Wells School of Music

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
CHORAL PROGRAM

The choral program at West Chester has a long and proud tradition. We are an important part of the University's cultural life, with 250 or more students enrolled each semester in one of eight ensembles, performing more than a dozen concerts annually for large and appreciative audiences. Each year, thousands of people hear a West Chester choir—not only on campus but through off-campus performances in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, throughout Pennsylvania, and in California, Florida, the desert Southwest, and Europe, as well as at professional conferences. Concert Choir and Mastersingers have performed several times at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Together, WCU choirs sing an amazing range of repertory: large choral masterworks with orchestra (both the WCU Symphony Orchestra and professional ensembles like the Philadelphia Classical Symphony), shorter classical pieces, spirituals and folk songs, world music, choruses from opera and musical theatre, and vocal jazz.

Beyond concerts, we regularly bring to campus internationally renowned guest composers and clinicians, have an active ACDA student chapter, and offer educational workshops for teachers and high school students and a graduate M.M. degree in choral conducting. Most importantly, those involved in the WCU choral program find community—a place where singing abounds, where artistry flourishes, and where lifelong relationships begin.

On this web page, learn more about our choirs, hear from our students about their experiences, read about our repertory, and learn about our clinics and workshops. See our concert calendar for upcoming events and "like" our Facebook page. Whether you are a high school student intending to study music, a teacher interested in continuing education, or a community member who loves choral music, we hope you will be in touch with us and come hear us sing!

The Sea Hath Its Pearls: Romantic American Choral Music," ACDA interest session by Dr. DeVenney and the WCU Concert Choir

2024-25 AUDITION INFORMATION

All West Chester University students — regardless of major or class year — are welcome to join a choral ensemble! Auditions for all choral ensembles – Concert Choir, Mastersingers, Orpheus, Oriana Chorale, Allegro Singers, Recital Chorus, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble -- take place from August 25-27. All of our ensembles require an audition and all students will be placed in an ensemble that best fits their goals and needs. It is important for the directors to know every student in the ensemble as an individual, and this audition appointment will help kickstart that process. Audition sign-ups will be online, and you can sign up for your window as early as August 15. Sign-ups are online at: wcuchoirs.youcanbook.me

You'll sign up for a 30-minute window and should arrive at (or before) the start of your window. Because some auditions will take longer than others (some may be done in 3 minutes, others could take 8 minutes), we ask that you keep the entire audition window open. When your audition is complete, you may leave.

Everyone must fill out the Audition Info Form before the audition. It is online and requires that you attach a copy of your schedule (pdf, screenshot, jpg, or link). Please fill this out before your audition so we can review it before your appointment. You will need to be logged in with your WCU account (@wcupa.edu) in order to fill out the form.

FALL 2024 CHORAL AUDITION SIGN-UPS

Fall 2024 CHORAL AUDITION FORM

AUDITION FORMAT

For your choral audition, you will be asked to perform the following:

• Solo Song: Please prepare a short song. The piece should demonstrate the overall quality of your singing. Arias, art songs, folk songs, hymns, jazz standards, and pop tunes are all acceptable representative pieces. Please limit your selection to 1-2 minutes in length. You may sing unaccompanied or bring sheet music for an accompanist – someone will be available to play for you.
• Range Exercises/Vocalises: Each singer will be asked to sing a few vocalises (“warm-up” sequences) so that the directors can get a more thorough understanding of their ranges and tone qualities.
• Pitch Memory: Each student will also be asked to sing some short tonal memory exercises. The director will play a series of four to six pitches and ask you to repeat them on your own.
• Sight Reading: Each student will be given short musical examples to read unaccompanied via screen share. A starting pitch will be given, and you will have a short period to look over the example. Do your best, but don’t stress out. It is important that we get to know you as much as possible so that we place you in the choral ensemble where you will grow the most—and have the most fun.

CONCERT CHOIR CALLBACKS

Students interested in auditioning for Concert Choir will also be required to attend a callback audition held on Tuesday, August 27 from 3:30-5:30pm in the Choral Rehearsal Room. Students that qualify for callbacks will be notified by noon on August 27. In the callbacks, students will be asked to sing a short choral excerpt in quartets. Music for the callback audition will be available for pickup at 3:30pm on Monday, August 26.

AUDITION RESULTS

Students will be notified of their choral placement by 11pm on August 27. It is important for you and for your peers that you are placed in a choir that best matches your musical ability and vocal training. Above all, the goal is to place students in the ensemble where they will thrive and grow.

ENROLLMENT AND CREDIT

Please register for your choral ensemble as a class. If you are accepted into a different choir than the one you registered for initially, then you will switch your registration.