Auditions will be held on
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Everything You Need to Know About Academy Singer Auditions
The Academy Singers is a vocal ensemble that meets as a class for the entire school year with the goal of performing, as well as recording a professional quality CD. Students are expected to market and sell CDs of their recording as a part of the class. Audition criteria include sight-reading, part-singing, solo performance, stage presence, and attitude. If you have already pre-registered your classes for next year, it is not too late to make changes to your schedule. Simply sign-up for the audition below, and Mrs. Renner will make the necessary adjustments to your schedule should you make the group.
We will watch COVID restrictions as we approach the audition date, and we will announce whether auditions will be held in person or via Zoom closer to the time of the audition.
There are five parts to the audition below:
PART 1: Solo Performance
Students are asked to prepare approximately 30-seconds of a song in any style without accompaniment or tracks. Song choice should allow for the student to demonstrate strength of range and vocal quality. It is always a good idea to select a song with a discernible melody that does not heavily depend on an instrumental track since the solos will be sung a cappella in the audition.
PART 2: Stage Presence
A confident and poised stage presence will be an important part of the solo and part-singing portions of the audition. Students should be visually expressive, performing in a manner that appropriately conveys the musical style and the meaning of the lyric.
PART 3: Sight-Singing
Students will be asked to sight-sing a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na), solfege (do, re, mi, fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website at the bottom of the AUDITION tab: www.AcademySingers.com.
PART 4: Part-Singing
During your solo audition on May 19, you will also be asked to sing a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. One day prior to your solo/part-singing audition, you will receive:
PART 5: Attitude/Work Ethic/Character
Not every singer is a soloist, but every singer is important! Each person brings a different strength to the group. One person may be a great part singer, another may have a wonderful pitch center, one may be a good soloist, and another may have natural stage presence. Rarely does someone possess all four of these qualities. We all must work together to create an ensemble with a blend of different talents and abilities. No one is guaranteed a solo or featured spot on the record or on stage. We must work towards a performance that is in the best interest of the entire group, not in the best interest of a single individual. An attitude of entitlement is not becoming of any member of the group. Rather, an attitude of encouragement, love, and support for one another is essential.
Another very important part of being a member of this group is a commitment on the part of each singer to bring their absolute best to every rehearsal. That means being willing to practice your vocal part independently so that you come to class prepared for each and every rehearsal. This can easily be achieved with ten- fifteen minutes of practice each night. Class attendance is important. As an ensemble, we learn and perform as a unit. Anytime you miss a class, the blend of the group is jeopardized because when you are not present, you will not know how to shape a certain vowel or exactly where the cut-off is, or what the dynamics will be. There is no way to blend unless every singer performs each aspect of the music in the exact same way. I take your class attendance very seriously. You must be willing to be committed.
And finally, Academy Singers are ambassadors for Brentwood Academy. Each member should carry themselves in a manner that is befitting that important role. Treating others with kindness and respect, as well as practicing patience and humility are important qualities that each member of the group should strive to achieve. A spirit of grumbling or negativity is counter to the bond of unity we want to have.
If you choose to audition for this group, you are acknowledging the expectations of attitude, work ethic, and character goals required for this ensemble.
The Academy Singers is a vocal ensemble that meets as a class for the entire school year with the goal of performing, as well as recording a professional quality CD. Students are expected to market and sell CDs of their recording as a part of the class. Audition criteria include sight-reading, part-singing, solo performance, stage presence, and attitude. If you have already pre-registered your classes for next year, it is not too late to make changes to your schedule. Simply sign-up for the audition below, and Mrs. Renner will make the necessary adjustments to your schedule should you make the group.
We will watch COVID restrictions as we approach the audition date, and we will announce whether auditions will be held in person or via Zoom closer to the time of the audition.
There are five parts to the audition below:
PART 1: Solo Performance
Students are asked to prepare approximately 30-seconds of a song in any style without accompaniment or tracks. Song choice should allow for the student to demonstrate strength of range and vocal quality. It is always a good idea to select a song with a discernible melody that does not heavily depend on an instrumental track since the solos will be sung a cappella in the audition.
PART 2: Stage Presence
A confident and poised stage presence will be an important part of the solo and part-singing portions of the audition. Students should be visually expressive, performing in a manner that appropriately conveys the musical style and the meaning of the lyric.
PART 3: Sight-Singing
Students will be asked to sight-sing a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na), solfege (do, re, mi, fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website at the bottom of the AUDITION tab: www.AcademySingers.com.
PART 4: Part-Singing
During your solo audition on May 19, you will also be asked to sing a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. One day prior to your solo/part-singing audition, you will receive:
- Music for a short musical excerpt to be sung for the part-singing audition.
- A guide track with your part turned up higher in the mix, so you can learn the harmony.
