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All-OMEA Children's Chorus Audition


Nominations

a.    The nominating teacher must be a current OMEA member, and a photocopy of     
the teacher’s current membership card MUST be on the nomination form.  Failure on the teacher’s part to follow this procedure will result in the student not be considered.
b.    Each school may submit the following number of nominations for OMEA All-State Children’s Chorus according to the following formula:
Number of participants in CTSWS    Maximum number of CDs
1-20                                                                   1-5
21-24                                                                  6
25-28                                                                  7
29-32                                                                  8
33-36                                                                  9
37-40                                                                  10
c.    The nominating teacher MUST purchase an audition CD from the current OMEA All-State Children's Chorus Chair.
d.    An audition tape or CD must accompany each singer’s nomination form.
e.    A nomination/audition fee of $5.00 must accompany each application by the first deadline.  After the first deadline and prior to the second deadline, the nomination/audition fee will be $15.00.  Nomination/Registration fee after the second deadline will qualify as an emergency nomination/audition fee of $100.
f.    Nomination materials must be postmarked on or before the Friday following the first full week in October.  Note:  Send materials by certified mail with a return receipt requested.

Procedure and Preparation

  1. Recording may be made on a CD or a tape of good quality. If you choose to use a tape, take care to begin after the lead on the tape has passed the recording heads.
  2. Use a different tape or CD for each student. Record on Side A, one direction only.
  3. A student may only be entered one time.
  4. Label each tape or CD to indicate the student's name and voice part only. (S1, Sop middle, Alto middle, A2). Voices designated "middle" will sing the middle part of any three-part music. A choir of twelve should be divided as: 4 Sop 1; 2 Soprano middle; 2 Alto middle; 4 Alto 2.
  5. Have the student speak his/her name and specific voice part slowly and clearly at the beginning of the audition. This will be the only script heard on the tape.
  6. The nominating teacher must conduct the audition.
  7. Please practice the audition prior to recording, and send only the highest quality to be judged.
  8. Once you are recording, do not stop the tape or CD until the audition is completed.
  9. Download a judging sheet from the OMEA web site (www.okmea.org) and judge your student(s) using the printed guidelines before mailing.

Auditions will be disqualified for any of the following reasons:

  1. Teacher's voice is heard on the recording.
  2. Other sounds are heard on the recording before, during, or AFTER audition.
  3. Recording is stopped during audition.
  4. If the tempo of the audition CD is altered in any way.
  5. If copy of teacher's current OMEA membership card is NOT on the nomination form.

AUDITION FORMAT
(Start recording–then the singer will read the following, filling in the blanks.)
(Singer reads) My name is ________. I am auditioning as a/an_________ for the 2009 Children's Choir. (Choose an appropriate voice: Soprano 1, Soprano Middle, Alto Middle, or Alto 2.) Start the audition CD.

Part A: Vocalize: The student will sing four (4) five-tone scale passages, ascending and descending, beginning on the given pitches, and staying with the tempo of the metronome. All vocalises must be sung without accompaniment. Only the pitch will be given for each of the four vocalises. Vocalises are to be sung on the syllable, "mah" or "zah."


Four starting pitches for vocalises:

Soprano 1
Soprano Middle
Alto Middle Alto 2
D above middle C Middle C Bb below middle C A below middle C
F# above middle C E above middle C D above middle C Middle C#
A above middle C G above middle C F above middle C E above middle C
Fourth line D C above middle C Bb above middle C A above middle C

PART B: Harmonic Singing. The next part is harmonic singing, on the syllable, "loo."


Step One: Have the student listen as both voices are played together.

Step Two: Have the singer sing the upper line, while the lower line is played. The student should begin after hearing the starting pitch and the metronome count–off.

Step Three: Have the singer sing the lower line while the upper line is played. The student should begin after hearing the starting pitch and the metronome count–off.

PART C: Prepared Song (unaccompanied): Jubilate Deo


The judges will be listening for musicality, phrasing, breath support, beautiful tone, good vowels, beginning and ending consonants, and great intonation.

Pronunciations of the Latin syllables are as follows: Ju = yoo; bi = bee; la = law; te = teh; de = deh; o = open o; A = aw; le = leh: lu = loo; ia = eeAW (like "yaw.")

Below is a list of starting pitches for all four voice parts:
Soprano 1: Starting pitch is fourth line D (Key of D)
Soprano Middle: Starting pitch is C above Middle C. (Key of C)
Alto Middle: Starting pitch is Bb above Midde C. (Key of Bb)
Alto 2: Starting pitch is A above middle C (Key of A)

The half note = mm 70

VERY IMPORTANT!!! DO NOT STOP THE RECORDING BEFORE THE TONIC CHORD IS PLAYED AFTER THE STUDENT COMPLETES JUBILATE DEO.

Checklist Before Mailing

  1. After the audition is complete, check for any additional noises or flaws in the recording.
  2. If you use a tape for the recording, REWIND IT TO THE BEGINNING BEFORE MAILING.
  3. If you use a CD, make sure the CD is finalized before mailing.
  4. Please check to see that the student's form is absolutely complete, with all information, signatures, and a photocopy of the teacher's current OMEA membership card.
  5. Remember to enclose the $5.00 per student fee.