Zion’s Youth Choral Audition Requirements

VOCAL RANGE

Your range will be assessed by singing a solfa scale up and down on several starting pitches chosen by the judge. 

PREPARATION TOOL:

Click here to learn the solfa scale if you are not familiar with it already.

SOLO PREPARATION

There are 2 parts to this section of the audition:

PART 1: America the Beautiful (MELODY ONLY)

Prepare to sing THE MELODY of "America, the Beautiful" (FIRST VERSE ONLY). This will be performed A CAPPELLA (without any backtrack or piano accompaniment). The director will be listening for musicality, phrasing, breath support, beautiful tone, pure vowels, beginning and ending consonants, and great intonation.  Please come prepared with the choice of key (starting note) that showcases your voice the best.

PREPARATION TOOL: The melody is highlighted in each video.  

Key of F (Starting note of C)

Key of E (Starting note is B)

Key of D (Starting note of A) 

Key of C (Starting note of G) 

Key of Bb (Starting note of F)

Key of A (Starting note of E) 

Key of G (Starting note of D) 

If you need some guidance, here is a chart to help you choose a key that may fit your voice based on the part you are hoping to sing in the choir.

PART 2: Choral Part solo (Participant chooses which part to learn and perform)

Prepare to sing the following excerpt from one of our upcoming performance pieces:

SOPRANO: Sheet Music / Practice Track

ALTO: Sheet Music / Practice Track

TENOR: Sheet Music / Practice Track

BASS: Sheet Music / Practice Track

PIANO: Practice Track

SIGHT SINGING

You will be provided a melody of 8 measures. 

You will have about 30 seconds to look over the melody prior to performing it. 

The starting note will be given to you and the Solfa (‘do re mi’) will be written in for you to read/sing with.  Points will be awarded for pitch accuracy, accurate rhythm, and overall confidence. 

PREPARATION TOOL:

Click here to have melodies generated for you to practice.  Here are the steps to follow:

User: sightread@zionsyouth.org

Password: zionsyouth

Click on “Assignments”, then “Launch,” then just follow the directions.  You can practice as many times as you want.