r/Choir

I am auditioning for my college choral program in three weeks, and need a solo piece for someone who has only ever sung in high school choir, and private voice lessons. My voice best suits a bass/baritone role. I have been searching for days, and have only found about two or three good pieces, but nothing that feels like it would be a great audition song. Any help is very much appreciated!

Super excited to hear VOCES8 for the second time in Baltimore in October! My wife and I heard them live for the first time at the National Cathedral around Christmas. The group was in a bit of a transition...Blake was on sabbatical, MaryRuth Miller from Lyyra was filling in as a soprano with Eleanora (sad to see her go). Excited to hear Savannah and Virginia! Anyone else catching them while they're in the U.S.?

I wanted to talk about how hard I find it to make friends in choirs and seek advice. What social missteps have people in your choir made? This might not be the right forum for this discussion; in which case please remove post.

I am a genuinely friendly and bubbly lady and never judge anyone or behave like a diva. I have a grand total of 3 close friends (as in we hang out outside choir stuff) to show for after almost 30 years of being in choirs. I just don't seem to fit in - particularly, it has to be said, with my fellow sopranos. 

I’m probably autistic which won’t help, although the most popular most gossipy soprano in one of my choirs has severe ADHD so it’s not about ableism. 

Will fully admit that I'm quite physically clumsy and not the most elegant of humans, but I am very self-aware and I do rate my conversational skills - outside of choir I have tons and tons of friends. I also have a serious boyfriend outside of choir so I'm not a "threat" to choir romances. I do have a big singing voice (and occasionally do professional work) yet so do other people, and they do not face the same challenges.

At college 25 years ago, I went to collect something from the conductor and everyone else from that choir was sat there having a movie night I wasn't invited to. This seems to be a recurring theme. These days, I will have what I think are really decent chats with choir folk, then they will blank me the week after. It took me 10 minutes to find a seat in a recent practice as everyone was saving a seat for a friend. I watch from the sidelines as newbies get invited to the post-practice social within weeks of joining. I wish I had better connections after years of being a committed, reliable member who has no ego or agenda.

I'm not angry or self-pitying, I want to be better and do better! If it sounds like I'm trying too hard, in the end it's the opposite because I give up and go quiet until I find the courage to start anew. I would like to hear thoughts about what I can do to improve my chances of making friends, as I spend most of my life outside my day job doing choir things.

please help 🙏

edit:cut it out with the romantic/sexual insinuations

I wanted to share a personal story of missing home (Cork, Ireland) moving to a new country and starting a life in my new home (Montréal).

I found myself standing in the second row of the prestigious Montréal St-Lawrence choir, suffering heavily from imposter syndrome and moments of panicked lip syncing.

I had only ever been in one choir: thirty men who met over a pub in Cork City on wet Wednesday evenings and practiced well-beaten Christmas carols. We sang each year for the same worthy cause, Marymount Hospice. I loved its goodwill, good nature and the chance to meet likeminded people. The St. Luke’s choir reminded me of a Welsh all-male colliery choir: with its singular, dark, working-class timbre, low bass resonance that felt both ancient, secretive and deeply physical. Most of the men couldn’t read music, but that wasn’t a hindrance. We learned in different ways, animated by our happy conductor who loved every moment he had with us.

Now I lived in Montréal, longing for the choir and more importantly the pints, chats, jokes and camaraderie after each festive performance. So egged on by my then ever forgiving and patient wife I sought out a new choir to join. I came across a concert listing for the St. Lawrence Choir, I looked up their website and the next minute I’m standing in a line waiting to be auditioned with one word repeating itself in my head as the line peeled away ‘bugger!’.

My audition wasn’t the most stunning examples of male singing. I had an Irish language (Gaeilge) Air ‘Dúlamán’ prepared. Then I suffered through the prescribed sight reading section, giving the ever so lovely but deflated accompanying pianist a new novel timing for all the pieces that I had just invented. I passed the audition by the skin of my teeth. I suspect being male helped. If I hadn’t volunteered, the infamous choir press gang would have found me, thumped me over the head and forced me to sing a Russian vesper at gun point, such was the need.

I felt very much like a bright neon square peg in a round hole. I was anxious, nervous and feeling a bit sick. It was the first concert of the season and my debut as a second bass. I didn’t want to let anyone down or be exposed for my utter lack of musical skills. The men were compelled to wear awful tuxedos, I resembled a cheap vaudevillian magician, sans top hat. I scratched nervously and repeatedly around the butterfly collar, readjusting my dickie bow for the 53rd time. Then it started.

The first piece we sang was a Bach motet. The fugue dialogue of altos and sopranos consumed me and I quickly forgot all my woes. Then it became a tidal-like cacophony; reaching its apex, it hit me unawares like an ocean undertow when I was six—stripping away all control so that I gave myself up entirely. Then-for the first and very likely the last time in my life-I wept for absolute joy, consumed by the purest thing I had ever encountered in my narrowest of lives. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. The score folder lay limp in my arms. The response now came from the men, I found my place again, gasped, swallowed-sang. I had not gone unnoticed and a few had seen my tears wondering if I was okay. An alto named Carol, looked at me intensely and lipped ‘are you okay?’ I couldn’t hide. My pale freckled Irish face and my red eyes obviously exposing my tears. I needed to urgently wipe my face but my hands, restricted, supported the open score. I had no choice, I would have to wait until the end. I practised in my head telling them the truth, they would, of course, all ask if I was okay. I practiced versions that didn’t make me sound certifiably insane. Eventually I decided that I would resign myself to telling the truth. I mean, to be honest, of all the people in the world to explain what had happened to me these were the people that had all been touched collectively.

