Thank you for your interest in auditioning for Madrigal Singers! Here you will find audition information and the opportunity to sign up for an audition. Please read the following before you decide to audition.

Madrigal Singers is an auditioned group of choral students specializing in the performance of unaccompanied works in all periods. Students are expected to be comfortable singing one-on-a-part a cappella music, and should be dedicated members of our WHS Choirs community, both through their musical and collaborative skills. Students will display exemplary ability in expressive musical performance, while most importantly, creating a safe and supportive atmosphere that will be conducive to risk-taking.

This group requires a greater outside-of-school commitment than the other choirs at WHS; students are often asked to mark music outside of class, submit individual recordings of themselves singing, and complete occasional writing or analysis assignments. Students are expected to practice and prepare outside of class. Additionally, Madrigals participate in a demanding rehearsal and performance schedule throughout the year. Occasional weeknight rehearsals and required weekend performances will occur throughout the year.

The audition will consist of the following parts, in this order:

1. Range hearing

2. Tonal recall (you sing back a few notes after I play them)

3. Solo

   a. America the Beautiful, first verse only (sing top line/melody)

   Recording

   or

   b. Anything that comfortably fits your voice (this can even be a part from a song you’ve sung in choir, but the excerpt should be at least 45 seconds long).

4. Prepared choral excerpt

   You will sing your part while the other three parts are being sung.

   You have two options:

   a. Prepare mm. 1-38 of last year’s CMEA All State Excerpt.

   All information found here.

   or

   b. Prepare all of this year’s CMEA All State Excerpt

   All information found here

5. Short sightreading exercise (you will be able to write in Solfege)

Auditions will be held Monday, February 3rd, and Tuesday, February 4th, after school from 3-545pm.

Q: None of these times work for me. Can I still audition?

A: Email Mr. M!

Q: I don’t know what to sing!

A: If you don’t know what to sing, try America the Beautiful, or ask Mr. M for help.

Q: Are you looking for a specific type of genre in the solo piece?

A: Nope! Please sing anything that suits your voice, whether that is pop, theatre, choral music, jazz, whatever! This is the time for you to present something that you are super comfortable performing.

Q: How many people students are you taking from each voice part?

A: I have no restrictions on how many I am taking from each section. There are currently 14 returning Madrigals members.

Q: Do I need to be an upperclassman to be accepted?

A: No. Madrigals typically consists of mostly Juniors and Seniors, but we have had between 1-3 Sophomores in the group the previous three years.

Q: I am unsure if Madrigals (period 7) will work with my schedule next year. Should I still audition?

A: Yes! Audition first, then we’ll figure your schedule out later.

Q: Can I double Madrigals with a science mini or a lab?

A: Madrigals cannot be backed in with any classes, regardless of scheduling context. The amount of repertoire we perform in Madrigals means we cannot afford any student to be missing any part of rehearsal.