The 2024 WSC Festival of Honor Choirs will be held Feb. 2 (Mixed and Treble) and April 10 (Music Theatre) at Wayne State College. Auditions for each choir must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
2024 Honor Choirs: February 2 and April 10
About Honor Choir
The Festival of Honor Choirs consists of multiple honor choirs for high school singers. The choirs are comprised of students from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota, who come together for a full day of rehearsals culminating with festival concerts. In 2024, we will offer two days of honor choirs. Mixed choir and treble choir will be Friday, Feb. 2, and music theater will be Wednesday, April 10.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Both days will culminate with 4:30 p.m. concerts. Admission per concert will be $5; children 12 and younger are free.
Audition Information
How to Audition
- Complete the online WSC Honor Choir application by 5 p.m. Dec. 8.
- Record the appropriate audition music as MP3, WAV, or MP4 file. If you are unable to send large files, we are also willing to watch auditions posted on YouTube - just send us the link.
- Make each audition a separate file (introduction, scales, and song(s) in same file) and label as follows:
Voice Part-Student Name-School - Email MP3, WAV, or MP4 files or a YouTube video link to Dr. Matthew Armstrong at [email protected].
Audition Requirements
- Introduction: Student will announce his or her name and voice part. Select one voice part that is the best representation of your voice.
- Scales: Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to voice part as listed below. Scales should be sung unaccompanied on the syllable “day” at 88 bpm. Only the starting pitch should be played. Modify vowels as needed in extremity of range.
Voice Part Starting Pitch Ascending Scale Starting Pitch Descending Scale Soprano I A above Middle C C above Middle C Soprano II G above Middle C B-flat above Middle C Alto I E above Middle C A above Middle C Alto II D above Middle C G above Middle C Tenor I G below Middle C E above Middle C Tenor II F below Middle C Middle C Bass I E-flat below Middle C G below Middle C Bass II C below Middle C E-flat below Middle C - Solo (Required): Sing “My Country 'Tis of Thee” a cappella (without accompaniment) in a key that best represents the singer’s voice.
- Second Solo (Optional): Sing approximately 60 seconds of a folk song, art song, music theater, or jazz selection. When possible, it is preferred that the optional second solo is accompanied, but a cappella submissions will also be accepted.
All recordings will be adjudicated. Results will be announced shortly after submission (via email).
Directors should expect music and further details of the Honor Choir Festival just after the first of the year.
Fees
$5 audition fee. Due Dec. 8.
$25 registration fee per singer upon acceptance to the choir. Includes noon meal for the student and director and t-shirt for the student.
Make checks payable to Wayne State College and mail to:
Lauren Rastede
Honor Choir Festival
Wayne State College
1111 Main Street
Wayne, NE 68787
Additional notes about choir selections
Students and directors will be notified of results in December and can expect further details and updates about the honor choirs in January.
Music theater selections will include advanced/complex harmonies. There will be theatrical staging and blocking as time allows, but it will not be a choreographed dancing ensemble. Although sectional rehearsals are planned, students will have a better experience if time is spent preparing the music before the festival.
Showcase your musical talent and audition today!
Honor Choir auditions will be due Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Mixed Honor Choir
Friday, Feb. 2
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
4:30 p.m. concert in Ramsey Theatre, Peterson Fine Arts Building
Treble Honor Choir
Friday, Feb. 2
Conducted by Abby Leusink Sheppard, choral director at Sioux City East High School
4:30 p.m. concert in Ramsey Theatre, Peterson Fine Arts Building
Music Theater Honor Choir
Wednesday, April 10
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
4:30 p.m. concert in Ley Theatre, Brandenburg Education Building
Questions? Contact:
Dr. Matthew Armstrong
WSC Director of Choral Studies
402-375-7358
[email protected]
2023 Honor Choir Videos
Watch some selections from last year's Honor Choir performances: