Join Us
We are auditioning now!
HCS is delighted to have launched online auditions on Zoom. This gives you a unique opportunity to fast track your entry into Huddersfield Choral Society from the comfort of your own home.
If you’re available to rehearse on Tuesday evenings, are aged 18+ and have a strong and pleasant voice with a range of about two octaves, we’d love to hear from you.
The audition will be with our Choral Director, Gregory Batsleer, and our vocal coach Joyce Tindsley. The audition will take about ten minutes.
Request an audition here: New Members enquiry form
Who Can Audition?
Anyone can audition. HCS is committed to diversity and inclusivity and we welcome everyone who passes the audition. Here are some tips about what we’re looking for.
Your voice: we are looking for voices that have an even tone and can hold pitch across the vocal range.
Your experience: you should be able to read music competently so that you can learn your part of a four-part choral piece.
Previous experience of singing in a choir is desirable, but not essential.
The Online Audition
You’ll be asked to sing one or two verses, unaccompanied, of a piece you’ve prepared in advance. You can download and choose from any of the following pieces:
• Once in Royal David’s City (hymn) Once_in_Royal.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
• Jerusalem (hymn) Jerusalem.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
• The Ash Grove (folk song) The Ash Grove.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
You can either sing the tune or your voice part. Please note that if you wish to perform another piece then please do ask.
You will also be asked to sing an ‘unseen’ piece which we will send to you a few days prior to your audition. You will need to learn your voice part, and sing this unaccompanied. Gregory will also check your vocal range and listening skills by asking you to sing a few scales and repeat some short musical phrases.
The audition will end with a short informal chat. Gregory will ask you about your vocal experience and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the choir.
Audition Results
You’ll be contacted soon after your online audition (usually within 24 hours) to be informed whether you’ve been successful.
If you are successful, you’ll be formally welcomed into the choir and will receive choir communications (including information about resuming Covid-secure rehearsals) and can attend choir events.
If you are unsuccessful using the online option, you can still request to attend an in-person audition with Gregory when we resume normal rehearsals. You may also like to join our non-auditioned academy choir, HCS Voices. Please ask us for details about this choir.
Before Your Audition
- Prepare your unaccompanied and ‘unseen’ pieces.
Download the music from the selection below.
• Once in Royal David’s City (hymn) Once_in_Royal.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
• Jerusalem (hymn) Jerusalem.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
• The Ash Grove (folk song) The Ash Grove.pdf (cefc.org.uk)
Practice your pieces until you are able to sing them confidently and without stopping.
2. Install Zoom
You will need to install Zoom before your audition. We recommend you do it at least a day in advance in case you have any issues. Whichever device you decide to use, you will need to make sure that your microphone and audio is working so that you can hear Gregory and he can hear you.
3. Warm up your voice
This is your chance to showcase yourself so you should warm up your voice as well as you can immediately prior to the audition. Breathing exercises and rising and falling vocal exercises will help.
4. Find a quiet location for your audition
The place you choose for your audition should be quiet and free from external noise or distractions.
Ok, I want to audition! What next?
Just fill out the New Members enquiry form or email info@huddersfieldchoral.com to arrange your online audition.