Audition Information

We would be delighted if you would consider singing with The Choristers.  The choir actively seeks singers for all voice parts before each concert season until three weeks after the first rehearsal.  Please find below some basic introductory information about singing with The Choristers.

How do I audition?

  • To schedule an audition, please contact Artistic Director David Spitko at 215-542-7871 or email DSpitko@TheChoristers.org.
  • For auditions, the Artistic Director has prospective singers perform warm-ups and vocalizations.  Then, prospective singers sing a musical piece of their choosing accompanied by the Artistic Director.  Sight reading is not part of the audition process, although the ability to read music is required for participation in the choir.
  • New auditions will be accepted until the third scheduled rehearsal in a season.
How is The Choristers handling COVID precautions for singers?

For the safety of our singers, all choir members must be fully vaccinated.  New members will be asked to show proof of vaccination at their first rehearsal.  While strongly encouraged, masking is optional. 

The choir will also rehearse in the sanctuary at Supplee Presbyterian Church for increased ventilation and space between singers.

The Board retains the right to change these policies at any time.

 

When and where does the choir rehearse?

  • Rehearsals are held on Friday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Supplee Presbyterian Church, Maple Glen, PA.  A complete rehearsal schedule is distributed in July prior to the start of each  concert year.  Click here to view the most recent rehearsal schedule. 
  • The 3 weeks immediately preceding a concert, rehearsals are held at our concert venue, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, PA.
  • An additional Sunday rehearsal is required which is one week before the fall and spring concerts.
What is the 2023-2024 repertoire?

  • The Fall 2023 concert will feature Will Todd’s Mass in Blue accompanied by pianist Terry Klinefelter www.terryklinefelter.com, string bass Bill Zinno, alto sax Ron Kerber www.lyricfest.org/artists/ron-kerber/ and drummer Joe Nero www.joenero.com.  The soprano soloist will be Kathryn Radakovich https://www.kathrynradakovich.com/.  The remainder of the concert will include: 

    Title

    Arranger

    I’ll Fly Away

    Arr. Michael Hassell

    I’m So Glad

    Arr. Michael Hassell

    I Love You For Sentimental Reasons

    Arr. Paul Langford

    I Get A Kick Out Of You

    Arr. Bob Alcivar

    It Had to Be You & You Made Me Love You

    Arr. Adam & Matt Podd

    It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

    Arr. Mac Huff

    West Side Story Choral Suite – Mvt. 3: “I Feel Pretty”, “Cool” and “America”

    Arr. Mac Huff

  • The Spring 2024 concert will feature Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42 and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria accompanied by a 22 piece professional orchestra. 
  • The Choristers pays it accompanying musicians close to union scale so it is able to contract the best free-lance instrumentalists in the Philadelphia area.
How many times does the choir perform per year?

The choir generally performs two concerts per year: a fall concert (mid-November) and a spring concert (mid to late-April).

What are the attendance expectations?

Click here to view The Choristers’ Attendance Expectations.

Is there any cost to participate?

Yes.  Dues and music fees are due at the beginning of the fall and spring concert seasons.  Membership dues and music fees are currently $150/season.  Singers keep their music at the completion of the season. 

However, cost must not be a barrier to participation.  Scholarships from the Donna Boesler Scholarship Fund are always available for those singers who have such a need.  For all new singers, the first season of dues, music, and uniform will automatically be covered by the Donna Boesler Scholarship Fund.

Is there a performance uniform?

  • Yes.
  • Women - Uniform black dress ($75), black stockings, black shoes.  The Choristers will fit new singers for the dress during one of their first rehearsals and facilitate ordering the dress.  
  • Men - black suit or tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie.
  • Scholarships for concert attire are available. For new singers, the cost of the uniform dress will be covered by the Donna Boesler Scholarship Fund.  
What kind of music does The Choristers perform?

The Choristers seeks to foster an appreciation of music within the community by offering performances of challenging and/or neglected choral works.  The Choristers’ repertoire spans a variety of styles, centuries, cultures, and languages.  While the choir does present many sacred works as most of the choral repertoire is such, it also performs secular music.

How big is The Choristers' post-Covid membership?

Pre-Covid the choir had 50-55 volunteer singers.  (We have 6 paid section singers: one soprano, one alto, two tenors and two basses.)  Last spring, we performed with 38 volunteers.  At the present time, with an aggressive recruitment initiative this August, we expect the choir will have 45 volunteer singers, maybe a few more.  Time will tell. 

How many singers have been a member of the choir for a long time?

The Choristers is privileged to have many singers who have added their voice to our number for many years - however, we are an open and welcoming group!  We have a good blend of new and seasoned members.  As of last spring, the breakdown was: Ten years or more: 15 singers; Ten to five years: 10 singers; Five years or less: 13 singers.

Are there socializing opportunities built in?

Yes.  We take a 10 minute break during every rehearsal.  Members of the choir volunteer to bring “goodies” each week along with a liquid (usually water).  During the break – about ¾ of the choir socialize while eating.  Before the first rehearsal, there is a pizza dinner for everyone to reconnect after the passage of the summer.  In October, the choir will have a cabaret fundraiser with members of the choir/friends performing.  Finally, after the concert around 25 members meet at an area restaurant to jointly experience our post-concert glow.

How do the Artistic Director and Associate Director run the rehearsals?

Both move things along quickly.  Each rehearsal starts with a warm-up period.  For the first 8-9 rehearsals, the choir rehearses music that we rehearsed in sectionals previously.  Then we break into soprano/alto and tenor/bass sectionals in two different spaces to work on notes.  This is to avoid singers sitting there while other sections are working on notes.  Then, the choir has its break mentioned above.  Then there is a period of announcements.  Then the last 40-45 minutes are used to practice jointly the music just practiced in sectionals.  Click here to view the rehearsal plan for October 14, 2022.  Very typical.

What is the rhythm of a particular concert season?

The choir rehearses at Supplee Presbyterian in Maple Glen until 5-6 rehearsals before a concert.  Then it moves to its performance space: Trinity Lutheran in Lansdale.  The sectionals end 2-3 rehearsals before we move to Trinity.  The two Friday nights before the concert, any accompaniment (other than piano) and soloists join the choir.  The Sunday night between these two rehearsals is a critical rehearsal in which we clean up any parts of the concert that are less than what we expect of ourselves.

I'm also considering another choir and wondering if I can do both?

The Choristers does not mind at all so long as the singer complies with the attendance policy.  We have many members who also sing in church choirs, and we have a few members who sing with another concert choir.  Click here to view the choir’s schedule.  Click here to view the choir’s attendance policy.