Audition FAQ & Sign Up
Whether you are a beginner who wants to learn to sing, or an advanced musician who wants to contribute to a challenging and fulfilling musical environment, the Wake Forest Music Department has a choir for you!
Auditions are intentionally low-key and relaxed. In the audition you’ll find friendly, welcoming faces who are thrilled that you want to sing on the collegiate level. Once you’ve gotten through the audition process, you’ll get to meet and work with some of the best students on the Wake Forest campus.
Keep in mind that most of our singers are non-music majors, so while musical experience is highly desired, we also understand that the same intelligence that got you into one of the best schools in the country will also enable you to flourish in our ensembles.
See our Audition FAQs to the right to answer additional questions you might have about the audition process. Do not hesitate to contact gilliac@wfu.edu (Dr. Gilliam) at any time should you have a question about the Wake Forest Choirs.
We look forward to meeting you!
Audition FAQs
Unequivocally, yes! You don’t have the time to NOT sing in choir. But seriously, because so many things will be vying for your time, it’s vital, for your own health and well-being, that you choose to take the time to do something for yourself each week. Singing with others is one of the most effective ways of dealing with stress, anxiety, and loneliness — the benefits of singing in a choir are well documented. Plan to devote a few hours out of every week to do something musical and engaging for yourself; committed participation in a choir is the best way to do that. Graduates who return years later tell us again and again that singing in choir during their collegiate career was among the most important and impactful choices they made to enhance their experience.
Concert Choir (MSC 146 A/B) Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that specializes in accompanied choral repertoire and cappella works appropriate for large chorus. The Concert Choir regularly collaborates with the University’s Symphony Orchestra, instrumental faculty chamber ensembles, the Wake Forest Choral Society, and musicians from the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Concert Choir performs fall and spring concerts, the annual Holiday Concert, and the end-of-year Masterworks concert with the combined Wake Forest University Choirs.
Concert Choir is a great choir for students who are feel they are unable to commit to the rigorous Chamber Choir rehearsal and performing schedule.
Great effort is taken to ensure that members of Concert Choir develop the kind of esprit de corps and camaraderie which reinforces sensitive choral artistry. Choir will become like family to you; it’s a wonderful place to make friends, meet new people, and learn more about yourself and about music.
Concert Choir (MSC 146 A/B) Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that specializes in accompanied choral repertoire and cappella works appropriate for large chorus. The Concert Choir regularly collaborates with the University’s Symphony Orchestra, instrumental faculty chamber ensembles, the Wake Forest Choral Society, and musicians from the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Concert Choir performs fall and spring concerts, the annual Holiday Concert, and the end-of-year Masterworks concert with the combined Wake Forest University Choirs.
Concert Choir is a great choir for students who are feel they are unable to commit to the rigorous Chamber Choir rehearsal and performing schedule.
Great effort is taken to ensure that members of Concert Choir develop the kind of esprit de corps and camaraderie which reinforces sensitive choral artistry. Choir will become like family to you; it’s a wonderful place to make friends, meet new people, and learn more about yourself and about music.
Chamber Choir (Premier Choir):
Monday, 5-6 PM
Tuesday, 5-6 PM
Wednesday, 5-6 PM
Thursday, 5-6 PM
Concert Choir
T & TR, 3:30-4:45 PM
Monday, 6:30-9:00 PM (if conflict with T/TR)
Schola Cantorum
This roster is filled by members who participate in Chamber Choir via special audition. Rehearsal times are negotiated separately in collaboration with the Director of Choral Activities. Early music & vocal jazz.
All choirs rehearse in Scales Fine Arts Center Choir Room M208
First and foremost, you should still plan to audition. It is obviously necessary for an ensemble to rehearse together on a regular basis (and consistently) if they are to maintain the highest standard required of exceptional performance. Wake Forest choristers don’t half-ass anything!
It is understood, however, that there could be occasional conflicts which would prevent an otherwise dedicated chorister from attending every rehearsal. Exceptions may be approved on a case-by-case basis as long as a chorister is otherwise faithful to choral rehearsal in demonstrated work ethic and regular rehearsal attendance.
The first step for you is to see if you can rearrange your schedule so that there is no conflict with rehearsal. Sometimes meetings or classes can be scheduled at different times, or even in another semester.
With a little creativity and planning ahead on your part, you will likely be able to carve out the choral rehearsal hours so that you can benefit most from the rehearsal requirements.
