Auditions

Auditions for 2020-2021: Resonance will be meeting via Zoom for the fall season. We will be happily welcoming new singers, even though it's an unusual time in which to do so.
  • We'll do auditions in mid-late September, either on Zoom or in masked-outdoor-distanced form. You can choose which you prefer, and you and Artistic Director Sue Coffee will schedule at mutual convenience.
  • You do not need to prepare a solo for the audition. See below for audition details; all will apply this year except for the small group portion. We'll send you forms to fill out in advance.
  • The fall season will run from Oct 1-Nov 19, with Thursday rehearsals from 6:30-7:45. We don't know yet what the spring season will look like.
  • We'll do an online orientation with new singers. We'll be attentive to connecting with new singers throughout the season--and new singers should also be prepared to be patient, curious, and easygoing about all things musical and social.
  • If you are interested in auditioning or have questions, please email Organizing Maven Janis Bohan at resonancechorus@gmail.com. We'll share some more information about the season after auditions.
Basic requirements for this chorus are:
  • Ability to match pitch
  • Vocal sound that plays well with others in a choral setting
  • Impeccable commitment to attendance
NOT required:
  • Music-reading ability
  • Prior choral experience
The size of the chorus is capped at around 125. One of our goals is to offer a choral singing experience to as many people as possible, but practicalities require us to set this limit on the size. Auditionees are sometimes wait-listed for the following year. We will also sometimes suggest that a singer get some more experience, either via lessons or other ensembles, and re-audition in a future year.  

Below is the format of a typical audition, in non-pandemic times.
Plan to spend an hour with us. The audition will include three parts:
  1. You’ll fill out some forms in the first 20 minutes, telling us about your musical background and interests.
  2. You will do a quick warm-up and sing some rounds with a group of three or four.
  3. You will have a short, private audition for pitch matching and section placement.  
  • The small group portion of the audition is intended to help people relax and to give you the vocal support of other voices. People are generally a tad nervous and are often pretty rusty vocally. Rest assured we take both of those things into consideration.
  • We will ask you to sing back short phrases played on the piano to demonstrate pitch-matching ability. These are not complex twisty things, but are short and straightforward. 
  • If you do read music, we will ask you to speak some simple rhythms or sing some simple melodic lines.
  • You do NOT need to prepare an individual solo to sing.
  • If you want to prepare for the audition, you might ask someone to help you by playing short phrases on the piano for you to echo, or to sing a round with you, or just do a lot of easy singing on your own in the weeks preceding the audition.
  • Our goal is to support you in having a successful and even fun audition. You'll meet Organizing Maven Janis Bohan, Artistic Director Sue Coffee, and a few friendly singers.
Schedule basics in a non-pandemic year:
  • Rehearsals are held on Thursday nights from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at First United Methodist Church of Boulder, 1421 Spruce St. (in downtown Boulder, one block north of the east end of the Pearl St. Mall). A typical season runs from October through April, with a break during December.
  • We typically do a collaborative fall concert in November and a major spring concert in late April.
  • We do a weekend retreat at the YMCA in Estes Park on the second weekend in February. This is a required event.
  • Singers are expected to miss no more than three rehearsals in the entire year. Commitment to impeccable presence is the most important aspect of participation in Resonance. Please discuss extenuating circumstances with the Artistic Director.
Important basics about singing in Resonance
  • The financial commitment includes monthly dues of $25 and a one-time music fee of $30, paid at the beginning of the year. Financial support is available if needed; you’ll simply need to be clear about what you can afford and talk with the Organizing Maven to agree on a reduced payment. 
  • Resonance is a women’s chorus with with strong roots and presence in the LGBT choral community and women’s music community. We are a “message chorus,” happy to be labeled as liberal, progressive, or feminist. As one thread in the rich fabric of organizations and individuals working for social justice, we understand our role to be the offering of beauty and nourishment for the soul.
  • You can listen to selections from our CDs at cdbaby.com. We request that you do some listening online before auditioning if you are not already familiar with our music.