Auditions
Membership in the choir is by audition only. For an audition, you will be requested to do the following:
1) Prepare an aria from Handel's Messiah or a Bach cantata (or other Baroque work). Please be careful in selecting an aria – especially make sure it fits your vocal range. Please bring an extra copy of the music to the audition for the accompanist.
2) Sight-sing your part from a selected Bach Chorale.
3) Prepare your voice part to the "Cum Sancto Spiritu" fugue from the Bach Mass in B Minor (mm. 37-63), with accompaniment. All sopranos should sing Soprano 1. Those wishing to be considered for Soprano 2 should perform that part also. You will be e-mailed a copy of this.
4) Read aloud the following German text: Zwar ist solche Herzensstube wohl kein schöner Fürstensaal, sondern eine finstre Grube; doch sobald dein Gnadenstrahl in dieselbe nur wird blinken, wird sie voller Sonnen dünken.
5) General vocalization.
Auditions are available for select openings on an appointment basis only. Auditions are typically 15 minutes long, and involve singing in front of the Artistic Director and some of the section leaders. Prospective candidates should email their interest to info@bachcantatachoir.org.
1) Prepare an aria from Handel's Messiah or a Bach cantata (or other Baroque work). Please be careful in selecting an aria – especially make sure it fits your vocal range. Please bring an extra copy of the music to the audition for the accompanist.
2) Sight-sing your part from a selected Bach Chorale.
3) Prepare your voice part to the "Cum Sancto Spiritu" fugue from the Bach Mass in B Minor (mm. 37-63), with accompaniment. All sopranos should sing Soprano 1. Those wishing to be considered for Soprano 2 should perform that part also. You will be e-mailed a copy of this.
4) Read aloud the following German text: Zwar ist solche Herzensstube wohl kein schöner Fürstensaal, sondern eine finstre Grube; doch sobald dein Gnadenstrahl in dieselbe nur wird blinken, wird sie voller Sonnen dünken.
5) General vocalization.
Auditions are available for select openings on an appointment basis only. Auditions are typically 15 minutes long, and involve singing in front of the Artistic Director and some of the section leaders. Prospective candidates should email their interest to info@bachcantatachoir.org.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are on Sundays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. unless otherwise specified. Rehearsals are held at the Rose City Park Presbyterian Church at 1907 NE 45th Avenue in Portland, Oregon (map).
Singers may miss only one rehearsal per concert set and may not miss the dress rehearsal with the orchestra. The dress rehearsal is always on the Saturday before the Sunday concert from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Singers may take off one complete concert set per year without penalty.
Singers may miss only one rehearsal per concert set and may not miss the dress rehearsal with the orchestra. The dress rehearsal is always on the Saturday before the Sunday concert from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Singers may take off one complete concert set per year without penalty.
Choir Member Dues
All members of the choir, except paid section leaders, pay $175.00 annual dues and are required to sell at least two tickets to the Christmas Oratorio concert to help defray the costs of soloists, orchestra and operating expenses. This fee is considerably less than fees charged by all other major independent choirs in the Portland area.