An audition form will be made available at the time of your audition. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to complete the form prior to your audition. You will be asked to perform the following:
- You’ll be invited into the room and made to feel very welcome! You’ll realize immediately how happy you’ve made us and be instantly glad that you chose to audition.
- You’ll sing an art song, hymn, folk, or pop song of your choice. Hymnals will be provided if needed. You may sing something a cappella if you choose. You don’t have to have anything prepared, we will work with you, no problem.
- We’ll do some exercises to assess your range and pitch retention ability. We’ll also ask you to sight read some music, but don’t worry if that’s not your thing.
That’s it! You’ll be in and out in no time.
Auditions are always the first week of classes each semester, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. Auditions are held in Scales Fine Arts Center in the choir room, M208.
Use the Signup link at the top of this page to sign up for an audition or to learn more. The sign up allows you to easily change or delete your sign up slot.
Most of our singers are non-music majors, but we are fortunate to have a number of very talented music majors in our choirs. The most important thing you can bring to your audition is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and be committed to the opportunity.
Yes, absolutely!
A Signup Genius link is posted at the top of this page (signup). If, for some reason, there is no link to the audition signup, please contact the Director of Choral Activities to let him know of your interest.
Yes. A piano player will be there to accompany your audition should you need an accompanist. You are welcome to sing something a cappella (like a pop song) if you wish. A copy of a hymnal will also be provided should you need it.
If you have nothing prepared, no worries, we’ll work with you!
The Chamber Choir, as the premier choir on campus, performs (and rehearses) more frequently than the Concert Choir, but both maintain active and engaging performing schedules.
For example, there are students on the campus who want a great choral experience but who are unable to meet the time obligations and expectations for membership in the Chamber Choir. Concert Choir is a great choice for them, then, since the choir rehearses only two times each week.
Both choirs perform fall and spring concerts, and the annual Holiday Concert, Lovefeast, and the end-of-year Masterworks concert. Chamber Choir is a touring choir, and those tours take place every year in January the week prior to the start of classes.
See Concerts and Events on this website to take a look at the dates and times of upcoming concerts.
Keep in mind that year after year, my brightest and busiest (!) students have always told incoming students: “yes, you absolutely have the time to be in a choir. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Wake Choirs is privileged to have many talented students (many who are also enrolled in private voice instruction), but there are also a large number of beginning and intermediate choral singers in our ensembles. The WFU Choirs is a GREAT place for you to learn more about singing, music, teamwork, artistry, and collaborative engagement with your peers. We also have a ton of fun!
Above all, we seek choristers with positive attitudes who are committed to musical discipline and artistry that leads to choral excellence. Our rehearsals are fun and engaging, but they are also rigorous. Singers are required to be at the top of their game every rehearsal. We learn and perform a lot of music every year, and the professionalism that we bring to each of our performances is a result of a great deal of hard work that requires attendance at all rehearsals and commitment to building excellence and positive esprit de corps.
You will be notified the day after the last day of auditions (typically on Friday).
Chamber Choir members are more than welcome to sing in Concert Choir. In fact, the repertoire will be of a different variety in Concert Choir, so it would be worth any singer’s time to participate in both.
“I taught at Davidson College for 8 years before coming to Wake Forest. Because of my experience at Davidson, I understand the Wake student and environment very well. I am wholly supportive of the rigorous academic enviroment found at Wake, and our work together in the Choirs will be equally rigorous. Understand that I plan to hold everyone to the same standard of excellence.
I am a very empathetic and understanding individual. Our work together is about the MUSIC, and what it can teach us and how it can help us to better connect with the Pro Humanitate mission that Wake Forest holds dear. I believe you’ll find in the Wake Choirs just the right combination of academic and performance rigor, excellence, fun, family, and frolic to help you offset the otherwise mundane day-to-day that can beset campus life.
I love my students. I love to watch them learn–and laugh–while they do so. I love to see the glimmer in their eyes when a chord is perfectly tuned, or experience the palpable excitement when the ensemble really connects with a text. It’s not uncommon for students to enter rehearsals worn-out from pulling an all-nighter, but leaving energized and rejuvenated from a particularly engaging rehearsal. THAT is the magic that we will share together, and that is why I absolutely love what I do and why I am so honored to have the privilege to work with Wake Forest students!
I believe we’re going to get along very well. I hope to meet you soon!” Sincerely, Dr. Gilliam