Chorus of Westerly To Hold Auditions for New Singers on September 5th and 6th, 2017
Westerly, RI – The Chorus of Westerly is currently looking for new singers for the 2017-2018 concert season and will hold auditions in the evenings on Tuesday, September 5th and Wednesday September 6th, 2017, by appointment. All adult voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) and children ages 8 to 18 are welcomed to audition. Auditions for potential new singers are held by appointment in the George Kent Performance Hall, in Westerly and should be scheduled in advance with the Chorus office. Members of the Chorus must be able to commit to the entire 2017-2018 season schedule. The schedule includes:
- November 11 & 12, 2017: Elgar ??? The Music Makers
- December 16 & 17, 2017: Christmas Pops
- March 17 & 18, 2018: Chorus March concert
- May 19 & 20, 2018: Beethoven ??? Mass in C major
- June 23, 2018: Summer Pops
Regular rehearsals for Chorus adults take place on Monday evenings from 7:30pm ??? 9:45pm, beginning September 11, 2017. Children???s rehearsals take place on weekday afternoons and start the week of Labor Day 2017. Depending on age and musical experience, children are placed into one of the four ensembles that make up the Chorus of Westerly children???s program: Training Choristers, Junior Choristers, Trebles and Full Choristers.
Auditions will take place at the George Kent Performance Hall, located at 119 High Street in Westerly, with Music Director Andrew Howell ??? covering the singers??? tone, pitch, ability to sight read music and overall musical ability. Auditions typically last ten to fifteen minutes for both adult and child singers. Potential new singers should visit chorusofwesterly.org for more audition tips and information on how to prepare.
To schedule an audition timeslot for September 5th or 6th please contact Andrew Howell at 401-596-8663 or by email andrew@chorusofwesterly.org. Alternative audition dates/times can be made by appointment only. Please inquire to music director, Andrew Howell for availability. For more information please contact the Chorus of Westerly office at 401-596-8663. Summer business hours are Monday ??? Friday, 9am ??? 3:30pm. Additional information can be found at chorusofwesterly.org.
The 190-voice Chorus of Westerly is one of the nation???s only intergenerational symphonic choral ensembles. For each concert in its professional concert season, children ages 8 to 18 sing alongside adult singers as ensemble members of equal rank and expectations.
Founded in 1959 by George Kent and today directed by Andrew Howell, the Chorus has had more than 2,500 area residents sing in its program, with more than 1,500 singing as child members. In its 57 seasons, the Chorus has presented nearly 700 performances to over 1.7 million people.
The Chorus has performed in concert over 100 major choral works with fully professional orchestra and soloists, and has presented 13 major American premieres. While its home is in Rhode Island, the Chorus has toured internationally four times, singing in such venues as Smetana Hall in Prague, Stephansdom in Vienna, Westminster Abbey, and St. Peter???s??Basilica in the Vatican while also receiving countless awards for its work.
The Chorus has also established regional traditions such as their annual Summer Pops??performance which is attended annually by 25,000 people.
In addition to its extensive performance season, the Chorus also offers a broad reaching musical??education program to its singing members and area children.
This includes an?????in rehearsal??? music fundamentals class for all child and adult singers focusing on sight-singing, theory, and other musical techniques, as well as an introductory music and movement class for children ages 3 to 7.
The Chorus is also one of only three American choral organizations to own and operate its own performance venue – the??historic George Kent Performance Hall.