Audition Information

  • Auditions
  • Auditions

Important information for choral activities is posted on this website and distributed via email and social media. Fall 2023 auditions will be held August 25-30.  Contact Dr. Adams for more information.

Audition Process | Call Backs | Placement | WMU Credit

General information

All Western Michigan University students — regardless of major or class year — are welcome to audition for a choral ensemble! Campus Choir is also open to faculty, staff, and community members. 

Audition process

2023-24 Audition Information


Fall ensemble placement appointments for all choral ensembles -- Chorale, Anima, Amphion, and Campus Choir -- take place between August 25 and August 30. Spring Auditions take place during the first week of classes in January. 
Please fill out the audition form in advance of your audition. 

FALL 2023 CHORAL AUDITION SIGN-UPS

Fall 2023 Choral Audition Form

For your choral ensemble placement appointment, you will be asked to perform the following:

  • Solo Song: Please prepare a short song. The piece should demonstrate the overall quality of your singing. Arias, art songs, folk songs, hymns, jazz standards, and pop tunes are all acceptable representative pieces. Please limit your selection to 3 minutes in length. An accompanist will be provided at your audition, and you may bring sheet music for them if you have it.
  • Range Exercises/Vocalises:  Each singer will be asked to sing a few vocalises (“warm-up” sequences) so that the directors can get a more thorough understanding of their ranges and tone qualities.
  • Pitch Memory: Each student will also be asked to sing some short tonal memory exercises. The director will play a series of four to six pitches and ask you to repeat them on your own. 
  • Sight Reading: Each student will be given short musical examples to read unaccompanied via screen share. A starting pitch will be given and you will have a short period to look over the example. Do your best, but don’t stress out. It is important that we get to know you as much as possible so that we place you in the choral ensemble where you will grow the most—and have the most fun. 

Audition results

Fall semester audition results will be announced before add/drop. You will be emailed your ensemble placement results and the first class meeting time.

chorale Callbacks

Students interested in auditioning for University Chorale will also be required to attend a callback audition. Students will be asked to perform a prepared choral excerpt. Chorale Callbacks are only held in the FALL semester of each year. 

  • Excerpt PerformanceAn excerpt from a choral score will be emailed 24 hours in advance of the callback appointment.  The student should learn the excerpt as thoroughly as possible, demonstrating accurate pitches, rhythms, dynamics, and articulation. The purpose is to determine your personal preparation skills — your ability to work and learn independently.

Placement into ensembles

It is important for you and for the ensemble that you are placed in a choir that best matches your musical ability and vocal training. Above all, we place importance on putting you in an ensemble where you will thrive and grow. It is vital that each of you get the best educational and musical experience possible. Placing you in a choir other than the one you auditioned for is done in consultation with you, and the directors, of course. 

WMU credit for participation in choral ensembles

Please register for your choral ensemble as a class. Course numbers for our choirs are MUS1120, MUS5120, MUS1070, MUS1080, and MUS2170. 

You should plan to register for one of these courses before your audition. All pre-audition correspondence goes out through the email list associated with each class. To get all of the necessary information, you should be registered for the choir.  If you are accepted into a different choir than the one you registered for initially, then you will switch your registration. You can read about the choirs and see their rehearsal times under the "Ensembles" portion of this page.

Questions

For additional information, contact Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams, associate professor of music. (269) 387-4715 | Email Dr. Adams