How to Sign-Up for an Audition

The Cornell University Chorus holds auditions jointly with the Cornell University Glee Club, the Cornell Chorale, and the Cornell Chamber Singers.  Auditions are held during orientation week before the fall semester and during the first week of classes during the spring semester. 

The next auditions will be held during the first week of the spring semester. The schedule is as follows:

Walk-In Auditions*:
Thursday, January 26th, 4:30-7:30pm, and Friday, January 27th, 5-7:30pm, Lincoln Hall Atrium.

Callback Rehearsal (singers will be notified by e-mail if they have received a callback):
Sunday, January 29th, 4:00-4:45pm, Lincoln B20

Callback Quartets:
Monday, January 30th, Time TBA

*Please note, auditions are walk-in only during the spring semester!

The Audition Process

The Cornell University Chorus holds auditions jointly with the Cornell University Glee Club, the Cornell Chorale, and the Cornell Chamber Singers at the beginning of each academic semester.  Auditions are structured in two rounds. Scheduling your first-round audition in advance is recommended, but walk-in auditions are generally allowed if the audition schedule permits.

In the first-round audition, each singer is evaluated individually according to vocal range, pitch-matching ability, and basic sight-reading skill, demonstrated through a series of guided exercises and a short vocal selection. The auditionee may perform a prepared selection or can choose instead to sing one verse of America (My Country 'Tis of Thee), for which words will be provided. Also, while sight-reading is important, it is not expected that all new members will be excellent sight-readers!

Based on the results of the first-round auditions, a limited number of auditionees will be selected to participate in the second round of auditions. All auditionees will be notified of their results by phone or email and told the times and locations of the second-round audition.

The second round of auditions consists of two parts. First, the prospective members will attend a Chorus rehearsal to learn a selection from our current repertoire. Then, during a scheduled timeslot, each woman will perform this selection in a quartet consisting of herself and three current Chorus members. This exercise tests each auditionee's ability to blend, listen to others, and sing in an ensemble. All second-round auditionees will be notified by phone or email, and a list of new Chorus members will be posted on this website.

After Eight

Members of the Chorus have the opportunity to audition for After Eight, our a cappella subset. After Eight performs at various venues throughout the year, both with the Chorus and on its own. For more information about After Eight, visit www.cuaftereight.com or send an email to aftereight@cornell.edu.

Ask Questions, View a Rehearsal

The Chorus is always looking for enthusiastic new members! If you have any questions or would like to sit in on a rehearsal, send an email to chorus@cornell.edu. We would love to hear from you! Similar choral opportunities are available for male voices with the Cornell University Glee Club, reachable by email at gleeclub@cornell.edu.

FAQ

What is the difference between the different singing groups at Cornell? Which one is right for me?
Go to Singing at Cornell to read more about Choral groups offered here. 

Does the Chorus ever sing with the Glee Club or is it all women all year long?
The Chorus performs by itself for the fall semester and most tours. However, much of the Spring semester is spent rehearsing and performing a Major Work with the Cornell University Glee Club. Socially, the two groups overlap often and hold many joint events.To learn more about the Glee Club, visit: www.gleeclub.com.

What is the time commitment like being a member of the Chorus?
To find out more about the typical Chorus schedule and time commitment, go to Typical Schedule.  

When/where can I hear the Chorus sing to find out what the Chorus sounds like?
You can "Launch the Music Player" at the top of the right-hand sidebar of this page, or you can come to one of our concerts! We do offer a short concert at 6:30pm in Sage Chapel on the first Saturday of Orientation Week (second day of the Orientation programming), as well as an informal event called "SING at Cornell" from 12-2pm outside Sage Chapel on the following Tuesday. The rest of our concert schedule can be viewed here, under "Concerts and Events".