A member of the Harvard Choruses
Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum | Radcliffe Choral Society | Harvard Glee Club
Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum | Radcliffe Choral Society | Harvard Glee Club
Menu
Audition
The Harvard Choruses hold auditions at the beginning of each academic year. Auditions for fall 2024 are now closed.
What are the Harvard Choruses?
Recognized together as the Harvard Choruses, the Harvard Glee Club (tenor/bass chorus), Radcliffe Choral Society (soprano/alto chorus), Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum (mixed chorus), and the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus (mixed community chorus) annually perform with professional orchestras and soloists, regularly present world premières, and collaborate with community and campus organizations. The ensembles present masterclasses with world-renowned artists, carry out community engagement projects, and tour internationally and throughout the United States.
When are auditions?
The first round of auditions will be on Tuesday, September 3 through Friday, September 6 between 5pm and 8pm. If you are called back for the second round, there will be a mandatory rehearsal on Saturday, September 7 and auditions will be held on Monday, September 9 and Tuesday, September 10.
What should I prepare for my auditon?
Your audition will consist of:
- Singing something you have prepared. A few examples might be an aria, art song, folk song, hymn tune, musical theater number, or Happy Birthday.
- Vocalizing (with piano) on various scales and patterns to determine range and evaluate tone.
- Simple melodic patterns we play that you will sing back to us to check your pitch memory.
- A short sight-singing example that we will work on together.
I've never auditioned for a choir before and I don't know what a lot of this means. Should I still audition?
Don’t let any of the above freak you out! You can certainly practice for your audition, but you do not need to spend hours preparing. Our auditions are a chance for us to get to know you and your voice. We have a place for everyone and welcome a wide range of singers into our choirs. Please audition!
Why should I audition?
Our mission is to empower singers, student leaders, and communities by sustaining and advancing choral music education and practice. As a singer in the Harvard Choruses, you will:
- Make music in a community of friends.
- Sing a wide variety of pieces, from different eras, cultures, and new works composed just for you.
- Let singing at Harvard be a part of your well-balanced Harvard social experience.
- Travel to domestic and international destinations, sharing your music with audiences from around the globe.
- Lead your group with your peers with opportunities to gain management, conducting, and composition experience.
I am only interested in singing with a particular chorus. How can I make my preference clear?
The first audition is a chance for us to get to know you and your voice, and for you to get to know the Harvard Choruses as a whole. During the second round of auditions, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the individual groups and indicate an ensemble preference. We do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferences, but the rosters are dictated by capacity and balance between sections.
I have more questions. Who can I contact?
We would be more than happy to help answer any further questions! Please email us at harvardchoruses@gmail.com.
ENSEMBLES FOR COURSE CREDIT:
Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum (Collegium): SATB choir | Music 14 | Mon 4:30pm-6:30pm/Wed 7-9pm
Harvard Glee Club (Glee Club): TTBB choir | Music 15 | Mon/Wed/Fri 4:30pm-6pm
Radcliffe Choral Society (RCS): SSAA choir | Music 16 | Mon 7-9pm/Wed 4:30pm-6:30pm
NON-CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:
Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus (HRC): SATB choir | Wed 7:00pm-9:30pm
Skills for Singing (SFS): voice and musical skills weekly class | Thurs or Fri 7:00pm-9:00pm