Choir Auditions, Grades 9-12

The following guidelines will prepare you for the audition for the Choir Magnet.

Stivers offers five choral performance levels that are designed to meet the ability level and interest of the student. Membership in each group is determined on the basis of ability and achievement. The five levels are:

choir beginning
- introductory choir for seventh grade voices
choir I
- beginning choir for eighth grade voices
choir II
- concert choir for high school student voices
choir III
- symphonic choir for advanced high school student voices
choir IV / Chamber Choir
- advanced choir for high school students focusing on acappella music, madrigals and advanced musical literature

Each group meets for one class period every day. Students also receive small group lessons for one period each week in one of the following areas:

sectional rehearsal
note reading
vocal technique

Audition Requirements

sing an Art Song of their choosing. All vocal selections should be memorized and two to three minutes in length. Students will need to supply the piano score for a Stivers accompanist to play for them or they will need to bring their own accompanist with them to the audition. Taped accompaniment and acapella singing will not be accepted.

Recommended anthologies include:

- Songs by 22 Americans complied by Bernard Taylor , G. Shirmer Inc.

- 20th Century Art Songs? compiled by G. Shirmer Inc.

- Twenty Four Italian Songs and Arias compiled by G. Shirmer Inc.

- The Young Singer compiled by Richard D. Row, R.D. Row Music Co.
sight-read a simple melody provided at the time of audition
hold their vocal part against harmony sung by another singer in a simple two part song provided at the time of audition
vocally match a short series of notes played on the piano
participate in a written assessment identifying a student's understanding of choral terminology and theory.? Students will be expected to define simple dynamic and tempo markings such as crescendo, diminendo, ritard and accelerando.

The audition performance will be evaluated on a five point scale with five being the highest and one point being the lowest in each of the following areas:

vocal quality and control
pitch control and intonation
posture and presentation
reading music and terminology

Students will also be asked to write a short statement that explains their goals in the field of choral music and their reasons for choosing Stivers as their school of choice.

There is a maximum number of students for each vocal music class. Students with the highest evaluation are given highest priority for each class.

Evaluation of the audition is based on a five point scale with five points being the highest and one point being the lowest in the following areas: