General Audition Information
Fall 2025 Choral Audition Information
Auditions for The Madison Singers, the JMU Chorale, Treble Chamber Choir, & assignments to the University Soprano/Alto & Tenor/Bass Ensembles will be held on:
- Tuesday, August 19: 4:00pm-9:00pm
- Wednesday, August 20: throughout the day and evening, as indicated on the audition schedule available on the jury system
- Thursday, August 21: 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 fall 2025 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 Wednesday, August 20th 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, August 21st.
In order to be respectful of rehearsal time and curricular needs, rehearsals for non-auditioned ensembles will begin on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, even if auditions are not fully completed. Personnel shifts due to auditions will be credited with full attendance in their assigned ensembles.
Audition Procedures
Performance information for Sleep:
- Solfége: Eb major/c minor
- Tempo: quarter note=56-62
- Audio link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aynHSTsYcUo
Audition Instructions:
- Sleep: please present your own voice part on solfége or text as you prefer.
- Sleep: choose a different part and present it on solfége only.
- Prepare to sight read a short excerpt.
Helpful Hints for Preparation:
- Please learn your voice part in Eric Whitacre's Sleep mm 43-74 (with repeat). Please prepare on solfége, but plan to present it with solfége or text, as you prefer. Then prepare a different part and be prepared to present it on solfége.
- Listening to this piece is a must for a successful audition. This piece is deceptive, and slow, and you cannot present it stylistically correctly without first listening to it several times. You can listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aynHSTsYcUo
- Please note 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!
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!)
- Bring your tuning fork! 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 required audition material, Eric Whitacre's Sleep, mm 43-74, following the instructions as indicated on the music excerpt itself (your part followed by another part of your choice in solfége).
- Sight-read from material provided at the audition.
