Kent County Junior Singers
Kent County Junior Choir
Kent Youth Singers
Kent Youth Choir
2014/15 AUDITIONS
The following county level choral groups exist to support gifted, talented and enthusiastic young
singers in Kent.
Kent County Junior Singers
Kent County Junior Choir
Kent Youth Singers
Kent Youth Choir
(KCJS)
(KCJC)
(KYS)
(KYC)
school years 4 - 6
school years 7 – 9
aged 14 and above
aged 14 and above (to 21 years of age)
KENT COUNTY JUNIOR SINGERS
The Kent County Junior Singers (KCJS) is open to pupils in school years 4, 5, and 6 (from
September 2014) and successful applicants will be expected to attend one full-day rehearsal a
month (usually on the second or third Saturday of the month) and a three-day residential course in
late July. There is a £12 fee for each Saturday rehearsal and a £150 fee for the three-day summer
residential course.
KENT COUNTY JUNIOR CHOIR
The Kent County Junior Choir (KCJC) is open to pupils in school years 7, 8 and 9 (from September
2014) successful applicants will be expected to attend one full-day rehearsal a month (usually on
the on the second or third Saturday of the month) and a three-day residential course in late July.
There is a £12 fee for each Saturday rehearsal and a £150 fee for the three-day summer residential
course. Once KCJC members reach the end of Year 9 members will be able to audition for a place
in the Senior Choirs.
KENT YOUTH SINGERS / KENT YOUTH CHOIR
The Kent Youth Singers (KYS) and Kent Youth Choir (KYC) are both open to singers in school
years 9 and above (from September 2014). Choir members will be expected to attend three
residential courses a year (Christmas, Easter and mid-July). The Christmas and Easter three or
four-day fully residential courses cost £47 a day and there is a £200 fee for the four-day summer
course at Benenden School in July. All courses finish with a public concert. It is usual for members
to join KYS in the first instance and progress through to KYC when they are ready. However, it is
possible that some applicants, of appropriate experience and ability, will enter Kent Youth Choir
directly.
Patrons Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE and Jools Holland OBE
Kent Music www.kent-music.com I Registered Charity No. 1110639 I Limited Company No. 5464855

KYC is the most senior choir and consists of mostly older students. Younger students who wish to be considered for KYC will be
assessed individually on their suitability to join an older group.
Audition Information Sheet
If you are unable to make any of the following dates provided then please contact the choirs’
administrator (Valerie Cordina vCordina@kent-music.com ) who will be able to organise a
date for an audition from a limited number of days across the year.
Video auditions are also available if you are unable to attend an audition in person – details
can be found at www.kent-music.com
JUNIOR CHOIRS
The junior choir auditions can take place at most of the Saturday rehearsals throughout the year
at New Line Learning Academy in Maidstone. Following a successful audition the student will be
advised of the best time to join the choir.
Applicants should be prepared to sing an unaccompanied short song of their own choice - it will
not be necessary to bring music.
Additional aural and rhythmic skills will be assessed but there is no need to prepare or bring
additional material for this element of the audition.
KENT COUNTY JUNIOR SINGERS
To be considered for the Kent County Junior Singers you should be able to sing in tune with a
clear and expressive voice. It is not necessary for you to be able to read music. Rhythmic sense
and awareness of pitch when unaccompanied is desirable. No previous experience is
necessary.
KENT COUNTY JUNIOR CHOIR
To be considered for the Kent County Junior Choir you should have a strong rhythmic sense
and be able to pitch accurately when unaccompanied. This is an essential requirement for the
three-part pieces which KCJC performs. An ability to read music is desirable and although not
essential a student would, ideally, have some familiarity with musical notation.
SENIOR CHOIRS
The next auditions for KYS / KYC will take place on the residential course at Ashford School on
21st and 22nd December 2014. New potential members may be able to audition on a Saturday
rehearsal for the Kent Youth Singers but auditions for Kent Youth Choir must take place on the
residential courses. Alternative auditions can be arranged for the Easter course in 2015.
KENT YOUTH SINGERS
All applicants should prepare an unaccompanied song of their choice (a hymn, folk song etc.)
during which vocal tone, range, tuning, stance/posture and breath control will be assessed.
Competence in aural skills is expected and the ability to sight-sing to some degree is an
advantage when applying for KYS.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare carefully for their audition. Full commitment/attendance
is required on all three KYS residential courses.
KENT YOUTH CHOIR
All applicants should prepare:
1. Unaccompanied traditional song (e.g. folk song) to demonstrate a range of abilities. This
should be a piece that provides a level of musical challenge without being exceedingly
ambitious.
For further guidance the ABRSM complete syllabus for singing (downloadable from
http://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/singing-exams/ ) offers definitions and examples of suitable
unaccompanied traditional pieces.
AND
2. Other song that is your free choice and can be in another language. It is best for it to
contrast to the first piece and should be something that you know well and demonstrates your
particular musical strengths.
Breath control, vocal tone, range, stance/posture and tuning will be assessed.
Proficiency in aural skills is expected and this will be assessed through a variety of exercises
during the audition. Competent sight-singing is a requirement for entry into KYC.
It is expected that if you are auditioning as a current member of KYS that you have demonstrated
commitment and improvement throughout your time in the choir.
Applicants should prepare carefully for their audition and are encouraged to seek advice from
conductors/tutors on a suitable audition piece to demonstrate their ability. Full
commitment/attendance is required on all three KYC residential courses.
If you are not sure of which group to audition for, or are concerned that you do not meet
all the criteria, please do come along to the audition where the musical staff can advise
you (or your child) further.
If you wish to discuss any questions about criteria before attending an audition then
please do contact the choirs’ manager on eSamson@kent-music.com
Kent Youth Choirs Audition Application Form
Student Name (CAPS) __________________________________________ Date of birth ________________
Address _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Postcode ____________________ Telephone Number ____________________________
Parent/Guardian Email ______________________________________________________________________
Student Email _____________________________________________________________________________
School/College/University ___________________________________
School Year (from September 2014) ___________________________
Voice :
*Soprano /Alto /Tenor /Bass (*delete as appropriate if known)
Recommendation of Class or Music Teacher:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of teacher _________________________________________________ Date _______________
Details of the last vocal examination taken (if any):
Grade _________ Board _______________________________ Result _________ Date _______________
Please list all relevant choral experience overleaf
Please choose section A (Junior Choirs) or B (Senior Choirs)
We will contact you by email to give you a date, time and place of audition
(A)
(B)

I wish to audition for Kent County Junior Singers / Kent County Junior Choir
 I wish to audition for Kent Youth Choir / Kent Youth Singers
 I wish to audition for Kent Youth Singers ONLY
 I am an existing member of KYS and wish to audition for KYC
Signature of applicant __________________________________________________ Date _______________
Signature of Parent / Guardian___________________________________________ Date _______________
(if applicant is under 18 years of age)
Please return the completed form to:
Mrs Valerie Cordina (KYCs)
Kent Music
24 Turkey Court
Turkey Mill
Ashford Road
MAIDSTONE
Kent
ME14 5PP