Audition for the City Choir of Washington

FALL 2025 Auditions are now complete. Thank you to all who auditioned. We had a record number of singers sign up, demonstrating their skill, their love for music, and their eagerness to devote valuable time making this world a bit more beautiful through the power of choral music.

While auditions are now closed, if you are interested in receiving notice of our next round, please fill out the audition form linked below. And, in case you’re curious, please see below for an example of what is included in our usual audition process.

COVID notice: Given continued low transmission rates, we are currently employing a strategically implemented mask-optional policy, with vaccines and a waiver required for singers.

Auditions: What to Prepare & What to Expect

FALL 2025 Edition

In Fall 2025, our auditions consisted of five different segments - all meant to help assess the strengths that you bring to City Choir. 

Choral Excerpt

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will ask you to sing a short excerpt from Bach’s Mass in B Minor (We will double your part on piano).

  • What we are listening for: We are listening for accuracy of notes and pitches, flexibility of sound, and attention to text details.

  • Excerpt: From Bach Minor Mass: Kyrie 1  - You can find the music HERE.

    • Soprano 1: m. 37 - m. 49 (trills optional)

    • Soprano 2: m. 39 - 54

    • Alto: m. 32 - 48 (downbeat)

    • Tenor:  m. 30 - 45

    • Bass: m. 45 - m. 58 (downbeat)

  • How to prepare: Here are some websites to help you prepare -

Vocalizing

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will listen to the range of your voice using vocal warmups

  • What are we listening for: We are listening to the color of your voice, intonation, and breath control. Additionally, we are assessing your range to see what voice part would be best for you. 

  • How can you prepare: HERE’s a helpful warmup by Artistic Director Erin Freeman.

Ear training/Tonal Memory

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will play a series of 5 or 6 notes and ask you to sing them back on DOO

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for note accuracy, of course.  However, we are also looking to see if you can overcome an initial mistake and be coached to fix it.

  • How to prepare: HERE’s an online tool that will play melodies of varying length. Select “melodies” and then keep pressing play for an unlimited number of 5 note tunes!

Rhythm

To be handed out upon arrival at audition

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will ask you to perform a rhythm that will be handed to you when you arrive at the audition location. You will have time to review it before entering the audition room.

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for note accuracy, of course. However, we are listening for a steady tempo and ability to keep going even if you make a mistake. 

  • How to prepare: This is a fun tool. Set difficulty to medium and then hard. Somewhere between those two is the level of our excerpt. 

Text

  • What will happen: Artistic Director will ask you to speak a few lines of Italian from Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito (on our November 2025 concert). 

  • What are we listening for: We are listening for the ability to repeat sounds accurately. This need not be perfect. We expect a bit of coaching to be needed in the audition. 

  • How to prepare: Use the sound file HERE to help you learn the material. 

  • Excerpt: From Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito: Act 2, Scene 5, No. 15

Ah grazie si rendano al sommo fattor

Che in Tito del trono salvò lo splendor.

(Ah, let us render thanks to the supreme Creator

Who in Titus preserved the glory of the throne)

An invitation to audition for the City Choir of Washington from Artistic Director Erin Freeman

Are you a singer who is dedicated to the art of beautiful choral music? Would you like to sing under the direction of dynamic conductor Erin Freeman? Are you excited to meet new people who are equally as thrilled about music as you? The City Choir of Washington may be the very group for you.

City Choir is a member-driven choral community that is as committed to the music it performs as to the city it serves. It presents thoughtfully curated musical events throughout the Washington, DC metro area to uplift and inspire audiences and singers alike. We seek to serve as a model organization where artistic excellence, strong community, and positive culture mutually reinforce each other. Please click here to read our Mission/Vision/Values statement. The City Choir of Washington is pleased to announce that as of the 2023-2024 season we no longer require membership fees.

Weekly rehearsals take place on Monday nights, with additional orchestra rehearsals on concert week. There is also generally one Saturday rehearsal retreat (usually from 10 am - 1 pm) during each rehearsal cycle. Rehearsals are held from 7:15-9:45 p.m. at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.