Please take a few minutes to complete our audition request form to tell us about you. We'll be in touch to schedule an audition time slot. Auditions are generally held in August and December.
Auditions are usually held at Lutheran Church of the Reformation*, 212 E. Capitol, which is located on East Capitol Street between 2nd and 3rd. Parking is usually available after 6:30 p.m. in the Supreme Court parking lot on A Street, NE, between 2nd and 3rd. You can then walk across the street and up one of the two alleys to the rear of the church. The steps down to the Parish Hall are off the small church parking lot.
If you come to the church off East Capitol Street, walk down the right side to the back, and you will see the steps down to the Parish Hall on your left.
The church is also equal distance between Capitol South on the Blue/Orange line and Union Station on the Red line. It is about a 15-20 minute walk from the stations to the church.
The audition, which runs between 10-15 minutes, consists of a little vocalizing, some pitch-matching, rhythm counting, and sight-reading. You should have a reasonable ability to read music, understand intervals and complex rhythms, and interpret phrasing. The volume of music we work on for each concert means that there is really no time during rehearsal to play the notes for each section so sight-reading is a key skill. Members are expected to practice on their own time outside of the 2 ½-hour weekly rehearsal. Each section tends to have a few outside sectional rehearsals.
You should be prepared to sing something for our director. You may bring along a piece of music or do it from memory. He may or may not ask to hear it, but best to be prepared. Please plan to arrive about 10 minutes prior to your audition time to catch your breath and relax. You might also try to warm up before you come.
*Please refer to the confirmation email you receive from the audition coordinator for the exact date, time, and location of your audition.,
About the Chorale
The Chorale was founded in 1993 and varies in size from about 90 to 110 people who range in age from about 24 to about 70! Our Artistic Director, Frederick Binkholder, chooses our music selections.
The Chorale rehearses at Church of the Reformation on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 10 p.m. from September thru May. In the past we have held 3 Saturday rehearsals, one per concert cycle, from 10 am to 3 p.m. This coming year we are considering doing several shorter Saturday rehearsals, perhaps from 10 to noon, perhaps 2 per concert cycle.
We have three concerts per year, one in early December, one in March and one in either late May or early June. Each concert is performed two times, usually a Saturday evening and a second on Sunday afternoon.