AUDITION
Come Sing with Master Chorus Eastside
Would you like to sing in a community choir in which there is often laughter during rehearsal, but also makes musical craftsmanship and excellence its primary goals? Then Master Chorus Eastside is the choir for you! Our mission statement, to feed people’s souls through the very best in choral music, and our core values, including joy, drive everything we do. We are holding auditions in all sections for our 2022/23 season. All interested singers must have choral experience and basic music reading ability.
And for COVID safety, all singers must be vaccinated and wear masks in rehearsal. Auditions can be held in person or via Zoom, although in person is preferred.
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For more information on COVID safety and an audition appointment please call the
Master Chorus Eastside office at 425-392-8446.
Or visit us on the web at www.masterchoruseastside.org,
and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/masterchoruseastside
or email choralinda@gmail.com
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Now in its 32nd season, Master Chorus Eastside, through the very best in choral music, feeds people’s souls. In keeping with this mission, the Chorus presents a four-concert season of imaginative and innovative musical “soul food.” MCE performs mainly on the Eastside, but has appeared in Benaroya Hall, throughout western Washington, and in numerous performances on the Argosy Christmas ship. The Chorus also participated in the Jamestown anniversary celebrations in 2007, appeared at the Third and Fourth Choral Festivals in Leavenworth, and is a regular at the Seattle Sings choral festivals. All concerts feature informative commentary and historical information presented by Artistic Director & Conductor, Dr. Linda Gingrich. Gingrich is a long-time Issaquah resident and founder and conductor of Master Chorus Eastside. She received her Doctoral and Master degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington and her Bachelor’s degree in voice from Cornish College of the Arts. MCE is a primary Eastside cultural resource on the Eastside committed to nurturing connections between people, neighborhoods and community through our performances and civic efforts.
Audition procedure 2022/2023
We have been doing auditions via Zoom the past two years, but we are now moving back to in-person auditions. A Zoom audition can still be arranged if necessary. The in-person audition takes about 15 minutes and involves:
1.) Range testing—sing short scales up & down through range
2.) Bring a song to sing. It can be a hymn, folk song, art song, patriotic song, anything that you feel comfortable with. Something simple but well sung is better than something complex and poorly sung. The conductor is listening for expressiveness, text clarity, in-tune singing, and vocal quality.
3.) Aural memory testing—repeat back brief melodic passages played on the piano by the conductor.
4.) Music reading—a short, 4-part piece of music will be provided for you near the end of the audition. You will have a few moments to study it briefly, and then sing your part while accompanied by the conductor on the piano. Self-correction is an important part of music reading, so you will have up to three run throughs.
Master Chorus Eastside is holding in person rehearsals on
Monday evenings at 7:00 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Issaquah.
If you would like to participate, contact our conductor Linda Gingrich at
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Master Chorus Eastside is an all volunteer, 50+ voice auditioned mixed chorus. Membership is based on vocal quality, music reading ability, and the need for singers in a particular voice part. Chorus membership shall be subject to the discretion of the Artistic Director. Subject to the minimum age of 16 years, chorus members shall not be excluded on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability (MCE Bylaws).
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FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Master Chorus Eastside is a non-profit, tax exempt organization, and relies on private and corporate contributions to supplement revenue from ticket sales and fundraising. Chorus members are asked to contribute toward operating expenses during the four-quarter performing season. Contributions are considered tax deductible, and are receipted for tax purposes at the end of the calendar year. The Chorus will not exclude any qualified singers due to inability to contribute the assessed amount