Mixed Honor Choir and Treble Honor Choir is Friday, Feb. 3. Music Theater Honor Choir is Wednesday, Feb. 22. Auditions for each choir must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.
The Festival of Honor Choirs: February 3 and 22, 2023
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 2023, we will offer two days of honor choirs. Mixed choir and treble choir will be Friday, Feb. 3, and music theater will be Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Both days will culminate with 4:30 p.m. concerts in Ley Theatre. Admission per concert will be $5; children 12 and younger are free.
Students selected for the Music Theater Honor Choir will have the opportunity to hear Vocave in concert the evening of Feb. 22.
Audition Information
Due to limited space during the renovation and the addition of new choir and band rooms to Peterson Fine Arts in 2022, the number of participants in our festival will be limited to students selected on the basis of recorded auditions.
Learn more about the Peterson renovation.
How to Audition
- Complete the online WSC Honor Choir application by 5 p.m. Dec. 7.
- 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. 7.
$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
Showcase your musical talent and audition today!
Honor Choir auditions will be due Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.
Mixed Honor Choir
Friday, Feb. 3
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
Treble Honor Choir
Friday, Feb. 3
Conducted by Lyn Bouma, recently retired master-teacher at Omaha Central High School
Music Theater Honor Choir
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
Contact
Dr. Matthew Armstrong
WSC Director of Choral Studies
402-375-7358
[email protected]