Chorus Auditions
Summer auditions for the 24/25 Season have just been announced! Prospective choristers of all vocal categories, soprano through bass, are welcome to audition. Learn more about our application and audition process below.
Please note: The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus is an all-volunteer ensemble. Vacancies advertised for the Chorus are not paid positions.
Summer Auditions for 24 | 25
Monday, July 29, 2024
6:00pm-9:00pm
Room 208, Scales Fine Arts Center
Wake Forest University
The Chorus’s casual, low-pressure auditions are held in ten-minute intervals, during which prospective choristers will sing a prepared solo, hymn, or folk song, vocalize their range, and sing one or two brief pitch-retention and sight-reading exercises.
FAQ
Auditions are generally held in the summer towards the end of July or early August, and again in January. Our summer auditions for the 24 | 25 season are Monday, July 29.
Auditions entail your singing a minute or so of a song of your choice. It could be an art song, aria, hymn, or gospel song, or a folk song/spiritual. Following your solo, you will be asked to sing exercises to help us determine your range, and then you will be taken through a few exercises that test your ear and musical skills. Finally, you will be asked to sight-read a selection which we provide.
Yes. And a hymnal will be provided should you need it. Whether you plan to sing an aria, art song, or standard hymn or folk song, we require the solo portion of your audition to be accompanied. Please provide music for yourself and for your accompanist.
The Chorus rehearses every Monday night from 6:30-9:00 through December. Rehearsals resume for the spring season in early January.
The full rehearsal schedule for the Symphony Chorus will be posted here soon. We ask that those who audition into Chorus make their commitment to the Chorus for the entire season. We do not allow “cherry picking” of concert opportunities. We work together as an ensemble, and we develop as an ensemble. The rehearsal time we spend together is vital in creating the high-calibre, artistic ensemble that we have become.
The Chorus is filled with experienced soloists and vocal music education professionals, but there is a great number of amateur choral singers (musicians who sing regularly with their church or school/college/university choirs) in our ensemble who contribute equally. Generally, if you have a good musical ear, a confident voice, and know how to read (or follow really well) music, you should audition for us. We are always on the lookout for tenors and basses, in particular, but auditions are open to all voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass) and there are positions to be filled in each of the sections.
The Chorus is filled with experienced soloists and vocal music education professionals, but there is a great number of amateur choral singers (musicians who sing regularly with their church or school/college/university choirs) in our ensemble who contribute equally. Generally, if you have a good musical ear, a confident voice, and know how to read (or follow really well) music, you should audition for us. We are always on the lookout for tenors and basses, in particular, but auditions are open to all voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass) and there are positions to be filled in each of the sections.
Above all, we seek choristers who are committed to musical discipline and artistry that leads to choral excellence. Our rehearsals are fun and engaging, but they are also rigorous—Chorus singers are required to be at the top of their game every rehearsal. We learn and perform a lot of music every year, and the professionalism that we bring to each of our Symphony performances is a result of a great deal of hard work that requires attendance at all rehearsals (although two absences are permitted each concert cycle).
Singers in the Chorus are expected to work on their music on their own; we provide resources as often as we can to enable each singer to do so. Our rehearsals reinforce the necessary note learning, vocal technique, and language repetition that will make you confident in dress rehearsals and performances, but each singer is expected to take personal responsibility to learn his or her own part flawlessly.
Finally, there is no upper age limit to Chorus participation—the vocal (and physical) standards and requirements to be in (remain in) Chorus are the same for everyone. We accept exceptionally talented high school students who demonstrate the vocal and musical maturity to participate. Singers must, however, be able to stand for long periods of time, and Chorus members are required to re-audition bi-annually or whenever deemed appropriate by the director.
The Symphony Chorus is comprised of mostly adults who are college-age and above. We occasionally allow a very mature and talented high school age (16+) singer into the ensemble, but it is rare.
Vytautas Miškinis: Light Mass
A jazz setting of the mass performed with jazz trio
André Thomas: A Celebration of Love and Joy
A gospel setting of the mass performed in partnership with the Winston-Salem State University Singing Rams and Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke
Sunday, Nov 3, 2024 // 3:00 PM
A Carolina Christmas
Holiday “pops” concert with full orchestra, chorus, and guest vocalist Dee Donasco Thompson.
Sunday, Dec 1, 2024 // 3:00 PM
Handel Messiah
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 // 7:30 PM
Verdi Requiem
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025 // 7:30 PM
Sunday, Apr 27, 2025 // 3:00 PM
You will be notified via email within one week of your audition.
Contact the Symphony Chorus at chorus@wssymphony.org
