Auditions

Updated on October 16, 2024

Pacific Chorale will hold public auditions in Orange County, California in January 2025 for admission into the ensemble’s 2025-2026 season (earlier entry may be possible in spring 2025, subject to availability). Audition applications for all sections are available now. Bass candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

​​​​​​​This page contains detailed application and audition requirements, as well as a FAQs section and resources for interested singers. If you have questions after reviewing this material, please contact us at auditions@pacificchorale.org. 

JUMP TO: Timeline | Singing with Pacific Chorale | Volunteer Applicants | Staff Applicants  |  FAQs

Audition Timeline

Application Schedule

Tue., October 15, 2024: Open House Rehearsal
Wed., October 16, 2024: Audition Requirements & Application Posted
Tue., December 17, 2024 at 5:00pm PT: Application Deadline for All Applicants (applications may close early if section audition capacity is reached before the deadline)
Fri., December 20, 2024: Scheduled Audition Time Slots Confirmed​​​​​​​

Audition Schedule

Sat., January 18, 2025: Audition Session #1 | 10:00am-5:00pm | Fullerton, CA   
Wed., January 22, 2025: Audition Session #2 | 7:30-10:00pm | Newport Beach, CA
Sat., January 25, 2025: Audition Session #3 | 10:00am-5:00pm | Fullerton, CA 
Dates and times are subject to change with notice. 

Decisions & Next Steps

Late February 2025: Audition Decisions shared with all Applicants
Late March 2025: Commitment Deadline for Admitted Singers

Singing With Pacific Chorale

Pacific Chorale’s 2024-2025 roster of singing musicians includes 220 people committed to excellence in choral performance. Our ensemble sizes range from all-staff chamber choirs of 24 singers to large oratorio choruses of 120. While repertory and performance needs determine the size of each choir, the overall Chorale roster is typically two-thirds volunteer and one-third employee. 

Volunteering has been at the heart of Pacific Chorale since our founding as an all-volunteer chorus in 1968. The Chorale’s 130 volunteers together contributed 15,360 rehearsal and performance hours to the ensemble during the 2022-2023 season. Many Chorale volunteers have music degrees and many do not. Some join right after graduating college, some are retired, and many work in non-arts sectors. All Pacific Chorale singers are choral enthusiasts who cherish the unparalleled performance opportunities offered by the Chorale.

As Chorale resources and artistic capacities expanded, an acoustic core of paid staff singers was developed to anchor the ensemble. Many of our staff singers regularly perform in solo settings, are staff members of other area choirs, lead church choirs, and/or teach choir in public or private schools. 

All Pacific Chorale singers demonstrate strong vocal and musical skills. Staff Singers are expected to additionally excel in sight-reading and demonstrate superior vocal/repertory flexibility. Staff positions are especially competitive and limited from year-to-year.

Volunteer Applicants

Volunteer applications to audition are welcome in all SATB sections. Bass candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, with potential early entry in winter/spring of 2025 for Pacific Symphony’s Carmina Burana and Verdi Requiem performances. We encourage all singers to submit your application as early as possible, particularly for soprano applicants. If a section passes our audition capacity, we will close that section’s application early and open an audition waitlist.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL VOLUNTEER SINGERS:

  • One aria/art song of your choosing, not to exceed 3 minutes in length. Plan to bring a copy of your music for our pianist.
  • Short sight-singing exercise(s) upon request.
  • Short rhythmic exercise(s) upon request.
  • A prepared excerpt, linked here, from Vaughan Williams' DONA NOBIS PACEM.
    • You are to prepare your part (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass) as indicated.
    • This section will be accompanied on the piano.
    • The tempo is dotted half note=64.
  • For Soprano, Alto, Bass singers, a prepared excerpt, linked here, from Handel’s MESSIAH.
    • You are to prepare your part (soprano, alto, or bass) as indicated.
    • This section will be accompanied on the piano.
    • The tempo is quarter note=100.
  • For Tenor singers, a prepared excerpt, linked here, from Handel’s MESSIAH.
    • You are to prepare the tenor part as indicated.
    • This section will be accompanied on the piano.
    • The tempo is quarter note=102.
  • Note that applicants auditioning for volunteer Chorale positions do not submit a prescreening and do not prepare the separate Stravinsky excerpt required for staff applicants.

The audition application is brief and there is no application fee. Resumes detailing music/artistic experience are required for all applicants.

Staff Applicants

Staff applications to audition are welcome in all SATB sections. Staff applicants have separate prescreening and audition requirements, noted below. We encourage submitting your application and prescreening as early as possible. If a section passes our audition capacity, we will close that section’s application early and open an audition waitlist. 

Note that your audition application is an application for employment with Pacific Chorale. 

