AUDITIONS

2023-2024 Northwest Repertory Singers Auditions

NWRS mission: To lift voices in song: creating art and fostering community through choral music.

Founded in 2001, NWRS is an independent choir that presents repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day—from art songs to sea shanties, from sacred to secular. Every few years, we collaborate with outside groups and/or feature a larger work with orchestra, such as the Vivaldi Gloria (December 2019) and the Fauré Requiem (May 2022). We work hard, and we have fun (and plenty of laughs) along the way.

Before scheduling your audition, please read the information on this page. We know it’s a lot… but it gives you a good picture of our upcoming season and what to expect at your audition.

Near the end of the page you’ll find a calendar tool to schedule your audition slot.

Fall 2023 Auditions: General Info

Auditions for new and returning singers for 2023-2024 will be held at Christ Episcopal Church near Tacoma’s Stadium District. This is also our rehearsal and performance venue.

All singers accepted into NWRS are expected to participate for the duration of the season unless prior arrangements have been made with the Artistic Director at or near the time of the audition (exceptions: illness or medical condition; family emergency, or similar unforeseen circumstances).

Covid-19

As of Fall 2022, NWRS does not require masking or distancing. Singers may, at their option, wear a mask or distance themselves from others during rehearsal. At this time, our rehearsal and performance venue does not require proof of vaccination for singers or audiences. Should public health guidance or our venue’s requirements change, we will update our policies accordingly.

Member Dues

Membership is based on the audition, not payment of dues.

Starting in 2022-2023, NWRS member dues are $200. (The Board of Directors lowered dues from $225, which was the rate prior to the pandemic.)

Payment plans and scholarships may be available upon request. Again, membership is based on the audition, not payment of dues. However, eligibility to participate during the season may be affected by unpaid balances unless prior arrangements have been made.

Concert Attire

We’ve valued a professional and uniform appearance since our founding. NWRS members provide their own concert attire that conforms to NWRS policies. For 2022-2023, attire options included criteria for a dress/skirt option and criteria for a tuxedo option.

Attendance

Rehearsals are fast-paced and content-rich. We work hard and enjoy the rehearsal process—and we have fun (and plenty of laughs) along the way.

To maintain our shared commitment to high artistic standards, members of NWRS commit to missing no more than three (3) rehearsals in each concert preparation sequence. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Artistic Director.

Please see the additional information about schedules below. Attendance is mandatory for the following: a) the final Monday rehearsal before concert weekend; b) the rehearsal the afternoon of the Saturday concert; and c) the Saturday concert and Sunday concert. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Artistic Director (primarily for illness or other unforeseen circumstances).

All rehearsals and performances take place at Tacoma’s Christ Episcopal Church.

Schedule for Fall 2023

Like many of our holiday programs since 2001, this year’s repertoire will be wide-ranging, spanning the Renaissance to the modern day under the theme SING NOËL. The program theme is indebted to two works on the program: a masterful setting of the French carol, Noël nouvelet (sung primarily in English with the title, “Sing We Now of Christmas”) and the incomparably joyful “African Noël.” Guest artists joining NWRS to perform on harp and oboe will be confirmed soon. To see what a wide-ranging NWRS holiday program is like, you can access our December 2022 concert program at this page.

Fall Kickoff Retreat

Food, music distribution, rehearsal, Board info and choir business

Saturday, September 9 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church.

Monday Rehearsals

September 11 to December 11, 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

No rehearsal: Monday, November 20 (week of Thanksgiving)

December Concert Weekend

Saturday, Dec. 16 rehearsal: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16 call time: 6:45 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. concert

Sunday, Dec. 17 call time: 2:15 p.m. for 3 p.m. concert

Other Events

Optional events/programming under consideration for Fall 2023 include:

  • National anthem for local sports team
  • Caroling for local tree lighting event
  • Casual performance of “works in progress” and/or carols at a retirement center

Schedule for Spring 2024

Our May 2024 repertoire will explore themes of life and love. Pending the outcome of auditions, the Brahms Liebeslieder waltzes will anchor the program, with a variety of musical textures to balance.

Spring Kickoff Retreat

Food, music distribution, rehearsal, Board info and choir business

Saturday, January 20 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church (location to be confirmed)

Spring Monday Rehearsals

January 22 to April 29, 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

No rehearsal: Monday, April 1 (day after Easter)

May Concert Weekend

Saturday, May 4 rehearsal: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 4 call time: 6:45 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. concert

Sunday, May 5 call time: 2:15 p.m. for 3 p.m. concert

Other Events

Optional events/programming under consideration for Spring 2024 include:

  • National anthem for local sports team
  • Fundraising “cabaret” event
  • Movie singalong (June 2023: Mama Mia!)

Audition Registration

Please carefully review the information below. Use the calendar at the end of this page to schedule your appointment. 

Questions? Please contact Kyle Haugen, Artistic Director, at conductor@nwrs.org. Please also reach out if you can’t make the available appointments to learn if other arrangements may be possible.

Audition Requirements

For your meeting with the Artistic Director, please be prepared for the following:

  1. Brief solo. The solo may be an aria, art song, hymn, or simple patriotic song such as “America, the Beautiful” or “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Artistic Director will provide basic accompaniment; if you wish to sing a piece with demanding accompaniment, please bring a pianist to your audition.
  2. Simple vocal exercises to determine range and voice placement.
  3. Tonal memory check: Sing back a series of notes given from the piano.
  4. Sight reading exercises.
  5. Q&A with the Artistic Director.

You must complete the online audition registration (see calendar below) to reserve your appointment.

Schedule Your Audition

This year, all current NWRS singers and prospective new singers audition for 2023-2024 (the entire choir re-auditions in odd-numbered years). The total duration is approximately 25 minutes, including:

  • 5 minutes before your scheduled slot: Arrival and brief intake form
  • 15 minute scheduled slot: Meeting with the Artistic Director
  • 5 minutes after your scheduled slot: concluding informal Q&A with members of the Board of Directors

Audition appointments are available:

  • Monday, August 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Monday, August 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Monday, August 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Please schedule your slot abutting an existing appointment. This helps make best use of the time our volunteers donate to serving at auditions. Thank you!

NOTE: You may need to advance the calendar to August. Monday is displayed as the first day of the week. Same-day scheduling is not available after 4 p.m.

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