- A performance track (with all parts except yours) to be performed in the audition.
PART 5: Attitude/Work Ethic/Character
Not every singer is a soloist, but every singer is important! Each person brings a different strength to the group. One person may be a great part singer, another may have a wonderful pitch center, one may be a good soloist, and another may have natural stage presence. Rarely does someone possess all four of these qualities. We all must work together to create an ensemble with a blend of different talents and abilities. No one is guaranteed a solo or featured spot on the record or on stage. We must work towards a performance that is in the best interest of the entire group, not in the best interest of a single individual. An attitude of entitlement is not becoming of any member of the group. Rather, an attitude of encouragement, love, and support for one another is essential.
Another very important part of being a member of this group is a commitment on the part of each singer to bring their absolute best to every rehearsal. That means being willing to practice your vocal part independently so that you come to class prepared for each and every rehearsal. This can easily be achieved with ten- fifteen minutes of practice each night. Class attendance is important. As an ensemble, we learn and perform as a unit. Anytime you miss a class, the blend of the group is jeopardized because when you are not present, you will not know how to shape a certain vowel or exactly where the cut-off is, or what the dynamics will be. There is no way to blend unless every singer performs each aspect of the music in the exact same way. I take your class attendance very seriously. You must be willing to be committed.
And finally, Academy Singers are ambassadors for Brentwood Academy. Each member should carry themselves in a manner that is befitting that important role. Treating others with kindness and respect, as well as practicing patience and humility are important qualities that each member of the group should strive to achieve. A spirit of grumbling or negativity is counter to the bond of unity we want to have.
If you choose to audition for this group, you are acknowledging the expectations of attitude, work ethic, and character goals required for this ensemble.
Auditioning
For the part-singing part of the audition, we will be looking for good intonation, a good blend with the other voices on the track, and a good sense of style and musicality. The details below relate to the 2020 audition, not the 2021 audition, but it will give you an idea of what to expect. The part-singing materials for 2021 will be posted one day in advance of the audition.
If we hold auditions in person, plan to attend the audition for the entire two-hour period.
If we hold online auditions, be sure to join the Zoom meeting on time. You will be admitted into the waiting room. When the singer in front of you is finished, we will admit you, and you will sing your solo first. Please keep your solo right around 30 seconds or so, so we will have time for both your solo and your part-singing. After the solo, please be prepared to play the performance track (#5 in the list below) and sing your part along with the performance track. Test the volume level of the track, so that it is in good balance with your voice. Please keep in mind that we will move quickly, so be ready to go!
Everything you will need to learn your part for the part-singing portion of your audition may be found below: (note details below relate to the 2020 audition only. Part-singing details for 2021 will be posted one day prior to the audition.
If we hold auditions in person, plan to attend the audition for the entire two-hour period.
If we hold online auditions, be sure to join the Zoom meeting on time. You will be admitted into the waiting room. When the singer in front of you is finished, we will admit you, and you will sing your solo first. Please keep your solo right around 30 seconds or so, so we will have time for both your solo and your part-singing. After the solo, please be prepared to play the performance track (#5 in the list below) and sing your part along with the performance track. Test the volume level of the track, so that it is in good balance with your voice. Please keep in mind that we will move quickly, so be ready to go!
Everything you will need to learn your part for the part-singing portion of your audition may be found below: (note details below relate to the 2020 audition only. Part-singing details for 2021 will be posted one day prior to the audition.
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1) Score with the vocal parts and lyrics. You will sing your part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) written on the second staff of the system. Basses will sing the soprano part one octave lower. You do not need to learn the solo part.
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2) An overview of the song with all parts played (solo, track, BGVs) to give you a feel for the style.
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Shackles Part-singing Audition_All Parts |
3) A rehearsal track with just your part sung with the track. This will be the track you should practice most until you are comfortable with your part. Basses sing the soprano part down one octave.
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Soprano/Bass
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Alto
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Tenor
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4. A rehearsal track with all three parts sung a cappella. This is just extra practice, so you can focus on blend without worrying about the track.
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A Cappella BGVs
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5. The performance track you will use for your audition. You will sing your part and the track includes the other two parts to complete the trio.
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Soprano/Bass
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Alto
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Tenor
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Sight-reading samples
For the sight-reading portion of your audition, you will be asked to sing an eight measure sight-reading exercise similar to those posted below. You may sing the part on a neutral syllable (la, la, la) or solfege (do re mi) or numbers (1 2 3). You will be given a starting pitch and a minute to silently review the part, then you will be asked to sing the part to the best of your ability. Please be sure to sign up for your five-minute private audition for sight-reading by May. Samples of the types of exercises you will be given are posted below. You will be given the option of singing either bass or treble clef.
