Auditions

Singing as a Cantabile Member

Our purposeful programming includes challenging, contemporary music, commissions of new works, and performances of ambitious, traditional repertoire alongside music from various world cultures. Our programming focuses on a wide variety of choral music from all time periods and presents styles that educate, challenge, and enlighten both our audiences and our singing membership.
We are a chamber chorus of 25-30 singers with varied backgrounds ranging from recent graduates to retirees. We have singers who have music educations, are trained instrumentalists, and some who have studied voice privately. The majority have non-music careers and enjoy the pleasure of singing in an ensemble. In other words, we are just like your friends, neighbors, and family members.

Learn about our current season, visit https://cantabilechamberchorale.com
If you are interested in auditioning, please read further about singing with Cantabile below, fill out the requested Singer Audition Form information, and we will follow up with you.

Questions? Email: info@cantabilechamberchorale.org or call 732-560-7132

Rehearsal and Performances

Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm, September through May in Piscataway.
Typically, we perform two concerts (late April and early December. Our primary venue and rehearsal location is Christ United Methodist Church Piscataway. Each season we perform one or two mini outreach concerts in the local community to directly benefit the residents of Middlesex County.

What skills are necessary?

  • A desire to sing with others.
  • Ability to sing in tune and blend with other voices.
  • Willingness to sing in various musical styles and languages.
  • Ability to hold a pitch in tune while other pitches move around you.
  • Excellent musical ear, some note reading, and rhythmic accuracy.

Attendance

Members are expected to sing all scheduled performances in a season and to attend all rehearsals. Singers are permitted to miss three rehearsals per concert period and attendance at dress rehearsals are mandatory for each concert. The Artistic Director will determine if singers with poor rehearsal or concert attendance may continue membership in the chorus.

Dues

Payment of dues is a condition for membership and participation in Cantabile activities. Dues for a season are $240 and includes the season’s music scores which become the property of the member. Dues can be paid in full or in installments arranged with the treasurer.

Concert Attire

Men – black tuxedo jacket and pants; black socks and shoes; ties and shirt color will be determined for specific concerts.

Women – long black “Cantabile” dress; black shoes; scarves and accessories will be determined for specific concerts.

Volunteerism

Singers are encouraged to identify ways to contribute and support the operational activities of Cantabile in a variety of tasks including ticket sales, marketing, and service on the Board of Trustees.

Audition Elements

  • Bring two pieces of music: one solo and one choral. One of the pieces should be in a non-English language.
  • Vocalization: to judge range, (conductor chooses which part to sing); quality, and volume
  • Sight Singing: to judge eye and ear.
    • A folk song or hymn—sung in your voice part.
    • Intervals in the major/minor keys
    • Rhythmic passage to sing or tap.

Singer Audition Form

Your name and full contact information (mailing address, e-mail, telephone – home, cell, daytime, etc.)

  • The voice part you customarily sing (Soprano I or II, Bass I or II, etc.)
  • Groups with which you have sung in recent years and the kind of repertoire you have performed.
  • Any musical training, voice lessons, or other experience.
  • How you found out about Cantabile.
  • Any other information you think might help us understand your music background.
  • Any instrumental training, i.e., piano, etc.

Kindly complete this form and submit it to info@cantabilechamberchorale.org and we will follow up with you.