About AU Choir Auditions
Click here to complete the Choral Interest Form.
Auditions for the following groups occur by appointment in 114 Goodwin Music Hall:
- Chamber Choir
- Gospel Choir
- Conductors’ Chorus
- Women's Chorus
- Men's Chorus
All AU choral groups are open to non-music majors and music majors, and to any entering, new, and current undergraduate or graduate student. Students can also participate in more than one choir during a single semester. Only one audition is needed for the groups listed above unless you also want to be considered for the AU Singers, Opera Workshop, or Sonic Nation.
Placement into any choral ensemble is at the discretion of the director(s), and is contingent upon the choral audition. Course enrollment is required. Note: Students who intend to major in music with a concentration in voice (B.M., B.M.E., and B.A. degree programs) must complete a music department audition. The choir audition is a separate audition.
Students should enroll in the choir(s) for which they plan to audition when possible (see “Course Enrollment” below). For more information, email choirs@auburn.edu or call 334-844-3166.
Audition Instructions for Vocal Music Majors (classical)
SOLO
Vocal music majors will fulfill the solo requirement of the choral audition when they sing their solos for the Voice Scholarship Audition for the music degree program. Visit Voice Audition Requirements.
SIGHT READING & Other criteria
Incoming vocal music majors (classical) must sign up for a choral audition during or prior to Camp War Eagle to complete the sight reading and the other remaining requirements for placement into a choral ensemble: (tonal memory, expression, scales, etc.).
Audition Instructions for Non-Vocal Music Majors & Non-Music Majors
SOLO
Non-music majors and non-vocal music majors should be prepared to sing a familiar song such as “The Star Spangled Banner,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” or “Happy Birthday;” or they may choose to sing up to 60 seconds of a solo that they have sung before.
The solo must not contain profanity, vulgarity, or potentially offensive material, and it should be composed or arranged specifically for solo voice. Students may choose solos from musical theater, classical, opera, gospel, jazz, etc. Singing a voice part from a choral song is not suitable.
SIGHT READING
Students will be asked to sight read a simple 8-measure melody on solfege, a single syllable (“tah”), or numbers.
EXPRESSION
While singing, there should be observable evidence of facial expression and vocal energy from the singer. The expression should be appropriate for the style of music being sung.
OTHER CRITERIA
Students auditioning for the Chamber Choir will be asked to sing scales (major, natural minor, chromatic, and/or whole tone).
*Note: Students should be prepared to sing any of the scales indicated above while the same scale is being played simultaneously on the piano, but in a different key. For more information on scales, visit http://method-behind-the-music.com/theory/scalesandkeys. Students are also encouraged to view Two Minute Music Theory videos on YouTube for help with understanding music notation.
Course Enrollment
Students are permitted to enroll in the choral course(s) before they audition, preferably during the Camp War Eagle (or SOS) academic advisement sessions.
Course enrollment does not guarantee that a student will pass the choir audition. Enrolling in a choral course ensures that the choir will fit in the student's schedule. It also helps the instructor to anticipate class size when preparing course materials. Course numbers and other class information are listed below.
Students will receive one hour of academic credit per group, per semester. In most cases, students will be notified of the status of their audition at the conclusion of their audition, or by the first day of classes via e-mail.
MUSE 1170 – Gospel Choir MW, 3:00-3:50 p.m.
Dr. William Powell – choirs@auburn.edu - (334) 844-3166
*MUSE 1180 – Women's Chorus MWF, 1:00-1:50 p.m.
*MUSE 1190 – Men’s Chorus MWF, 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Dr. William Powell – choirs@auburn.edu - (334) 844-3166
*Women's Chorus and Men's Chorus combine on Fridays to rehearse as the Concert Choir.
MUSE 1240 – Chamber Choir MF, 2:00-2:50 p.m.; TR, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Dr. William Powell – choirs@auburn.edu - (334) 844-3166
MUSE 1310 – Conductors’ Chorus MW, 10:00-10:50 a.m.
Dr. William Powell – choirs@auburn.edu - (334) 844-3166
Choral Scholarships
Students who want to be considered for a choral scholarship should visit the Music Department Scholarship Audition page for information pertinent to music majors and non-music majors.
Other Choral-Vocal Ensembles
Click here for information about AU Singers, Opera Workshop, and Sonic Nation. Separate auditions are required for each of these groups, and they each have separate audition requirements.
Email choirs@auburn.edu for information about the student-led a cappella groups MelAUdic and Full AUctave.