STEP 1: STAFF PRESCREENING

Due to the volume of staff applications, a prescreening step is required before an in-person audition is granted. Applicants for staff positions must submit pre-screening recordings of two vocal works: a classical aria and a contrasting piece. Please note the following guidelines:

  • Audio-video recordings must be submitted for the prescreening. Audio-only files will not be reviewed.
  • Prescreening recordings may be accompanied or unaccompanied.
  • The recordings should be unedited and presented without added digital reverb.
  • Your two pieces may be submitted as two separate, but complete takes. Do not splice your recordings.
  • A professional recording setting and/or equipment is not necessary for this pre-screening stage (for example, recording at home on a phone or computer will suffice).
  • Submitted recordings should have been made recently, at least during the 2024 calendar year.
  • Staff Applicants invited to advance for an in-person audition in January will be notified on a rolling decision basis, within three weeks of application/prescreening submission.

STEP 2: IN-PERSON STAFF AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

  • One aria/art song of your choosing, not to exceed 3 minutes in length. Plan to bring a copy of your music for our pianist.
  • Short sight-singing exercise(s) upon request.
  • Short rhythmic exercise(s) upon request.
  • A prepared excerpt, linked here, from Stravinsky’s SYMPHONY OF PSALMS.
    • You are to prepare your part (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass) of the fugue subject between rehearsal 5 and 10.
    • Sing this section unaccompanied; the tempo is eighth note=60.
    • You will be given a pitch on the piano; if you prefer, you may bring your own tuning fork.
  • For Soprano, Alto, and Bass singers, a prepared excerpt, linked here, from Handel’s MESSIAH.
    • You are to prepare your part as indicated.
    • This section will be accompanied on the piano.
    • The tempo is quarter note=100.
  • For Tenor singers, a prepared excerpt, linked here, from Handel’s MESSIAH.
    • You are to prepare the tenor part as indicated.
    • This section will be accompanied on the piano.
    • The tempo is quarter note=102.

The audition application is brief and there is no application fee. Resumes detailing music/artistic experience are required for all applicants.

About Pacific Chorale

Calling all passionate choral singers! Are you ready to be part of an extraordinary musical experience? Pacific Chorale is seeking dedicated voices to join our ensemble, and we want YOU to be a part of it! From classical treasures to new masterworks, our choral repertory and performance opportunities will uplift your spirit. Limited membership available in all sections. Don’t miss the chance to be part of an exceptional community of singers!

Why Sing with Pacific Chorale? Hear directly from our singers in this quick video:

Audition FAQS

Although it is important for Pacific Chorale members to possess a high level of musical and vocal ability, a conscientious, diligent, and punctual work ethic is also valued. Experience in ensemble singing is essential.

Auditions are approximately 9 minutes in length.

Sessions will take place in Orange County’s Fullerton-Brea area and/or Newport Beach.

At this time, we will not accept virtual auditions in lieu of live auditions.

As a past reference, here is the full Chorale-wide schedule for the 2022-2023 Season. Very few singers perform the entire calendar. We regularly rotate singers from program to program across the year, balancing singer capacity with artistic needs. 

Click here to view rhythmic and sight signing examples from the most recent round of auditions.


Free Online Sight Singing and other Ear Training exercises:


Resources/ideas available for purchase below:

Pacific Chorale Singer FAQs

Please review our website, including our YouTube page, for information and videos of Pacific Chorale performances. We also invite applicants to attend our upcoming performances.

Rehearsals are regularly held on most Mondays between September and May every season. Depending on the program, additional rehearsals may be added during the week/weekend as schedules permit. Weeknight rehearsals are generally held from 7:15 to 10:00pm. Performance weeks see additional nightly rehearsals from Tuesday through Friday (with a performance on Saturday). 

As a reference, here is the full Chorale-wide schedule for the 2022-2023 season. Very few singers perform the entire calendar. We regularly rotate singers from program to program across the year, balancing singer capacity with artistic needs. 

Rehearsals are held in several Orange County locations, regularly in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, CA.

Pacific Chorale’s annual concert schedule typically includes 6-7 self-produced season performances and numerous guest appearances with ensembles such as Pacific Symphony and the LA Phil. Including our July 2023 tour, the 2022-2023 season saw a total of 110 rehearsals for 27 performances.

Several months before an upcoming season, singers submit schedule availability based on the Chorale’s season calendar of rehearsals and concerts. Submitting full availability for a program does not guarantee assignment to that program. Performance opportunities for singers are determined on a per-program basis, where individual singer availability is weighed against artistic need and singer performance.

Chorale volunteers are typically required to sing at least one program each season to maintain active membership. Chorale staff are assigned to programs based on individual availability, performance, and artistic needs.  

Once assigned to roster programs, our absence policy is flexible, depending more on the concert program, number of rehearsals, and musical difficulty. For instance, planned absences would not be allowed for a program that only has two or three rehearsals. On the other hand if a large program has eight or more rehearsals, one to two planned absences are allowed depending on the circumstances. Any absences from dress rehearsals and performances, barring family emergencies or illness, are not permitted.

Pacific Chorale singers pay no dues as members of the ensemble. There is also no music deposit fee, however singers may be asked to recover the costs of lost or damaged music that is loaned by the Chorale.

If you have questions after reviewing this information, please contact us at auditions@pacificchorale.org.