Auditions
|
Upcoming Audition Dates:
How to sign up:
Quick Links: |
Questions? Contact us:
Office Phone: 813-355.9609 M-F 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Email info@masterchorale.com Summer hours may vary |
Rehearsals & Performances:
- Rehearsals are on Tuesdays (beginning August 16, 2022 through May, 2023) at the School of Music on the University of South Florida Tampa campus from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
- During performance weeks, rehearsals are added.
- Singers are expected to attend all Master Chorale rehearsals.
- Singers are excused for un-resolvable conflicts only at the discretion of the Artistic Staff and will be expected to review recorded missed rehearsals.
- All dress rehearsals and rehearsals with The Florida Orchestra are mandatory.
- Any singer who feels unwell or who does not pass the health screening self-assessment prior to arrival is asked to stay home and review the recorded missed rehearsal. COVID-19 Safety Protocols will be updated shortly.
Audition Requirements:
download PDF
Individuals interested in becoming a member of The Master Chorale must successfully pass the audition process to participate in MCTB rehearsals and performances. An online audition is an option if scheduling an in-person audition is not possible.
An audition will take about 10 minutes to complete and consists of two main parts:
Singers interested in auditioning for our select chamber choir, the Virtuosi, will have additional requirements.
See below for more detailed information.
Prepared Solo
OPTION 1:
Prepare the following excerpt using the resources below and your own skills as a choral singer.
A pianist will be provided free of charge.
From Bach Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) “Patrem omnipotentem”
Marked Score - Soprano
Marked Score - Alto
Marked Score - Tenor
Marked Score - Bass
Practice Tracks
No. 14 “Patrem omnipotentem”
https://www.cyberbass.org/Major_Works/Bach_J_S/bach_js_b_minor_mass.htm
OPTION 2:
Bring a solo of your own choosing within the following parameters:
Sight Singing
You will be given a melody and a rhythm to sight read without piano accompaniment. We will give you your starting pitch.
You may also be asked to sing back a series of 4-5 notes to evaluate your pitch memory.
Why do I have to do this?
MCTB Virtuosi Chamber Choir - Additional Audition Materials
Who are the Virtuosi?
Our select chamber choir of experienced choral singers who perform as their own independent group presenting concerts throughout the season, and occasionally serve as a featured ensemble in concerts with the TFO.
This group meets on a project basis, with a weekend of intensive rehearsals just prior to the concert. Singers are expected to learn their music independently in advance of each project.
download PDF
Individuals interested in becoming a member of The Master Chorale must successfully pass the audition process to participate in MCTB rehearsals and performances. An online audition is an option if scheduling an in-person audition is not possible.
An audition will take about 10 minutes to complete and consists of two main parts:
- A prepared solo that you will perform with piano accompaniment
- A musicianship portion where we will assess your sight-singing, rhythmic skills, and tonal memory
Singers interested in auditioning for our select chamber choir, the Virtuosi, will have additional requirements.
See below for more detailed information.
Prepared Solo
OPTION 1:
Prepare the following excerpt using the resources below and your own skills as a choral singer.
- Select the voice part that most suits your voice right now.
- Follow all of the dynamics, articulations, breaths, and markings in the score.
- No memorization necessary.
- We may also ask to vocalize you to get a better sense for your individual voice and help to place you in the right section.
A pianist will be provided free of charge.
From Bach Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) “Patrem omnipotentem”
Marked Score - Soprano
Marked Score - Alto
Marked Score - Tenor
Marked Score - Bass
Practice Tracks
No. 14 “Patrem omnipotentem”
https://www.cyberbass.org/Major_Works/Bach_J_S/bach_js_b_minor_mass.htm
OPTION 2:
Bring a solo of your own choosing within the following parameters:
- No more than 2-3 minutes long (a cut from a longer piece is fine)
- It must have piano accompaniment
- You may sing any kind of classical repertoire, musical theater, or something like a hymn
- No pop or jazz, please
- It does not need to be memorized
Sight Singing
You will be given a melody and a rhythm to sight read without piano accompaniment. We will give you your starting pitch.
You may also be asked to sing back a series of 4-5 notes to evaluate your pitch memory.
Why do I have to do this?
- This is a chance to understand more about how you process music, as well as your training and experience as a singer. It shows us how you interpret musical notation, how you can recall pitches and rhythms, and your process for learning new music. It’s great if you can just sight-read whatever you see, but that’s not necessarily the point.
- If the excerpt is too difficult, the staff will help to coach you through it like you might experience in a chorus rehearsal.
MCTB Virtuosi Chamber Choir - Additional Audition Materials
- Sing up or down a major/minor 2nd, major/minor 3rd, perfect 4th, tritone or perfect 5th from any starting note.
- Sight reading
Who are the Virtuosi?
Our select chamber choir of experienced choral singers who perform as their own independent group presenting concerts throughout the season, and occasionally serve as a featured ensemble in concerts with the TFO.
This group meets on a project basis, with a weekend of intensive rehearsals just prior to the concert. Singers are expected to learn their music independently in advance of each project.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How is my audition evaluated?
Voice & Tone
General Musicianship
Sight Singing
Demeanor
Remember: We are cheering for you and want to see you succeed!
What are you looking for in a singer?
Singers are expected to commit to the complete concert season.
What things DON’T matter in my audition?
Does it cost anything to participate?
All singers pay $250 yearly dues (newly reduced fee effective starting 2023-24 season) and are responsible for purchasing concert attire, a black concert folder, and their music.
Your finances should NEVER prevent you from singing with us! If you’re concerned about the cost to participate, we have ample scholarships available. Contact the office for more information. Students who are registered for classes at the time of participation in Master Chorale, and who have passed the audition process, qualify for a dues scholarship and are still responsible for purchasing music, concert attire, and concert folder.
Why should I pay for this?
Aside from the fact that singing has many proven benefits for your mental, social, and physical health, each rehearsal costs about the same as a McDonald's Big Mac meal or a Grande Oat Milk Latte from Starbucks. Compare this experience to…
These fees - in addition to grants, philanthropic support and ticket sales - supplement the costs of running the ensemble and producing extraordinary concerts each season.
How is my audition evaluated?
Voice & Tone
- Clear tone
- Notes are precise and in tune
- Registers are balanced (bottom and top notes sound connected)
- Voice adapts to suit the repertoire and style
General Musicianship
- Innate sense of rhythm
- Accurate pitches in prepared solo
- Good intonation
- Observation of all dynamics, articulations, markings in the score
Sight Singing
- Underlying rhythmic pulse
- Ability to understand and make sense of notated music
- Able to continue sight-reading in spite of mistakes
- Skill at quickly fixing missed notes/rhythms in subsequent performances
Demeanor
- Kind, authentic to yourself, and respectful to staff and volunteers
Remember: We are cheering for you and want to see you succeed!
What are you looking for in a singer?
- Commitment to the ensemble
- Excitement about performing great repertoire
- High artistic standards and a willingness to practice outside rehearsal to maintain them
- Growth mindset
- Great work ethic
- Kindness
- Flexibility
Singers are expected to commit to the complete concert season.
What things DON’T matter in my audition?
- The “type” of voice you have (big/small, loud/soft, bright/dark) We want all different kinds of voices!
- Sight-reading perfectly (You need to demonstrate some skill in reading music, but it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time)
- What you wear to the audition
- If you have a music degree or not
- How long it’s been since you last sang in a choir
Does it cost anything to participate?
All singers pay $250 yearly dues (newly reduced fee effective starting 2023-24 season) and are responsible for purchasing concert attire, a black concert folder, and their music.
Your finances should NEVER prevent you from singing with us! If you’re concerned about the cost to participate, we have ample scholarships available. Contact the office for more information. Students who are registered for classes at the time of participation in Master Chorale, and who have passed the audition process, qualify for a dues scholarship and are still responsible for purchasing music, concert attire, and concert folder.
Why should I pay for this?
Aside from the fact that singing has many proven benefits for your mental, social, and physical health, each rehearsal costs about the same as a McDonald's Big Mac meal or a Grande Oat Milk Latte from Starbucks. Compare this experience to…
- One Bucs ticket + parking for one person - $146
- A 3 credit class for one semester at HCC - $312
- One ticket to Busch Gardens - $99
These fees - in addition to grants, philanthropic support and ticket sales - supplement the costs of running the ensemble and producing extraordinary concerts each season.
Health & Safety
An inherent risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus/Covid-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Covid-19 is a highly contagious disease that may result in personal injury, severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and persons with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. Please visit the CDC’s website for its current guidance on people at increased risk for severe illness and other people who should take extra precautions. The CDC has specified that singing in an indoor chorus is “least safe” for unvaccinated people and “safest” for fully vaccinated people. By joining The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay as a rostered member and attending Master Chorale events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19. Please help keep each other safe.
