All auditions are approximately 10 minutes in length and will consist of elements listed below. All students may audition for any ensemble.

Upon your arrival at school, please sign up for an audition time. Sign-up sheets will be located at the Conservatory orientation help desk in the Conservatory main lobby. Time slots will be available on a first come/first serve basis. (Your assistance in auditioning early in the week will be appreciated.)

Audition times for NEW STUDENTS: Thursday-Friday, September 8-9, 2011.
Audition times for RETURNING STUDENTS: Monday, September 12, 2011.

Final choir placement results for all students will be posted by Tuesday, September 14, 4:00 pm (on the Choir Board in the Conservatory).

The first rehearsal for Viking Chorale will begin on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.
            Viking Chorale:  5:45-6:45 PM (SH163)

The first rehearsal for Concert Choir and Cantala will begin on Wednesday, September 14, 2011.
            Concert Choir: 4:35-5:35 PM (SH163)
            Cantala: 4:35-5:35 PM (Chapel)

All choir members selected for participation in Concert Choir and Cantala are required to attend the annual Björklunden choir retreat September 16-18:   Please note:  Both ensembles will travel to Bjorklunden on the same weekend and both ensembles will be gone for the entire weekend (5:00 pm Friday through 5:00 pm Sunday).

Please note: Viking Chorale Björklunden retreat will be Winter Term, February 10-12, 2012.

CHOIR AUDITION INFORMATION: 

Audition Procedures for Concert Choir/Cantala (MUEN 275/272):

1. Vocalization. (We’ll begin with vocalizations throughout your range. We’re listening to hear both the upper and lower extensions of your range, but equally importantly, how comfortably you move through your voice, where your voice seems to lie most happily.)

2. Prepare the following excerpts. (In each case we will give you the starting note and then ask you to sing unaccompanied.)

  • Shenandoah (Here we want to see your ability to independently prepare your part, your ability to sing it accurately and expressively, your ability to stay in the key center without the piano.)
  • Palestrina (entire first page)
  • And He Shall Purify (measures 1-20)

Please note: In each case we will give you the starting note and then ask you to sing unaccompanied.

3. Sight reading and testing of rhythmic and tonal recall abilities. (We may include some basic ear-training games, where we play a four or five-note melody and ask you to sing it back to us.)

Audition Procedures for Viking Chorale (MUEN 270):

  • Please be prepared to sing a short, familiar song, i.e., "My Country 'Tis of Thee" or "Amazing Grace." We may do some ear-training exercises and vocalizations to explore your vocal range.

Audition Procedures for Hybrid Ensemble – (MUEN 212):

  • Prepare the following excerpts:    
    •  "It Don't Mean A Thing . . .", arr. Anders Edenroth (The Real Group)
      • measures 33-64
      • tempo is cut-time, half note = approx. 120
        • ladies – please prepare two parts, either S1 & S2 or S2 and A
        • men – please prepare either the T or B line
    • Lush Life, arr. Rare Silk
      • beginning to letter A (take repeat)
      • tempo is rubato, quarter note = approx. 88
  • Prepare a short, a cappella, memorized jazz solo (your choice) that demonstrates your ability as a performer.    

 “HYBRID ENSEMBLE” is a mixed, small SATB ensemble (comprised of 8-16 singers and rhythm section) that will explore a variety of literature from jazz to early music, to experimental, to new works, to world music. This ensemble will expose students to a wide variety of works from disparate eras and genres of music, exploring and experiencing the deep connections between them. The performance bar will be high, and will require individual commitment and dedication from each member.  Hybrid Ensemble will present one concert each term.
Voice majors must clear participation in this ensemble with their studio teacher.

Concert Choir
Rehearsal Times/ Locations:

  • Monday 3:15 - 4:15 PM (Chapel)
  • Tuesday 4:35 - 5:35 PM (SH156)
  • Wednesday 3:15 – 4:15 PM (SH163)
  • Thursday 4:35 -5:35 PM (Chapel)

Cantala (LU Women’s Choir)
Rehearsal Times/ Locations:

  • Monday 3:15 - 4:15 PM (SH163)
  • Tuesday 4:35 - 5:35 PM (Chapel)
  • Wednesday 3:15 – 4:15 PM (Chapel)
  • Thursday 4:35 -5:35 PM (SH163)

Viking Chorale Rehearsal Times/Locations:

  • Tuesday 5:45– 6:45 PM (Chapel)
  • Thursday 5:45 –6:45 PM (SH163)

Hybrid Ensemble (formerly Jazz Singers) Rehearsal Times:

  • Tuesday 3:10 – 4:20 PM (Harper)
  • Thursday 3:10 – 4:20 PM (Harper)

REQUIRED CONCERT ATTIRE:

WOMEN (Viking Chorale, Cantala, Concert Choir)

  • black, Aspen dress (see info below)
  • black nylons
  • appropriate black undergarments for formal wear
  • black, close-toed dress shoes (comfortable, heel not too high, and no sandals or casual shoes)

Women participating in Concert Choir or Cantala will need to purchase the “Aspen” dress from Stage Accents.  http://www.stageaccents.com/womens_formal/product/2652/

Just in case you have any difficulty with the above link, their web address is:  www.stageaccents.com  Click on “Women’s Formal.”  Part way down the page is the picture of the Aspen dress.  Click on the dress/description to go to the page with the dress description. Their direct telephone number is 1-800-631-1611. 
Following is the information you will need:

  • Dress:  Black Aspen Dress, order #8605B
  • Lawrence University Customer Number:  S54901

Stage Accents will accept check or money order but credit card is preferred.  Please be very careful when determining the size to order since there will be a restocking fee for returns.

PLEASE NOTE:  Hem length is 1/2" off the floor with your dress shoes on.   The hem must to be completely finished (with all extra fabric cut off, etc). The bottom of the dress should look exactly the same as it did before the alterations, except shorter, and the top shouldn't look any different at all!

MEN (Viking Chorale and Concert Choir)
Tuxedo required with the following specifications:

  • traditional jacket (traditional jacket length, not double-breasted and not tails)
  • white, pleated, wing-tip collar shirt
  • black bowtie (with neck band)
  • black cummerbund
  • black studs and cufflinks
  • black socks
  • black dress shoes

Online:
Stage Accents:  http://www.stageaccents.com/mens_formal/
(The “Premier Tuxedo Ensemble” is available for the bargain price of $105.  However, you may wish to "upgrade" to a wool-blend ensemble for a nicer look and feel.)
Stage Accents Homepage:  www.stageaccents.com

Appleton Stores:
Gingiss Formalwear:  Fox River Mall (920-830-3677)
DuBois Formalwear:  Fox River Mall (920-738-0166)
The Formal Event:  2415 North Richmond (920-730-8321)
Men’s Wearhouse:  4301 West Wisconsin Ave #208 – by the Fox River Mall (920-830-3677)