Audition Information for the Fall 2010 Semester
Most students who audition will do so on move-in day, Thursday, August 26, 2010. Choral Arts auditions take place between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. It is recommended that you set up an audition time slot with the student Recruitment Manager, Emily Sipes (ecs411@lehigh.edu), before your arrival. Please review the tentative orientation schedule in early August and plan accordingly with your family. Auditions earlier in the day on Thursday are preferred. If you cannot sign up for an audition via email, current choral arts students positioned at your dorm check-in tables will help you sign up for a time slot.
For those of you who live close to campus, you are welcome to audition prior to move-in day. Auditions may be held earlier in the week by appointment. Keep in mind that this is only encouraged if you are within driving distance of Lehigh’s campus. Students who audition on Monday or Tuesday do not have any particular advantage over those who audition on Thursday, and visa versa. If you are interested in auditioning early, feel free to contact Emily for more information.
During the Audition
Auditions are held on the third floor of the Zoellner Arts Center, 420 Packard Avenue, on Lehigh’s campus.
- Arrive 15 minutes early
- Each audition lasts about ten minutes
- Parents are welcome
Your audition for Lehigh Choral Arts should not be stressful or intimidating! After all, it’s your first day of college, so you need to be having fun. There will be many current choral arts students helping out on Thursday, so there will be lots of friendly faces and encouragement as you are waiting for your audition time.
You will be singing for Doc only (no panel of judges)! He will take you through vocalization, ear training, and range exercises on piano. Doc does a wonderful job keeping things light, so you can feel at ease. If you have a piece that you enjoy singing and that you think showcases your abilities, you are welcome to bring it. This is not required, however, and does not give you any particular advantage.
All students are placed into one of Lehigh’s choirs, either Choral Union or University Choir. These results are posted on Thursday night at 8:00 PM in the main lobby of Zoellner Arts Center. It is imperative that you return that evening to get your results. Typically, about half of those who audition are placed in Choral Union, and the other half into University Choir. Each ensemble is a 1-credit music course and can be taken for credit. Registration for these courses is done during the first week of class, once students have been placed.
After the Audition
Students who are admitted into University Choir participate in the first concert of the school year in front of the entire first-year class during the University Convocation on Sunday, August 29th. So, even before your first class of the year, many of you will already begin your singing careers at Lehigh. To prepare for this concert, the entire University Choir departs on Friday, August 27th for the Choral Retreat, which is one of the longest standing traditions in Lehigh Choral Arts history. Students will return on Sunday the 29th to perform in Baker Hall for the University Convocation.
The Retreat is held on camp grounds only thirty minutes from Bethlehem. The weekend gives the freshly assembled choir an opportunity to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere through rehearsals and leisure activities. It is important that all students admitted into University Choir come to the retreat to prepare for Sunday’s concert.
Rest assured, the University is an advocate of its choir program and our annual retreat. First-year students who attend the retreat will also attend a make-up orientation during the first week of classes which will integrate all the essential components of the original orientation schedule. Details will be provided during your audition. Generations of choir freshmen have attended and benefited from the opportunity it gave them to meet and talk with upperclassmen.
