AUDITION INFORMATION FOR THE CONCERT CHOIR AT UW-LA CROSSE
Auditions for the CONCERT CHOIR will take place on Sunday and Monday, September 6th and 7th,
from 10 am -12 noon and 1-6 pm. Singers auditioning for the Concert Choir can get music to be learned
for the audition and other information by downloading the audition files from
www.uwlax.edu/music/concertchoir.html . You can sign-up for an audition time on my office door,
Center for the Arts, office #323, when you arrive on campus. This is also where the first auditions will
take place. The sign-up sheet will be on my door on September 1.
The Concert Choir audition materials include excerpts from two choral pieces: m.’s 48-68 of Lloyd
Pfautsch’s “Musicks Empire” from TRIPTYCH, and a cut from “Chariots” by Péter Louis van Dijk.
Auditionees should read directions very carefully and learn every note assigned to their voice part.
(Choose the voice part: Sop. Alto, Tenor or Bass, + divisi, that best suits your voice.) When
auditioning, singers will perform individually and with a little accompaniment. Singing in tune, with
precise rhythms at the tempo indicated should be your priority. Your tone quality should reflect the
articulations and intent called for by each composer.
“Musicks Empire” calls for a rich and full tone quality with the singer aware of dynamics and phrasing.
The tempo here should be quarter note = 86.
Singers successfully performing “Chariots” have probably mastered their individual parts by speaking
them correctly at first and then learning the pitches. This not a difficult piece if you learn it slowly and
consider the eighth note as the Beat Unit [every measure has equal eighth notes, the accents are just in
different places]. Don’t forget dynamic markings and accents when performing this piece at “quarter note
= 120“ at the audition.
These pieces need not be memorized but please bring your pdf file copy to the audition.
An easy sight reading exercise will be included in the audition as well as an elementary music theory test.
Use your research resources to find recordings of these choral works and other tools to help you prepare
for the audition. (Hint: JW Pepper) DO NOT GIVE UP! Many people ask for help learning the audition music!
High school choir directors, voice teachers, piano instructors, upperclassmen, etc. are usually willing to
help. Start working on the music today! DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our policy is that students should be registered for the Choir (MUS 106, section 1) before they audition.
If after the audition some singers are not selected for the Concert Choir, it is easier to delete the class
from their schedules than to try to add it. For more information about the auditions please contact
Dr. Gary Walth at gwalth@uwlax.edu
(It’s a good idea for freshmen Sop’s and Alto’s auditioning for the Concert Choir to also enrolled in the
Women’s Chorus, and freshmen T’s and B’s to also be enrolled in Männerchor .)
Music for the Vocal Jazz Ensembles will follow soon.
Dr. Walth