Hi singers,
I’m glad you have registered or are interested for the Fall 2019 Chamber Singers. That is a good first step. Now you must successfully audition for the choir on the the 30th of August or contact me at hughesr@arc.losrios.edu or at (916) 730-7055 to be a member of the ensemble. Please read through this information and share it with other singers that will be a “good fit” for this year’s ensemble. The information shared is the audition schedule/process and to give you a link to the audition piece.
Monday, August 26
Our first meeting is on Monday, August 26thfrom 10:30 to 11:50 am in Room 547, American River College Music Building. If you’re not familiar with campus, it is helpful to know that the Music Building is by Lot D and located nearest the intersection of College Oak Drive and Myrtle Avenue. Enter the building from Lot D, and the choir room is the first door on your right.
We will briefly cover the syllabus, make introductions, then, launch into studying the audition piece (see below).
Wednesday, August 28
We will continue to rehearse the piece from 10:30 am to 11:50 am in Room 547. Some of you may choose to meet early to help one another from 9:30 am to the start of class.
Friday, August 30
You have your first sectional from 9:30 to 10:30 am to help one another solidify the piece. Then at 10:30 am the audition will commence. We will sing the piece together and then in quartets (one singer per vocal part). By Saturday morning, I will relay the results by email.
This year’s audition has two parts: first, you need to learn the Orlando Lassus (di Lasso) of Domine, labia mea aperies. This is moderately challenging. You’ll find this four-part setting at http://www1.cpdl.org/wiki/images/e/ed/Lasso-dom.pdf and you can print out a copy or learn it by viewing the score electronically. I will have a copy for you at Monday’s first meeting. (A pdf copy and an example video of the score would also be available at the bottom of this page)
Second, I will have a 16-measure excerpt from Eric Whitacre to see how well you can handle singing in clusters. It will be fun!
How can you help make the choir even better? Encourage basses and tenors to come join us—we need more to have a balanced choir. Look through your Instagram contacts and phone contacts and I bet you’ll be reminded of singers YOU can encourage.
- Dr. Ralph Hughes
Choir Conductor and Professor at ARC