Audition for the Bach Collegium
Requirements
The membership numbers between 30 and 50 vocal musicians (professional singers and advanced students) and between 7 and 17 instrumentalists (all professional). Most singers are volunteers. There are, however, four salaried section leaders (SATB), a salaried accompanist, and soloists, instrumentalists, and lecturers who receive honoraria. All participants are chosen by audition, which is arranged through appointment with the Artistic Director. You can use the email form on our Contact Us page to request an audition. Vocalists should review the requirements and download the documents needed for an audition from this page
Requirement 1
Sing the following, using solfège, letter names, or random syllables: the major scale the minor scale (natural, harmonic, and melodic)
Download Scales
Requirement 2
Sing your voice part in J. S. Bach's chorale setting of Lord Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee (Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ). Download Sheet Music
Requirement 3
Sing your voice part in a chorus of your choosing from Handel's Messiah or some other contrapuntal setting.
Requirement 4
Sight-read your voice part in another Bach chorale setting.
Rehearsals: Tues, 7:15 to 9:30 pm (see Rehearsal/Performance Schedule) at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 202 W.Rudisill Blvd (2 blks west of Clinton), begin Tues 15 Sept
SINGERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
- Attendance at all rehearsals and performances. If an “act of God” (sickness, funeral, etc.) prevents attendance at a Tuesday rehearsal, that rehearsal must be made up the following Sunday at 2 pm or by appointment. On the weekends of the concerts, extra rehearsals with orchestra are required (all these are identified on the Rehearsals/Performances Schedule 09-10 in bold letters and asterisked). Singers commit themselves to one 2-month segment of rehearsals and concerts at a time. Most elect to sing in all three segments, but there are some whose schedules permit them to sing in only one or two.
Performances:
- First 2-Month Segment
- Sun 25 Oct: 7 pm - Dessert Buffet/Taste of the Season Concert -- Trinity Episcopal Church
- Fri 6 Nov: 7:30 pm - Taste of the Season Mini-Concert -- Universalist Unitarian Meeting House
- Sun 15 Nov: 5 pm - Singing in Stereo Concert -- Simpson United Methodist Church
- Second 2-Month Segment
- Sun 6 Dec: 2 pm - Messiah Sing-Along -- Queen of Angels Catholic Church
- Sun 21 Feb: 8 pm - Brockes Passion Concert -- Zion Lutheran Church
- Third 2-Month Segment
- Sun 2 May: 7 pm - Baroque Spl;endor Season Finale -- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
- Singers buy vocal scores at the beginning of each 2-month segment and keep them:
- $20 due at Tue15 September rehearsal
- $20 due at Tue 24 November rehearsal
- $20 due at Tue 2 March rehearsal
- Unique to our Collegium is that we do not have a salaried director, paid office staff or board. This invites our director, 36 volunteer singers, and 15 volunteer board members to roll up their sleeves and together do what in other organizations is done by paid personnel. Hence, all of us are encouraged to do chores that inform people of our concerts, that provide us with an audience, and that help to obtain the financial support needed to cover production costs. Specifically, singers are requested to (details in Annual Brochure):
- sell tickets for fundraisers
- sell ads and tickets for concerts (see Annual Brochure)
- solicit donations (see Annual Brochure)
- use Community Partnership Cards at Hall’s Restaurants (green card)