2022 Eastern Region ACDA Honor Choir Audition Requirements
Andrew Duffer, Honor Choir Coordinator | andrew.duffer@acdaeast.org
AUDITION ELIGIBILITY
- Singers who will be in grades 7, 8, or 9 for the Junior High Choir or grades 10, 11, or 12 for the Gospel or High School Choir in February 2022 may apply.
- Applications can be submitted during the month of September 2021.
- Singers must be members in good standing of their sponsoring musical organizations
- Singers must be sponsored by a current ACDA member.
- Those singers who wish to apply for BOTH the Gospel Honor Choir must submit separate applications and fees. Please note, auditioning for both ensembles has no bearing on admission to either ensemble.
TENTATIVE TIMELINE
- August 2021: Further information on fees, procedures, protocols etc. will be released.
- September 1-30, 2021: Applications can be uploaded to the Submittable Platform.
- October 15, 2021: Sponsors and applicants notified of acceptance
- November 1, 2021: Commitment forms and payment are due
- November 15, 2021: Music and learning tracks are released to those who have turned in forms and fees.
ONLINE AUDITION PROCESS
- Online applications will be made on the Submittable site.
- The Sponsor (and the applicant with his/her parent as necessary) submits online application information.
- Include a non-refundable application fee of $30.00 paid online on the application site.
- Sponsor uploads three separate sound files of the following for the student. Do not state the student name, sponsor name, or organization for any uploaded recordings
Specific Junior High, Gospel, and High School Audition Requirements follow:
Go to Junior High Choir Requirements
Go to Gospel Choir Requirements
Go to High School Choir Requirements
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR AUDITION SOUND FILE REQUIREMENTS
A. Vocalise. The student will sing four (4) legato five-tone scale passages, ascending and descending, beginning on the given pitches. All vocalises must be sung a cappella. The starting pitch or chord may be given for each of the four vocalises on piano, pitch pipe, guitar or voice. Vocalises are to be sung on the syllable “mah”. The first pitch of each phrase should be voiced on “mah” with the following four notes sounding the extension of “ah”. (Please follow the metronome markings and do not stop the recording until all four phrases are completed.)
mm = 80-100
Four Starting Pitches for Vocalises:
| Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass |
| D above middle C | A below middle C | F below middle C | G2 |
| F# above middle C | middle C# | G below middle C | B-flat 2 |
| A above middle C | E above middle C | A below middle C | C3 |
| Fourth line D | A above middle C | Middle C | E-flat 3 |
B. Repertoire Excerpt. Sing pick-up to m. 20-28 of “In The Heart Of The World” by Bob Chilcott. Accompaniment will start at m.18 in the practice track. Sing on beat 6 of m. 19.
Score Link: In The Heart Of The World.pdf
Practice Track: In the Heart of the World – Chilcott Audition Practice Track m.20-28.m4a
YouTube Recording: In the Heart of the World (Live) (audition excerpt is 1:02-1:32)
GOSPEL HONOR CHOIR AUDITION SOUND FILE REQUIREMENTS
A. Vocalise. Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to voice part. Scales should be sung on the vowel “ah” as in father. Only the starting pitch may be played. Accompanied singers will be disqualified.
| Voice Part | Starting pitch for ascending scale | Starting pitch for Descending scale |
| Soprano I | B flat above middle C | C above middle C |
| Soprano II | A above middle C | B above middle C |
| Alto I | E above middle C | A above middle C |
| Alto II | D above middle C | G above middle C |
| Tenor I | A flat below middle C | E above middle C |
| Tenor II | F sharp below middle C | Middle C |
| Bass I | E flat below middle C | G below middle C |
| Bass II | C sharp below middle C | E below middle C |
B. Repertoire Excerpt. Sing m. 5-14 (1st ending), then skip to and sing m. 22-37 of “Shine The Light” by Raymond Wise, a cappella.
Score link: Shine the Light Score ACDA Audition Excerpt.pdf
Practice Track: Shine the LIght Audition Stem (Section A 1st ending to Section B).m4a
C. Solo. Sing 30 seconds of a range-appropriate song, or a song taught in voice lesson, class or in chorus, accompanied or unaccompanied. It is important that the piece chosen best demonstrates the tone quality and musicality required of a choral singer. If accompaniment is used, please limit the introduction to 5 seconds at the most. Clearly state the title of prepared solo and the name of the composer/arranger at the beginning of this part of the recording.
HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR AUDITION SOUND FILE REQUIREMENTS
A. Vocalise. Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to voice part. Scales should be sung on the vowel “ah” as in father. Only the starting pitch may be played. Accompanied singers will be disqualified.
| Voice Part | Starting pitch for ascending scale | Starting pitch for Descending scale |
| Soprano I | B flat above middle C | C above middle C |
| Soprano II | A above middle C | B above middle C |
| Alto I | E above middle C | A above middle C |
| Alto II | D above middle C | G above middle C |
| Tenor I | A flat below middle C | E above middle C |
| Tenor II | F sharp below middle C | Middle C |
| Bass I | E flat below middle C | G below middle C |
| Bass II | C sharp below middle C | E below middle C |
B. Repertoire Excerpt. Sing m. 29-41 of “Nunc Dimittis” by Gustav Holst, a cappella. Quarter note = 112 bpm. Starting pitches will be given in the order of bass, tenor, alto, soprano on the practice track. After 4 quarter quarter note beats to indicate the tempo, sing at m. 29 on beat 2.
Score link: Nunc Dimittis HOLST pdf (1) (1).pdf
Practice Track: Nunc Dimittis- Holst Audition Practice Track m.29-41.m4a
YouTube Recording: Gustav Holst – Nunc Dimittis (audition excerpt is 2:00-2:34)
C. Solo. Sing 30 seconds of a range-appropriate folk song, or a song taught in voice lessons, class or in chorus, accompanied or unaccompanied. It is important that the piece chosen best demonstrates the tone quality and musicality required of a choral singer. If accompaniment is used, please limit the introduction to 5 seconds at the most. Clearly state the title of prepared solo and the name of the composer/arranger at the beginning of this part of the recording.