Auditioning information:
Auditions for the 2020-21 Academy Singers will be held on Wednesday, May 13 from 4 - 6 PM. BA has a noon dismissal that day to review for exams. Be sure to let your teachers know that you will only be available for help sessions from noon - 4:00 PM. We intentionally scheduled auditions after help sessions so there would be no conflict. We encourage you and all your talented friends to audition! If you have already pre-registered for classes, it is not too late to adjust your schedule.
Auditions will be held on
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Everything You Need to Know About
Academy Singer Auditions
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Everything You Need to Know About
Academy Singer Auditions
Academy Singers
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.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 4:00-6:00 PM in the chorus room. Please sign-up on the fine arts table in the backstage lobby by May 11. Please be sure to clearly print your email address so you may be contacted should a call back be required. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
There are four parts to the audition:
PART 1: Sight-Reading
Students will be asked to clap a short rhythm or sight-read a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na) solfege (do re mi fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). Please sign-up for a short, five-minute audition prior to the solo audition on May 13 with Mrs. Oldham. If you do not attend BA yet, email Mrs. Oldham for an appointment at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com. The sign-up sheet for BA students will be located on the fine arts table in the back stage lobby beginning May 1. Sight-reading auditions will be recorded for reference. Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website under the AUDITION tab: www.AcademySingers.com beginning May 4.
PART 2: Solo Performance and Stage Presence
Part two of the audition will be held in the chorus room on May 13, 2020: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Students are asked to prepare 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, and students should deliver the song with a confident and poised stage presence. 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 3: Part-Singing
In addition to the solo audition, students will be asked to learn a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. No preparation is necessary; these parts will be taught as a part of the audition. Once the part is learned, you will be asked to sing in a trio or quartet to demonstrate your ability to hold a harmony part. Good intonation (pitch), proper blend and balance are important criteria for this segment of the audition. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
PART 4: 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-minutes of practice each night. Class attendance is important. As an ensemble, we learn and perform as a unit. Every time 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.
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.
For more information, please contact Jenny Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com.
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.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 4:00-6:00 PM in the chorus room. Please sign-up on the fine arts table in the backstage lobby by May 11. Please be sure to clearly print your email address so you may be contacted should a call back be required. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
There are four parts to the audition:
PART 1: Sight-Reading
Students will be asked to clap a short rhythm or sight-read a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na) solfege (do re mi fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). Please sign-up for a short, five-minute audition prior to the solo audition on May 13 with Mrs. Oldham. If you do not attend BA yet, email Mrs. Oldham for an appointment at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com. The sign-up sheet for BA students will be located on the fine arts table in the back stage lobby beginning May 1. Sight-reading auditions will be recorded for reference. Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website under the AUDITION tab: www.AcademySingers.com beginning May 4.
PART 2: Solo Performance and Stage Presence
Part two of the audition will be held in the chorus room on May 13, 2020: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Students are asked to prepare 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, and students should deliver the song with a confident and poised stage presence. 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 3: Part-Singing
In addition to the solo audition, students will be asked to learn a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. No preparation is necessary; these parts will be taught as a part of the audition. Once the part is learned, you will be asked to sing in a trio or quartet to demonstrate your ability to hold a harmony part. Good intonation (pitch), proper blend and balance are important criteria for this segment of the audition. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
PART 4: 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-minutes of practice each night. Class attendance is important. As an ensemble, we learn and perform as a unit. Every time 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.
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.
For more information, please contact Jenny Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com.
Sight-reading samples
In addition to singing a song of your choosing, you will be asked to do some part-singing, and 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 sol fege (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 and part-singing part of the audition. 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.
