A lot of young and hobbyist musicians want opportunities to sing in their communities, but may not know where to look. However, there are usually several opportunities to sing in or around your area.
The most obvious place to look for a choir is at your church, if you attend. Most churches, even small ones, have an adult choir that accepts anyone in high school or older. Even if you’re not the greatest musician in the world, many of these choirs accept you even if you can’t read music. This is a great way to get involved with your community and sing without much pressure. They are also usually flexible, scheduling-wise. If you have a family and aren’t sure you can make all the practices or all the church sessions, the director will usually be understanding. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time, or is just getting back into music after a long time off.
Another way to get involved is through a community choir. Most larger communities have one. If you’re not sure if your community does, visit your local music store and ask if there is a local choir. If there is, you should be directed on how to join it. Most of these local choirs are also non-auditioned, although they may require you to read music and demonstrate at least a basic proficiency. It depends on the individual director, so ask the person at the music shop, or call the director to find out. These choirs will likely be seasonal, as well – that is, they will probably meet only during the school year, and not during the summer. Many of the directors of these groups are music teachers who like having their summers off. There may also be choirs that meet only in the summer. Check your local music store, and make sure to check with the director for any specifications about when the choirs rehearse, perform, and more.
For talented youth singers, there are usually special choirs in the area. Many universities will have youth choirs for singers 12 and over, or 14 and over. These choirs are audition-only, and singers are usually allowed to participate until they are 18 or 20, depending on the group. These choirs typically perform major classical repertoire, and put on 3 to 4 concerts per year.
Another place to look for youth choirs is through a nearby professional choir. Usually, if there is a professional orchestra, there will also be a professional choir that occasionally sings with the orchestra and may perform in its own right. For example, in Cleveland, there is a Cleveland Symphony Choir, and there is also a Cleveland Symphony Youth Choir. These are also audition-only groups, and are usually fairly prestigious.
When you’re thinking of singing in a choir like these, you should prepare an art song for audition, and make sure you have an accompanist. An art song is something that was written by a classical composer, like Beethoven or Brahms. You can find this music at your local music store. Make sure you check audition requirements before choosing music, because some directors might have specific songs they want you to sing.
There are many opportunities to sing in choirs. If you are ever not sure what’s in your area, either visit your local music shop or talk to your local school music directors. They will point you in the right direction.
