Regional & National ACDA High School Honor Choir

PLEASE CONTACT MS. BOONE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED 10th-12th GRADER ASAP!!
AUDITIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 29TH!!

The American Choral Director's Association hold Honor Choir auditions every year. On even years, they hold Regional Honor Choir Auditions. Students from the northeast (11 states) are eligible to audition. On odd years, they hold National Honor Choir Auditions. Students from the entire country (all 50 states) are eligible to audition. Each year hundreds of students audition for minimal spots. Caravel has been fortunate to send students to both Regional and National Honor Choirs in Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Baltimore, Dallas, Minnesota, Boston and Pittsburgh. Our students have been fortunate to work with world-renowned conductors and singers from across the country. It is hard work and truly the experience of a lifetime! Students interested in auditioning must contact their CA choral director to review the audition requirements and set up time/s to prepare the audition material. Students should also be prepared to work diligently on their audition material at home and with their private vocal teacher (if applicable) as well.
The cost of these events vary from year to year. There are audition fees and recording & accompanist fees (when applicable). If a student is accepted there are registration fees (which typically includes hotel accommodations) and travel fees. The Music Boosters offer a few special fundraisers during the year to help students cover expenses but it is not a guarantee that all expenses will be reimbursed.

2022-2023 Honor Choir Audition Information

Please visit the ACDA website linked below for more information. If you have further questions, please email Ms. Boone at [email protected].

ACDA Honor Choir Information

SSAA Honor Choir

SSAA HS Honor Choir Audition
Accepting Auditions for SSAA Voices in Grades 10 - 12
Conducted by Dr. Pearl Shangkuan
Auditions accepted September 1-29, 2022

Eligibility for Auditions:

Singers who will be in grades 10, 11, or 12 in February 2023 may apply.
Application (through Submittable) deadline is September 29, 2022 at 5PM CST.
Singers who wish to apply for the High School SSAA Choir must submit a separate application and pay the additional fee. Please note, auditioning for both ensembles has no bearing on admission to either ensemble.
Application fee of $30

Audition Materials
1. Vocalise. Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to the voice part. Scales should be sung on the vowel “ah” as in father. Only the starting pitch may be played. Accompanied singers will be disqualified.

Voice Part
Soprano I
Soprano II
Alto I
Alto II

Starting pitch for ascending scale
B flat above middle C
A above middle C
E above middle C
D above middle C

Starting pitch for Descending scale
C above middle C
B above middle C
A above middle C
G above middle C

2. Repertoire Excerpt. Sing m. 67-85 of “Ubi Caritas” by Dan Forrest, a cappella. Quarter note = 60 bpm.
Important: These rehearsal tracks should be used to learn and record the audition excerpt. The audition excerpt should be recorded with the track playing through headphones so that the recording does not include anything other than the student’s voice.

Sheet Music

Practice Tracks

3. Solo. Sing 30 seconds of a range-appropriate folk song, or a song taught in voice lessons, class or in chorus, accompanied or unaccompanied. It is important that the piece chosen best demonstrates the tone quality and musicality required of a choral singer. If accompaniment is used, please limit the introduction to 5 seconds at the most. Clearly state the title of the prepared solo and the name of the composer/arranger at the beginning of this part of the recording.

SATB Honor Choir

SATB HS Honor Choir
Grades 10 - 12
Conducted by Dr. Eugene Rogers
Auditions accepted September 1-29, 2022

Eligibility for Auditions:

Singers who will be in grades 10, 11, or 12 in February 2023 may apply.
Application (through Submittable) deadline is September 29, 2022 at 5PM CST.
Singers who wish to apply for the High School SSAA Choir must submit a separate application and pay the additional fee. Please note, auditioning for both ensembles has no bearing on admission to either ensemble.
Application fee of $30

Audition Materials
1. Vocalise. Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to voice part. Scales should be sung on the vowel “ah” as in father. Only the starting pitch may be played. Accompanied singers will be disqualified.

Voice Part
Soprano I
Soprano II
Alto I
Alto II
Tenor I
Tenor II
Bass I
Bass II

Starting pitch for ascending scale
B flat above middle C
A above middle C
E above middle C
D above middle C
A flat below middle C
F sharp below middle C
E flat below middle C
C sharp below middle C

Starting pitch for Descending scale
C above middle C
B above middle C
A above middle C
G above middle C
E above middle C
Middle C
G below middle C
E below middle C

2. Repertoire Excerpt. “Set Me As A Seal” by Margaret Burk. m. 35-49 are to be performed a cappella.

Important: These rehearsal tracks should be used to learn and record the audition excerpt. The audition excerpt should be recorded with the track playing through headphones so that the recording does not include anything other than the student’s voice.

Sheet Music

Practice Tracks

3. Solo. Sing 30 seconds of a range-appropriate folk song, or a song taught in voice lessons, class or in chorus, accompanied or unaccompanied. It is important that the piece chosen best demonstrates the tone quality and musicality required of a choral singer. If accompaniment is used, please limit the introduction to 5 seconds at the most. Clearly state the title of the prepared solo and the name of the composer/arranger at the beginning of this part of the recording.

Expectations of Singers

Accepted singers must be in attendance at all scheduled rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.
Singers must be well-prepared on all music prior to arrival. Re-auditions will take place before the first rehearsal on Wednesday, February 22. Singers who are not prepared will not be allowed to participate in the honor choir.
Singers are expected to abide by all ACDA Honor Choir policies. If rules are broken, singers will be sent home at their personal expense.
Singers must have an ACDA sponsor (or a representative named by the sponsor) staying at a conference hotel who can provide ACDA with a working cell phone number.
Singers are expected to abide by the ACDA National Conference COVID-19 Guidance