2024-2025 Northwest Repertory Singers Auditions
NWRS mission: To lift voices in song: creating art and fostering community through choral music.
Before scheduling your audition, please read the information on this page…
We know it’s a lot of info, 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.
About NWRS
Founded in 2001, NWRS is an independent concert 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. We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary season in 2025-2026.
For more information about Northwest Repertory Singers, use the “About” navigation.
NWRS 2024-2025 Season Auditions: General Info
Auditions for new singers for 2024-2025 will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Sixth Avenue near Union Avenue. This venue is for auditions only.
We are delighted that our rehearsal and principal performance venue again this season is Christ Episcopal Church near Tacoma’s Stadium District.
All singers accepted into NWRS are expected to participate for the duration of the season (September through May) 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. 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.
As of 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. As of 2022-2023, attire options include criteria for a dress/skirt option and criteria for a tuxedo option. Both options are available to all singers.
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.
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. NOTE: This season it is also expected that all singers will participate in the Tuesday, December 10 special collaboration at the University of Puget Sound as well.
Please note all concert weekend and extra performances as described in the schedule information below.
Exceptions to the attendance and performance participation policy may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Artistic Director (primarily for illness or other unforeseen circumstances). All decisions about participation made by the Artistic Director are final.
Dates and Commitments
Season At-A-Glance
For a PDF with dates at-a-glance for rostered 2024-2025 singers, click here. This document will be updated as needed.
Fall 2024
Like many of our holiday concert programs since our founding in 2001, this year’s repertoire will be wide-ranging. This year’s theme is SONGS FOR THE FEAST, featuring an eclectic mix of secular and sacred pieces. To see what our NWRS holiday program is like, you can access our December 2023 concert program at this page, and our December 2022 concert program at this page.
Tacoma Rainiers game national anthem performance
Friday, September 6; evening call time and warm-upTBA, at Cheney Stadium (game begins 7:05 p.m.)
Please plan to participate if at all possible. It’s important that we have a balanced choir as we honor our nation with the anthem and present our ensemble to the community.
Fall kickoff retreat
Food, music distribution, rehearsal, Board info and choir business
Saturday, September 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
Monday rehearsals
September 16 through December 2, from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
No rehearsal: Monday, November 25 (week of Thanksgiving)
December concert weekend and U of Puget Sound collaboration
Saturday, Dec. 7 rehearsal: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
Saturday, Dec. 7 call time: 6:45 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. concert at Christ Episcopal Church
Sunday, Dec. 8 call time: 2:15 p.m. for 3 p.m. concert at Christ Episcopal Church
Tuesday, December 10 call time: 6:30 p.m. (on risers!) for collaboration with Puget Sound Singers at University of Puget Sound’s Kilworth Memorial Chapel
Spring 2025
Our May 2025 repertoire will highlight repertoire for choir and cello, with a variety of musical textures and idioms. A capella choral selections and selections for choir and piano will also be featured.
Spring kickoff retreat
Food, music distribution, rehearsal, Board info and choir business
Saturday, January 25 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
Monday rehearsals
January 27 through May 12, 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
No rehearsal: Monday, February 17 (Presidents Day)
Rehearsal location TBA: Monday, April 14 (Christ Church reserved for Holy Week)
No rehearsal: Monday, April 21 (Day after Easter)
May concert weekend
Saturday, May 18 rehearsal: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church
Saturday, May 19 call time: 6:45 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. concert at Christ Episcopal Church
Sunday, May 19 call time: 2:15 p.m. for 3 p.m. concert at Christ Episcopal Church
Other events
Optional events/programming in past years and under consideration for 2024-2025 include:
- Outreach at retirement homes
- Fundraising gatherings (2024: wine tasting)
- Movie singalong (past movies include Les Miserables, 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:
- 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.
- Simple vocal exercises to determine range and voice placement.
- Tonal memory check: Sing back a series of notes given from the piano.
- Sight reading exercises.
- 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, only prospective new singers audition for 2024-2025 (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 member(s) of the Board of Directors
Audition appointments are available:
- Monday, August 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church
- Monday, August 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church
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!
Are all slots full? Please contact Kyle Haugen, Artistic Director, at conductor@nwrs.org.
**PLEASE 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.