The Cleveland Orchestra's Choruses Announce Audition Dates

The Cleveland Orchestra's Choruses announce auditions for the 2018-2019 season will take place this spring. The Cleveland Orchestra holds a long-standing commitment to choral music in which community members of all ages may have the opportunity to participate. All auditions are scheduled by appointment and can be arranged by visiting The Cleveland Orchestra's website at www.clevelandorchestra.com/chorus-auditions/. For more information, contact the Chorus Office at 216-231-7374 or chorus@clevelandorchestra.com.

Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Blossom Festival Chorus

Auditions for the 2018-19 Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and 2018 Blossom Festival Chorus will be held May 22, May 23, and May 24. Prospective members must have previous choral experience and be able to sight-read music. Those auditioning are asked to prepare two pieces from the classical literature, each approximately two minutes in length, with at least one in a foreign language. An accompanist is provided for all auditions.

The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus [COC] (Lisa Wong, acting director; Daniel Singer, acting assistant director) rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. in Beachwood - with some additional Sunday evenings - and every night at Severance Hall during concert weeks. The COC is tentatively scheduled to begin rehearsals on August 27, 2018 and end the season on May 18, 2019. Members of the COC perform with The Cleveland Orchestra in subscription and Christmas concerts at Severance Hall. The coming season repertoire for the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus will include Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio on October 4 - 6, 2018; the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Florida on January 25 and 26, 2019; and Hayes Hall at Artis-Naples in Naples, Florida on January 27, 2019); Handel's Messiah on December 6-9, 2018; and Busoni's Piano Concerto February 7 and 9, 2019. The Chorus season will conclude in May with three performances of Schubert's Mass No. 6 on May 16 - 18, 2019.

The Blossom Festival Chorus, celebrating its 50th anniversary season in 2018, will perform Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music on July 21, and Orff's Carmina Burana on August 25 at Blossom Music Center. Evening rehearsals are scheduled to begin on July 9. Blossom Festival Chorus members are also invited to sing with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for Christmas concerts in December.

Cleveland Orchestra Children's and Preparatory Choruses

The Children's Choruses are open to students in grades 5-9 with unchanged voices. Auditions will be held on June 2 and June 9.

The Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus (Ann Usher, director) provides musical training in vocal production and choral performance skills to students in grades 6-9. Members perform alongside The Cleveland Orchestra in major works calling for children's voices, as well as presenting their own independent performances throughout greater Cleveland. Performance highlights for the 2018-19 season will include Orff's Carmina Burana on August 25, 2018 and Christmas concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus at Severance Hall in December 2018.

The Children's Preparatory Chorus (Suzanne Walters, director) provides students with initial choral experiences which younger singers may not have experienced. Members are in grades 5-8 and perform two concerts each season. By developing musical skills and performing in public, the children acquire poise, increase self-esteem, and establish a solid foundation in vocal technique.

Children's Chorus members will begin rehearsing in early August, and the Preparatory Chorus will begin rehearsals in September. Rehearsals for both groups take place on Monday nights and will run through May. Students interested in learning more about the Children's Choruses are invited to take part in one of two "COCC Camp Day" sessions on May 19 or June 22, which introduce children to the basics of choral singing. Parents can learn more by visiting cocc.cochorus.com or calling Julie Weiner at 216-231-7374.

Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus

The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus (Daniel Singer, acting director; Adam Landry, acting assistant director) was founded to 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 Chorus as well as the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. In recent years, members have taken part in workshops with renowned clinicians such as Judy Hanson of the Chicago Children's Choir, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, and composer Jake Runestad. The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus is open to all students in grades 9-12 and eighth-grade boys whose voices have changed. Auditions will be held on May 26 and June 2.

Shari Bierman Singer Fellowship (Cleveland Orchestra Chorus)

Shari Bierman Singer was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for 25 years. The Shari Bierman Singer Fellowship provides financial assistance for two Cleveland Orchestra Chorus members pursuing full-time undergraduate or graduate-level studies in vocal performance, music education, conducting, or similar music-related fields. Financial assistance awarded through the Fellowship program serves as a tribute to Shari's commitment to music education and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2018-19 season and will close on April 30. Details may be found online at cochorus.com/2018_fellowship.pdf. For further information or to make a contribution, please contact Jill Harbaugh at the Chorus Office at 216-231-7372 or chorus@clevelandorchestra.com.

Photo by Rebecca Calkin.

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