Audition for the City Choir of Washington

SING WITH US!

Auditions for the 2024/25 Season have concluded, but please fill out this FORM if you would like to audition for the City Choir of Washington in future, or if you would like to schedule an audition for City Choir’s June 2025 Brazil Tour. Auditions for the 2025/26 Season will be held in summer 2025, but if we have an opening in your voice part, you’ll hear from us earlier!

If you have any questions or are unable to access the form, please feel free to reach out us at auditions@citychoir.org.

Scroll down for an overview of the current season audition process, and tools to help you succeed. We look forward to hearing from you!

COVID notice: Given continued low transmission rates, we are currently employing a strategically implemented mask-optional policy, with vaccines and a waiver required for singers.

Auditions: What to Prepare & What to Expect

Auditions will consist of five different segments - all meant to help assess the strengths that you bring to City Choir.  We look forward to hearing you!

Vocalization

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will listen to the range of your voice using vocal warmups

  • What are we listening for: We are listening to the color of your voice, intonation, and breath control. Additionally, we are assessing your range to see what voice part would be best for you. 

  • How can you prepare: HERE’s a helpful warmup by Artistic Director Erin Freeman.

Ear training

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will play a series of 5 or 6 notes and ask you to sing them back on DOO

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for note accuracy, of course.  However, we are also looking to see if you can overcome an initial mistake and be coached to fix it.

  • How to prepare: Here’s an online tool that will play melodies of varying length. Select “melodies” and then keep pressing play for an unlimited number of 5 note tunes!

Rhythm

To be handed out upon arrival at audition

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will ask you to perform a rhythm that will be handed to you when you arrive at the audition location. You will have time to review it before entering the audition room.

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for note accuracy, of course. However, we are listening for a steady tempo and ability to keep going even if you make a mistake. 

  • How to prepare: This is a fun tool. Set difficulty to medium and then hard. Somewhere between those two is the level of our excerpt. 

Text

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will ask you to speak a few lines of French from Bizet’s Carmen (On our January 2025 concert). 

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for the ability to repeat sounds accurately. This need not be perfect. We expect a bit of coaching to be needed in the audition. 

  • How to prepare: Use the printed pronunciation guide HERE and the sound file HERE to help you learn the material. 

  • Excerpt: From Bizet’s Carmen

L'amour est un oiseau rebelle que nul ne peut apprivoiser,

et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle, 

s'il lui convient de refuser.

L'amour est enfant de bohème, il n'a jamais connu de loi :

Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime; si je t'aime, prends garde à toi !

Choral Excerpt

  • What will happen:  Artistic Director will ask you to sing a short excerpt from Haydn’s Creation (in English translation by Philip Moody). She will play along with you - doubling your part as needed.

  • What we are listening for: We are listening for accuracy of notes and pitches, flexibility of sound, and attention to text details.

  • How to prepare: Here are some websites to help you prepare. (Note: The text might not be exactly the same as in our score.)

  • Excerpt: “Let us Be Joyful” - also known as “Awake the Harp” from Haydn Creation - Philip Moody English edition

An invitation to audition for the City Choir of Washington from Artistic Director Erin Freeman

Are you a singer who is dedicated to the art of beautiful choral music? Would you like to sing under the direction of dynamic conductor Erin Freeman? Are you excited to meet new people who are equally as thrilled about music as you? The City Choir of Washington may be the very group for you.

City Choir is a member-driven choral community that is as committed to the music it performs as to the city it serves. It presents thoughtfully curated musical events throughout the Washington, DC metro area to uplift and inspire audiences and singers alike. We seek to serve as a model organization where artistic excellence, strong community, and positive culture mutually reinforce each other. Please click here to read our Mission/Vision/Values statement. The City Choir of Washington is pleased to announce that as of the 2023-2024 season we no longer require membership fees.

Weekly rehearsals take place on Monday nights, with additional orchestra rehearsals on concert week. Rehearsals are held from 7:15-9:45 p.m. at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.