Auditions

Auditions for new singers, both Volunteer and Professional are at the beginning of each season at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. You may fill out the form at the bottom of this page for more information and to be notified when the next audition date is.

If you are considering auditioning, please read our singer handbook.

Volunteer Chorus Audition Requirements:

We welcome and encourage volunteer singers to audition for the Chattanooga Bach Choir. We are interested in the ability of each singer to keep vibrato under control at all volume levels, especially higher voices.

  1. A sostenuto, piano-accompanied aria of your choice, OR a hymn (preferably a hymn arr. by Bach, in English or German). Please provide a copy for the accompanist. The purpose of this is to hear your voice with music in which you are very comfortable and will demonstrate the quality and tone of your voice.
  2. Your voice part to “And He Shall Purify” from Handel’s Messiah. The purpose of this is to determine your flexibility at a fast tempo. Please sing as close to quarter note = 108 as you can.
  3. Exercise #4 “Sigh the Tone” (first half only) from the book Sing Legato. Contact us if you need assistance in securing the music. We will also vocalize you for upper/lower range.
  4. Please be prepared to sing minor/major seconds and thirds, and perfect 4th’s and 5th’s.
  5. Sight read a chorale and rhythmic exercise.

The Bach Choir performs a varied repertoire featuring music from the Renaissance to the present, including works for multiple choirs (including Tallis, Allegri, Schütz, Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Whitacre), as well as Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil and Bach’s Mass in B minor, among others. Singers who are selected to perform with the Bach Choir may also be invited to participate in our Bach Cantata series (in whole or in part). Substitute/extra singers are also chosen and are often invited to sing in our larger Masterworks concerts.

Professional Choristers Audition Requirements:

The Chattanooga Bach Choir sets the highest artistic standards for members of its professional/volunteer choir. Auditions for professional choir members can be done in person (bring a copy for the accompanist) or electronically.

  1. Candidates are asked to prepare an aria by J.S. Bach.
  2. Your voice part to the “cum sancto spiritu” fugue from the Bach Mass in B Minor (mm. 37-63, Bärenreiter measure numbering), with accompaniment. The purpose of this exercise is to determine your flexibility at a very fast tempo. Please sing the passage as close to quarter note = 112 as you can. All sopranos should do soprano 1.
  3. Please submit a resume.

Please include audition links and attach your resume to the form below.

If you wish to submit via US mail:

Chattanooga Bach Choir
[specify voice type] Auditions
P.O. Box 80576
Chattanooga, TN 37411

The Chattanooga Bach Choir also accepts audition materials from soloists on an ongoing basis. Candidates are asked to prepare two arias, one of which must be by J.S. Bach, and submit a resume. Please use the form below, or US mail.