Some GALA choruses are open to any community member without any audition process. Others have some kind of audition requirement. The decision to audition or not is one that both the board and artistic director need to make based on the mission and focus of the chorus.
The templates below offer many resources for auditions and new member retention.
If you want great singers to audition for your chorus you need to recruit them!
Approximately 4 weeks before auditions email or mail your information packet letter to all potential auditionees from the database. The packet should include a cover letter, general information about the chorus, a season calendar, a map to the audition site, a chorus newsletter and a chorus brochure or flyer.
The audition space should include a comfortable space where new auditionees are greeted by current singers, can peruse concert programs, watch a concert video and get excited about singing in your chorus. Make sure that new auditionees know your chorus requirements in advance (rehearsal expectations, calendar, attendance requirements), and fill out an audition form when they arrive.
The singing audition should be in a private rehearsal space with a strong accompanist. Create a document that offers a standard ranking system including color, intonation, sight-singing, ability, and blend at a minimum (sample below). After hearing several dozen voices it is amazing how little detail you may retain about each voice!
Use these templates and checklists to prepare for your audition process and to welcome new singers.
Once you have selected your new singers it is important to KEEP them! Here are some tips for singer retention.
Some choirs are blessed with the problem of having to say no to singers for a variety of reasons. Perhaps there are too many singers in one section and the chorus needs to be vocally balanced. Perhaps if the chorus gets any larger they won’t fit onto your risers or into the performing venue.
Here are some options:
Download our Solo Audition Ranking Form.
