Berkshire Choral Festival Audition Requirements

The Berkshire Choral Festival is in the midst of planning a special program for the summer of 2011 as well as a few other special programs for future years. Because of the difficulty of these kinds of programs, we need to be able to evaluate the voices and skills of those who wish to participate in such repertoire.

If you will be attending a BCF week in 2010, you may audition in person. If not, you may send a CD or MP3 file. Audition material must be received by 10/1/10 or until enrollment is filled (call the office if after 10/1). Auditions must be on CD or MP3 files only; cassette tapes will not be accepted. CDs may be sent to Berkshire Choral Festival, 245 N. Undermountain Rd., Sheffield, MA 01257. MP3s may be e-mailed to cpease@choralfest.org.

This is the audition process:

Perform the requirements in the order given. Sections B-C-D must be sung without accompaniment except for the starting pitch.

A

Sing a song or aria of your choice, accompanied or unaccompanied. It cannot be a hymn or a choral line from a choral work. Announce the title and composer of your song. If you are auditioning live, an accompanist will be available. You must bring a copy of the music for the accompanist as well as yourself. You must sing it in the key in which it is written as our accompanists will not transpose. Your music does not have to be memorized.

B

Sing “Simple Gifts” in the key given for each voice part and announce which voice part for which you are auditioning.:

C

Sing Exercise #1 on “ah”, beginning in the middle of your range and at the tempo indicated. Repeat the exercise, each time a half step higher, with no additional reference pitches until you have reached the upper limit of your useful range. Please announce at the beginning in what key you are starting.

D

Sing Exercise #2 on whatever vowel you wish, beginning in the middle of your range, at the tempo indicated. Repeat the exercise, each time a half step lower, with no additional reference pitches until you have reached the lower limit of your useful range. Please announce at the beginning in what key you are starting.