An audition lasts about 10 mins and is usually held by appointment in Hereford Cathedral Song School. Occasionally, it takes place immediately after a rehearsal if you have come along for a trial and decided you would like to join. Auditions take place soon after the start of a term in either September or January.

The audition will usually be with our Musical Director and Accompanist: You will be asked to sing some simple scales and demonstrated exercises to establish your vocal range, then given a short extract of choral music to sing.

Exemption from auditioning applies to any singer who is a current member of the Three Choirs Festival Chorus, or of Hereford Cathedral Voluntary Choir.

What we’re looking for:

1. Can you sing in tune? (Vital)
2. Do you have a voice that will blend with the rest of the choir? (Vital)
   
3. Do you have a basic knowledge of the meaning of musical notation? (Preferable)
   This part of the audition is often incorrectly referred to as “sight-reading” and, as a result, can unnecessarily seem daunting. It does not mean you have to be able to pitch notes or sing rhythms accurately on sight (many of us can’t, or are not good at it). It’s just to see if you can match your voice to the piano accompaniment and make a reasonable attempt at singing the extract, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. If you can sight-read, so much the better, and that would be a bonus, but is definitely not a necessity. Many people learn and improve their music reading through singing in a choral society like this.  We are looking at how you engage with the music, how you receive instruction, and how you learn.

Re-auditions usually take place at the end of each season in March and are only a brief check lasting approximately 5 mins. They are held on a triennial cycle.