How to Prepare for A Choir Audition

Solo Repertoire Choices

This is the single MOST important choice you have to make in preparing for your audition. Select two contrasting pieces that suit your vocal range, and showcase your abilities as a singer.

This article has excellent suggestions, sorted by vocal range, and separated into three distinct styles (Classical/Folk/Musical Theatre).

Songs for the Choral Auditions - Kathy AlexanderGreat songs for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices. Here are some songs categorised by voice type and genre – appropriate for choir auditions. Award winning Music Director and Choral Clinician Brian Wismath encourages singers who are thinking of joining a choir to go and hear that choir in person: ‘Get a sense as to […]

WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN AUDITION

A choral audition will typically consist of the following things:

A warm-up/vocalization period with the director. This is to test the student’s range and vocal comfort zone. This may not occur in every audition, but it is something to expect nonetheless. Sing-backs will be included (the director will play or sing a few notes, and ask you to sing them back).
Singing a prepared piece.
Sight-reading – that scary process where you get 30 seconds to silently look over a few measures of music, and then sing it cold, preferably without stopping.

CHOOSING YOUR OWN PIECE

If you have the benefit of choosing your own piece, do so well ahead of time. Choose something that highlights your vocal strengths and minimizes your weaknesses. You should be able to sing it musically accurately, and connect to it emotionally. Additionally, it should reflect the voice part you’re auditioning for (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass). For example, don’t sing a belt piece if you are auditioning as a soprano, no matter how strong your belt is. This will give the director zero idea of how you sound singing in your head voice, which is the primary vocal mechanism for female choral singers.

HOW TO PRACTICE

If you’ve been assigned a piece to prepare, set to work right away. Use every resource available to you – the practice track (if one is provided), your teacher, your friends (it can be helpful to practice with others!). Sing it every day, several times a day, to ensure that you become confident. Find recordings, and listen to your pieces often, in addition to practicing putting them on your voice.

Approach the different elements of the piece in this order:

1. 1. Rhythm. Speak it, clap it, tap it – whatever helps you to feel it accurately in your brain and body.
  2. Pitches. It’s often helpful to sing the pitches on a neutral syllable of your choice (like da or doo) first, especially if the piece is in a foreign language.
  3. Text. Speak the text first, even if it is in English – this will ensure that you pronounce everything properly, and can find and express meaning in the text. If the piece is in a foreign language, look up a translation and write it in your music. The director wants to see that you know what you’re singing about.
  4. Musical terms and symbols: dynamics, articulation, breathing/phrasing markings, tempo markings, etc.

WHAT IS THE DIRECTOR LOOKING FOR?

During auditions, choral directors look/listen for the following main things:

Vocal tone. Choral directors look for voices that will blend and balance with the other members of the group. This does not mean that you should completely change the way you sing to make it sound bland. Rather, it means that you should be aware of your own vocal tone. Directors won’t accept someone if they think he or she will “stick out.”
Your ability to learn music accurately. In a choral audition, musicianship is key. You must sing with accurate pitches, rhythms, and text, with good intonation and at an appropriate tempo. You must follow all other musical markings in your score and any and all other directives you were given.
Your teachability – i.e., your ability and willingness to take instruction and make instant corrections. If the director asks you in the audition to change something about the way you are singing, do your best to comply. If you don’t understand what’s he’s talking about, then ask.
Your attitude. Choral directors are looking for open-minded team players who will follow instructions reliably. They do NOT appreciate divas. Diva mentality works against the musical, vocal, and social aims of a choir. You will make everyone’s lives easier – including your own – if you check the diva stuff at the door. On the other side of things, don't apologize, or make excuses for yourself. Walk in with confidence, be prepared to answer questions, talk to the director, and present your best self. Don't say things like "I'm not really prepared" or "I didn't know what was required." Ask questions and do your work before walking into the audition.

It's OK to feel nervous... Everyone feels a bit of nerves going into an audition. Don't worry, and do your best to relax. The Director wants you to succeed, and wants to hear you try your best!

Here is a FREE Sight-Reading website that is great to practice your sight-singing...

https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/ss.php

And here are is a YouTube channel with HOURS of sightreading practice videos...

https://www.youtube.com/@sightsinging8396

TIPS ON Preparing For Choir Auditions

Got auditions coming up and don't know if you're ready enough? I've auditioned for dozens of choirs in my lifetime from school choirs to church choirs, to chamber choirs and acapella groups. Although I was pretty giddy with nerves and excitement for all of them, I manages to get into every single one. Two big factors come into play here: talent and preparation. If you've got the voice, let's make sure you're prepared to impress the judges with everything else!

Warm Your Voice Up

Make sure you've warmed your voice up well with scales, lip trills, sirens, and breathing exercises before you go into your audition. This will be especially critical if your audition is the first thing in the morning. You may want to also use steam from a shower or a vocal steamer to clear your vocal passages if you tend to have inflammation as I do in the morning from allergies.

