing a short sight-reading excerpt. Click HERE for examples. Students will receive their first pitch and the tonic chord, and then they will sight-read a cappella.
Stage 4:
Lastly, students will sing in sections and rotate in and out to observe timbre shifts.
MADRIGALS:
Solo performance of "Danny Boy" in one's own voice part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, or Bass). During the solo performance, students will be adjudicated on:
- tone quality
- vowel formations
- intonation
- resonance/volume
ADVANCED TREBLE ENSEMBLE:
Solo performance of "Poor Wayfarin' Stranger" in one's own voice part (Soprano I, Soprano II, or Alto). During the solo performance, students will be adjudicated on:
- tone quality
- vowel formations
- intonation
- resonance/volume
SIGHT READING:
Students may practice from the examples. Students must demonstrate basic sight reading skills and musicianship.
REQUIREMENTS:
The biggest requirements are to have a good attitude and have fun! Choir is a great way to get performing arts credit and have a good time. The students' favorite part of the year is usually during the Knights Shows, where they get to perform their favorite songs from the radio, Broadway, and movies. No previous singing experience is required!
A syllabus with mandatory commitment dates will be given out upon acceptance and again during the first week of school.
Students accepted into an auditioned choir (Madrigals or Advanced Treble Ensemble) are required to learn the given summer repertoire by the first week of school.
DECISIONS AND ACCEPTANCE:
Students can expect to receive the final decision one to two weeks following the audition.*
Because spots in the Madrigal Singers and Advanced Treble Ensemble are highly sought after but few in number, Mrs. Dehn cannot always place everyone in the ensembles. Even if they do not make the ensemble, students are encouraged to continue to sing and practice and consider singing in Concert Choir or Bass Choir.
*Upon acceptance, students are given a packet of music to learn over the summer, and are expected to come prepared to sing on the first day of school in August.
