Audition Information
Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the SHS choirs! We know it will be rewarding for you.
The choirs of SHS represent the school by being known for striving for excellence in all things. Not only do SHS choirs have high musical goals, they also have high academic ambitions and high standards of personal conduct. We are all "team players" in Syracuse Choirs. We become close friends as we diligently work together toward our common goal: excellence. As such, it is a privilege to be a member of this team.
Only 11th and 12th grade students are selected for Madrigals and A Cappella. As such, only 10th - 11th graders may audition.
9th grade women may audition to sing with Caritas, the advanced women's choir. 9th grade men may NOT audition for any choir, but should enroll in Men's Choir. This will prepare them for auditions as a 10th grader.
Auditions are held every year in March (March 20-22, 2018), though any interested student can contact Mr. Egan at any time throughout the year and schedule an audition. To audition, please carefully follow the direction below:
1. Students must download the "SHS Choir Audition form" below, print it out DOUBLE-SIDED and fill it out completely BEFORE they audition with Mr. Egan.
2. After filling out the form, students will talk to Mr. Egan in person to schedule an audition. During auditioning season in March, a sign-up sheet will be posted in the SHS choir room the week prior to auditions. Students can sign up for whatever time works best for them.
3. Students will practice ONE VERSE of ONE of the following songs in preparation for their audition:
4. Students will arrive EARLY to their appointed audition time. Tardiness is not a quality of an SHS choir member.
5. Students will hand their completed audition form to Mr. Egan and will begin their audition. The whole audition has five components:
6. The audition is over. After a few days, Mr. Egan will post a final list with the results.
Please remember that auditions are not meant to determine whether you are a "good" or "bad" singer. They are meant to determine your current vocal abilities and then place you in a choir that will MOST BENEFIT YOU in your vocal progress. Everyone can become a better singer; that's why we sing in choir. So, please come audition and see how much better of a singer you can become. We would love for you to join us!
The choirs of SHS represent the school by being known for striving for excellence in all things. Not only do SHS choirs have high musical goals, they also have high academic ambitions and high standards of personal conduct. We are all "team players" in Syracuse Choirs. We become close friends as we diligently work together toward our common goal: excellence. As such, it is a privilege to be a member of this team.
Only 11th and 12th grade students are selected for Madrigals and A Cappella. As such, only 10th - 11th graders may audition.
9th grade women may audition to sing with Caritas, the advanced women's choir. 9th grade men may NOT audition for any choir, but should enroll in Men's Choir. This will prepare them for auditions as a 10th grader.
Auditions are held every year in March (March 20-22, 2018), though any interested student can contact Mr. Egan at any time throughout the year and schedule an audition. To audition, please carefully follow the direction below:
1. Students must download the "SHS Choir Audition form" below, print it out DOUBLE-SIDED and fill it out completely BEFORE they audition with Mr. Egan.
2. After filling out the form, students will talk to Mr. Egan in person to schedule an audition. During auditioning season in March, a sign-up sheet will be posted in the SHS choir room the week prior to auditions. Students can sign up for whatever time works best for them.
3. Students will practice ONE VERSE of ONE of the following songs in preparation for their audition:
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- America, the Beautiful
- My Country, Tis' of Thee
- Amazing Grace
- Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
- Be Still, My Soul
4. Students will arrive EARLY to their appointed audition time. Tardiness is not a quality of an SHS choir member.
5. Students will hand their completed audition form to Mr. Egan and will begin their audition. The whole audition has five components:
- A few, simple vocal warm-ups Mr. Egan will direct the student through
- The student will sing the song they prepared to sing FROM THE ABOVE LIST. Mr. Egan may or may not play accompaniment.
- Ear training exercise: Mr. Egan will play a few pitches on the piano and the student will have to sing them back.
- Sight-Singing: Mr. Egan will give the student a few short examples of musical notation and he or she will sing what the music says. This is to test the student's ability to read music and sing what is written, without ever having heard it.
- Music Theory Test: Students auditioning for A Cappella and Madrigals will complete a 75 question, multiple-choice music theory test to determine their ability to read music (notes, rhythms, key signatures, intervals, terms, etc.) This test is NOT required for Caritas auditions.
6. The audition is over. After a few days, Mr. Egan will post a final list with the results.
Please remember that auditions are not meant to determine whether you are a "good" or "bad" singer. They are meant to determine your current vocal abilities and then place you in a choir that will MOST BENEFIT YOU in your vocal progress. Everyone can become a better singer; that's why we sing in choir. So, please come audition and see how much better of a singer you can become. We would love for you to join us!
Choir Audition Form
| shs_choir_audition_form_2018.pdf |
Please print this form out DOUBLE-SIDED so that it is only one page. This helps Mr. Egan to not have piles of paper to jumble through while auditioning students.
