General Audition Information
Spring 2026 Choral Audition Information
Auditions for The Madison Singers, Treble Chamber Choir, & assignments to the University Soprano/Alto & Tenor/Bass Ensembles will be held on:
- Tuesday, January 20: 11:00am-9:00pm
- Wednesday, January 21: throughout the day and evening, as indicated on the audition schedule available on the jury system
- Thursday, January 22: morning only, as indicated on the audition schedule available on the jury system
All JMU Undergraduate Vocal Area personnel who are registered for voice lessons in the spring 2026 semester are required to audition, regardless of prior or projected ensemble participation (including opera roles and castings).
Please fill out the Student Information Form and bring to your audition.
Audition Sign-up Information
Please sign up for your audition via our online scheduling software: JMU Jury System
- As most of you already know, user accounts are created automatically by clicking the Login link in the main menu and logging in through the JMU portal and Duo two-factor authentication system. Enter your JMU credentials.
- Once logged in, proceed to the Booking Tab.
- Follow the listed instructions and signup for an audition time.
- If you need to change your audition time, please follow the instructions accordingly. You will receive a cancellation code when you register, just in case.
- Please note the audition room listed on the sign-up form.
- Remember that Tuesday, January 20, is our first full day of regularly-scheduled classes, so please check your class schedule! Choral ensemble auditions are not excused absences from classes.
- Audition results will be sent out via our Canvas class, as well as posted on the bulletin board outside Dr. V's office (rm. 338) on or before 12:00pm on Thursday, January 22.
In order to be respectful of rehearsal time and curricular needs, rehearsals for non-auditioned ensembles will begin on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, even if auditions are not fully completed. Personnel shifts due to auditions will be credited with full attendance in their assigned ensembles.
Audition Procedures
Required work: America, the Beautiful
Performance information for America, the Beautiful:
- Solfége: Eb major
- Tempo: quarter note = 80-88 with rubato
- Audio links (choirs enter approximately 2:00-2:14 minutes into the piece):
Audition Instructions:
- Voice parts:
- Trebles: please prepare all soprano and all alto parts on solfège.
- Tenors/Basses: please prepare all tenor and all bass parts on solfège.
- Please prepare your own voice part on text with great diction.
- After presenting the first two steps, you will sightread a short excerpt.
Helpful Hints for Preparation:
- Listening to the piece is must for a successful audition.
- Please note as well that there will be no accompaniment at this audition, so you must know the piece well in order to present it.
- Sight-reading: please don’t worry about this and do plan on bringing your tuning fork if you have one!
- We will be presenting this work, memorized, with the Wind Symphony for the Inauguration of President James C. Schmidt, “President Jim,” in April (along with Shenandoah!).
The Day of your Audition
Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to your audition to allow for intake paperwork, the audition itself, the sight-reading portion, and schedule shifts.
Please plan to:
- Arrive early! (Early is on time!) Arriving 15-20 minutes early allows for intake paperwork, the audition itself, and schedule shifts.
- Bring your tuning fork if you have one! You will use it during your audition.
- Dress up! Look your best! An audition is always a practice for the next concert, solo, or audition. Your career is NOW; act the part and let’s be in it to win it!
- Fill out an Information Form and give it to your door monitor when completed.
- Present the two required audition sections from America, the Beautiful.
- Sightread from material provided at the audition itself.