Showcase Your Strengths With Your Pieces

Make sure that the song(s) you've chosen to audition with really highlights the best parts of your voice. If you're great with holding long, beautiful notes, pick a slow and beautiful song. If you're good with fast rhythms and vocal acrobatics, pick a song that has runs, riffs, or melismas.

Know Your Audition Pieces In And Out

Yes, you know your songs, but do you really know your songs? Did you just rush to memorize them within the last few days or have you had time with them? Have you performed them before while you were nervous? Have you sung them around your house for months? If so, you won't be as nervous to perform them in the audition. It's hard to sing your best while you're scrambling in your brain to make sure you know your next line.

Dress To Impress

Dress the way that the audition organizers requested! Don't go overboard and don't go under. You likely don't need to be very strict with this and could possibly even add some of your own personality to the way you look. Dress to feel good about yourself and look good to others!

Don't Stop If You Mess Up

Chances are, even if your voice is amazing and you know your songs very well, you will mess up. Even though it feels like it, the world is not over when you mess up. I used to get really down on myself in my younger years about not being hitting all the notes right or missing a word, but perfection is really overrated when it comes to singing. Most of the best vocal performances have obvious mistakes in them. Keep going! Try not to make a face or do a gesture to acknowledge that you've messed up, either.

Get Emotionally Involved With The Music

Nothing is better than seeing a singer perform with a great voice and emotional involvement. This is often hard to find with your singers who have not fully grown into their personality and their voice types. You don't need to overdo it, but just take a moment to really feel the music and the lyrics in your song. Connect with the moment in your own way. Use hand movements and show emotion in your facial expressions.

Practice In Front Of People That Make You Nervous

Practicing on your own is great, but take it a step further. Practicing in front of a close friend or family member is better, but take it further than that if you can. You want to mimic the feeling of the butterflies you will likely have when you actually do your choir audition. Preparing while you are in that state will help you to relax and be more of yourself when the time comes!

Show Up Early

Showing up on time is a must, but go beyond that and show up early. A lot of choir auditions I've been to were in unfamiliar places where the other applicants and sometimes even the organizers from the choir were a bit lost on how things were supposed to flow and where to go. Traffic, parking, location changes, big crowds, forgotten music, and so many other little things can turn your being on time into you being 5 or 10 minutes late.

Don't Come With Excuses

I've heard from choir directors that they get annoyed with how many people will come into an audition and say something along the lines of "forgive my allergies" or "I'm just getting over a cold". Even though you think something like this will increase your chances of getting accepted into the choir, it really doesn't do anything. It's not like it will really hurt your chances either, but just skip the excuses to be safe.

Record Yourself Singing

Recording your performance with a video in order to hear and see yourself while you perform is a great idea. It's one thing to get feedback from your family and friends that you perform in front of, but it's even better to get feedback from yourself. No one knows what they want out of your visual and vocal performance as much as you do. Give yourself a chance to be a judge!

Be Mindful Of Your Diction

Diction is becoming a lost art in the world of music! It's a super important thing to be mindful of, especially in the context of choir singing. Many consonants get lost when people sing in large groups that are not in front of a mic. Choir members really need to have a knack for pronouncing their words well when they sing.

Practice Your Sight-Reading Skills

Your choir audition may involve some sight-reading depending on the type of choir you are trying to get into. Youtube has a large number of practice videos that will help you with your sight-reading skills. This is a skill that will require a good amount of time and consistency to train!

Practice Your Ear Training Skills

You also may be required to show how well you are at hearing notes and intervals. Again, Youtube is a good place to find free practice videos to help. You can also use one of my favorite sites that I've used for over 10 years called MusicTheory.net to find great ear training exercises.

Mind Your Manners

Simple manners can go a long way! Don't forget little things like saying hello, introducing yourself, and thanking them for their consideration after your audition. Also, don't forget to smile! Many people can get so nervous in the audition process that they forget to smile and wind up looking like they had a stomach ache the whole time.

Try Positive Self-Talk

Affirm yourself with positive thoughts, chants, and feelings! Tell yourself that you are talented, you can do this, people like your singing, you have potential, and you will be fine even if you don't get the chance to be in the choir. Negative thoughts automatically flood our minds in moments like this and can cause us to be tense and distracted. Fight back with all the good things that are going on in your life. It's great that you're even taking the chance to audition. You're dope for even trying this out!

Don't Forget To Drink Water

Don't forget to hydrate with the best drink there is! Avoid drinks with caffeine in them that can dry out your voice. Also avoid milk, which can coat your throat. Why not drink the purest thing you can get? Be sure to drink water hours before your performance to make sure you are getting its hydrating effects. Drinking water right before your performance doesn't actually do much for you.

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