Auditioning for Schola Cantorum

Auditions are held by appointment with Schola's Music Director, Gregory Wait. Each audition lasts approximately 15 minutes, and consists of:

Vocalization to determine your vocal range and voice quality
A brief sight-reading exercise
A short solo supplied by the Music Director
An evaluation of your music theory knowledge

The Music Director will evaluate your potential as a member, in the following areas:

A good choral voice, not necessarily of solo quality
A sensitivity to the music and its interpretation
The ability to learn your part by yourself
A shared vision of Schola's objectives for singing choral music
The ability to blend with other voices while carrying your own part

You may download the solo audition piece and the music theory quiz in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format (get the free reader software here). If you prefer, we will be glad to mail you the audition packet; telephone the Schola office at (650) 254–1700, or use our web site form to give us your mailing address, and use the Comments box to request an audition packet.

You may prepare the audition solo in any key for your audition. Please print out the music theory quiz, complete as many questions as you can, and bring the sheet with you to your audition. Do not panic if you are unable to answer all the questions—this is primarily to get a feel for the range of your musical knowledge. There will also be a brief sight-reading exercise.

To schedule an audition, please call the Schola office at (650) 254–1700. The auditions take place at the Braun Music Center on the Stanford University campus, in Gregory Wait's studio, room 233.

We appreciate your interest in Schola and look forward to hearing from you.