Tips for Your Next Choir Audition

Auditioning can be a moment of triumph, but all too often it makes singers nervous. This opportunity to join a community of choristers turns into a nightmare, with people feeling stressed out. That anxiety is largely caused by a lack of preparation.

If you know what to do leading up to that moment where you get to show them what you’ve got, you’ll be able to avoid a lot of unnecessary stress. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on the most important thing: your voice.

Below, you’ll find tips that will enable you to succeed on the big day.

Understanding the Audition Process

Anytime you have an audition, the first step you need to take is understanding what the audition process is going to be like. If there is limited information available, reach out to the choir and ask.

Often, an audition will require you to warm-up and test your range. Whomever is sitting in on the audition isn’t expecting you to be perfect, but they need to get a sense of how low and high your voice can go. This is often done through a series of singing exercises that give a choir director a good idea of your voice and ear.

You might also need to memorize sheet music for a song to perform or bring your own. This last part helps bring everything together and show off how your voice really works.

Whatever the audition process includes, be sure you know what will be asked of you. That’s the only way to adequately prepare — which brings us to our next point.

Preparing for Your Audition

Of course, you’ll want to go through singing exercises in the lead up to your audition — that way your voice will be in tip top shape.

If you are asked to bring your own song, there are several things you’ll want the piece to do for you:

• Showcase your range and your greatest strengths as a singer
• Fit the choir’s style
• Be an appropriate length
• Can be done without accompaniment

As you practice for the audition, make sure to get feedback from people whose opinion you trust. This is a great way to provide a reality check.

On the day, you’ll want to make sure that you are well hydrated, warmed up, and haven’t eaten for about two hours before your audition. Also, make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before. This will ensure that you are in the best possible shape to sing.

Making a Great Impression

A choir is a group of people with a shared goal, and so you need to show that you can be relied on if you join. This takes a lot of forms, including:

• Being punctual
• Dressing well
• Coming prepared

While it might not seem like a big deal, being punctual and well dressed are signs that you respect the choir and the people in it. If you can’t show up on time and present yourself well during an audition, what would convince the choir that you will do that in the future?

We’ve already covered being prepared for the audition, and that folds into making a great impression. That’s because you’ll be able to project confidence during your performance, thanks to your preparation.

Following Up on Your Audition

When the audition is over, whether you feel like you succeeded or not, it’s a good idea to write about your experience. This will help you capture insights about the day, and there could be nuggets of wisdom that will help you at your next audition.

It’s also wise to send a follow-up email. This lets the choir director know you take the choir seriously and that you respect the time and energy that goes into running the audition.

Final Thoughts

Auditions are exciting and, let’s face it, nerve wracking. But if you prepare and follow the tips above, you can be confident that you will show up at your best. At the end of the day, that’s all you can ask of yourself. Armed with that confidence, you’ll be able to get into more choirs and grow as a singer.

Want to stay informed on how to sound your best? Remember to read through the World of Voices section on INTERKULTUR’s website. We regularly publish guides that help your choir singing improve, as well as provide insights like how to find the right choir for you.

The World of Voices