The Cleveland Orchestra Choruses today announced auditions for the 2013-14 season. Auditions will take place throughout the spring of 2013. The Cleveland Orchestra Choruses embody a long-standing commitment to choral music in which community members of all ages may have the opportunity to participate.
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus, directed by Ann Usher and open to students in grades 6-8, and the Children’s Preparatory Chorus, directed by Suzanne Walters and open to students in grades 5-8, will hold auditions on May 20, June 3, and June 8. The Children’s Chorus, formed in 1967, provides musical training in vocal production and choral performance skills. In addition to various annual community concerts, the Children’s Chorus has performed the National Anthem at Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns home games, and will perform at Severance Hall with The Cleveland Orchestra in its 2013-14 season subscription and Christmas concerts. The Children’s Preparatory Chorus provides children with initial choral experiences to which younger singers may not have been exposed, while establishing a solid foundation in vocal production techniques. For the audition, children will be asked to sing one verse of “America” (My Country, ’Tis of Thee) with piano accompaniment in the key of his or her choice and one verse of “America the Beautiful” (Oh beautiful, for spacious skies) without accompaniment in the key of D. Singing scales and doing some rhythmic exercises may also be included in the audition, for which an accompanist is provided.
Students in grades 9-12 are welcome to audition for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, which is directed by Lisa Wong, on May 4, June 1, or June 2. Created in 1991, the Youth Chorus helps raise awareness of choral music-making in the schools of Northeastern Ohio and encourages students to continue their choral activities through college and into adulthood. The Youth Chorus regularly collaborates with outstanding musical ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. Youth Chorus audition requirements are to prepare a piece from the OMEA Solo & Ensemble list, or an equivalent classical solo piece; Broadway or “pop” tunes are not acceptable. In addition to the prepared piece, students will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate their vocal range. An accompanist is provided at the audition.
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus is one of the few professionally trained, all-volunteer choruses sponsored by a major American orchestra. Coming from nearly 50 Northeast Ohio communities, members of the COC perform with The Cleveland Orchestra in subscription and Christmas concerts at Severance Hall. Additionally, the Chorus has appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra on tour (both domestic and abroad), on television, and in numerous recordings, four of which have won Grammy Awards.
The Blossom Festival Chorus includes many members of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and other Northeast Ohio choral groups. It has established itself as a permanent and beloved annual part of the summertime Blossom Music Festival and has sung in well over 100 concerts since its 1968 debut.
Auditions for the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and the Blossom Festival Chorus will be held on May 20 and 21, by appointment only. Those auditioning are asked to prepare two pieces from the classical literature, one of which should be in a foreign language. Each piece should be approximately two minutes in length. Previous choral experience and sight-reading skills are required. An accompanist is provided at the audition.
Robert Porco has served as director of choruses for The Cleveland Orchestra since 1998 and
Lisa Wongbecame assistant director of choruses in 2010.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please visit
http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/about/people/chorus.aspx, call the Chorus Office at
216-231-7374, or email
chorus@clevelandorchestra.com.
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