By Randi Bjornstad

The Eugene Concert Choir, under the direction of Diane Retallack, consists of three performing groups — two vocal and one instrumental — that include the 100-member Eugene Concert Choir, a smaller, 36-member chamber choir called Eugene Vocal Arts, and the affiliated Eugene Concert Orchestra.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, the organization will hold auditions for new members of the Eugene Concert Choir and Eugene Vocal Arts for the organization’s 47th season in 2021-22.

And where does Carnegie Hall fit into this picture? Well, in addition to its regular local concerts throughout the season, which take place primarily at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Eugene, singers in the Eugene Concert Choir and Eugene Vocal Arts will have the opportunity to perform Johannes Brahms’ Requiem at Carnegie Hall on June 20, 2022.

Diane Retallack, founder/conductor of the Eugene Concert Choir and its elite singing group, Eugene Vocal Arts

Singers who are accepted into the Eugene Concert Choir fold may choose to participate in the groups’ entire season or join solely for the Carnegie Hall performance.

But first come the auditions for new members.

Audition requirements

The auditions will take place on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 31, by appointment, arranged either by calling the concert choir office at 541-687-6864, by emailing choir@eugeneconcertchoir.org.

Detailed information, including location, also can be found online at eugeneconcertchoir.org/auditions.

But basically, here is what you need to know before you decide yea or nay:

In terms of time commitment, the Eugene Concert Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings, with Eugene Vocal Arts rehearsals on Monday evenings, from September through May.

If that seems doable, here’s what you need to do specifically for the audition:

  • Prepare a vocal solo that best suits your voice. Something classical is preferred, but other selections will be accepted. Bring music for the accompanist, who will be provided by the Eugene Concert Choir. If you do not have a song prepared for the audition, you will be asked to sing The Star-Spangled Banner, with the words provided to you.
  • Be ready to sing scales to demonstrate your vocal range.
  • To demonstrate sight-reading ability, first you will be given single lines of music, with a starting pitch and key, from which you will sing the lines on your own. Secondly, you will be asked to “sight-sing” by singing your particular voice part (e.g. soprano, alto, tenor, bass) while all four vocal lines are played.
  • Tonal memory will be tested by singing back note groupings after they have been played on the piano.
  • Each audition will take about 10 minutes.
  • Singers are expected to be fully vaccinated in order to participate.