Hello! I’ve been getting into vocals, singing and music in general—I joined Choir last year in 8th grade. Now that it’s my freshman year (9th grade) I also have joined Choir again, this time in ‘Men’s Choir’, I’m still trying to figure out my range since i was classified Bass last year (8th grade)—but my current Choir teacher thinks i may be a tenor based off of my range (but still needs to assess me considering it was the second day of school.):

overall range: **Gb2-D#7**

**Gb2** is deep, but i wouldn’t say it’s exactly ‘Bass’ deep, It requires effort more than my higher chest, head, falsetto, and whistle register(s).

Above Gb2 is easy (while still in chest), I can **belt** up into **C4-D4** which requires a bit effort but is pretty easy, I’m pretty “light” i would say, as i’m mistaken as a female over the phone (*sometimes*).

Same goes for head, i feel that my voice is more “light”, I can top out at **Ab5**, I can hit **C4-E#4** (possibly **G4**, if not **E4**).

For falsetto this is where things get confusing, I can bottom out at **Eb4**, and usually stick around **C5**, I also notice a certain point where i go higher in pitch and tone—then i can raise up to **D#7** (presumably in my whistle register).

I can also sing all 12 “Addison” (by Addison Rae) songs, the album is rumored to be **F3-F5**, and also A\*POP (by Tyla) which is about **D3-G5**.

all feedback is more than welcome! 🤗

Sucede que mi profesora me clasificó como tenor y mi duda es que, bueno, ¿bajo que criterio(s) pudo haberme clasificado como tenor? No me quejo la verdad, estoy bastante con mi voz JSKSJD.

Por si acaso, yo tengo 17 años y 3 meses de edad.

La verdad no llevo mucho tiempo en esto, llevo apenas unas 14 clases particulares, todas de una hora de duración y, siendo honesto, no practico en casa debido a una mezcla de pereza y ocupaciones.

¿Alguien me podría ayudar con esta duda?

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Context- (sorry for the long rant)

So I have been doing choir for a very long time now, I started choir in 6th grade and I'm now going into my sophomore year. I'm really focused on becoming a choir teacher in the future and doing community choirs, I feel like it's what I would love to do and I am focused on getting my Bachelor's/Master's degree in music education.

I wanted to get into Chamber Choir for many reasons, it helps me become a better musician, helps me test myself, and more. I did my audition and I later got my callback and I really thought that I could get in.

Unfortunately, the callbacks came and I did... Good? Bad?... I don't know for sure how I did cause nobody gave me advice. Later on I was waiting for results and they finally came out... and I didn't get in...

I was really upset and literally cried myself to sleep that night, I was hypothetically seeing my future, experience in choir, crash before my eyes, and I feel like I won't get into Chamber again with my second audition chance this upcoming year of being a sophomore. Without Chamber, I feel like I won't be a great musician, a great music teacher, etc.

Worst part was that I saw my friends get in, I am happy from them, I am, but I just can't get over being jealous of not getting into a choir I wanted to get into while they did. I just feel like I'm not good enough then my friends, and my depression kicks in and causes more mental problems like self talk.

Am I being overdramatic over everything? Do I need to get into Chamber to be a good musician? I just need some advice to help.

OK so I do choir. I haven’t really sung a lot over the summer, and now that I’m back, I find that I’m unable to hit the high notes I used to be able to. I know damn well my voice didn’t change because I sound the exact same. What can I do to help me get my range back? I really need to be able to hit those high notes if I wanna place in state honors this year.

-SleepyChaos24-7

A long time member of my choir, now in their eighties is driving me crazy with their wobbly voice. Each note is a cluster of tones approximately correct but never quite achieves clarity and pitch. This throws off the section due the loud dominant voice. This individual is quite nice and a stalwart volunteer. I don't want to offend them but I also want to sing my part correctly.

The choir director is aware of the problem and has advised me to step away from them.

What advice to fix this problem?

Hi all, looking for a piece that might be out of print. Doesn't seem to be anywhere, but I also know that sometimes publishers will give people permission to copy out of print works.

The piece in question is Heleluyan arr. Jerry Ulrich. Anyone have any leads? Thanks in advance!

I did something amazing. I wrote a fantasy novel about a subject I have dedicated my life to, choral singing. It's a love letter to singing, harmony, and falling in love with what happens when 200 singers get on stage in united purpose. It's not all about that, but it certainly shapes the culture and magick system.

I had an international competition, where thousands of singers get together to hear the best singers in the world and I thought. "Boy, this must be the perfect time for me to get the word out about a book written about them, for them."

A week of ads on the Jumbotron flanking the stage, 30 seconds at a time, rotating between advertisements for voice lessons, charts, and barbershop swag….and about 10 sales.

This is a little bit of woe is me, but I was hoping for more. Surely singers would flock to one of their own creating something unique and—according to the reviews—very well written and reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson.

I'm aware that authors need delusions of grandeur in order to cross the finish line…but I was hoping it wouldn't be deflated. "If you build it, they will come."

I'll still keep writing in hopes that it takes off, but I just needed to rant for a minute. I won't link the book here, because this wasn't supposed to be an advertisement, but if you are interested feel free to DM me.

Hello,sorry as it’s my first time posting here and honestly,getting back to choir after Highschool lol (I’m 23M and was in choir for 7th-11th grade)

I actually funnily enough have the same director as my junior high as she lives in the area and directs for my church,but they started recently so I went to practice last week to see what’s up. I didn’t join in as I kinda just wanted to see what it was like first,and I noticed that there is literally only 1 middle aged guy and about 20 millennial and older woman there (not anybody my age or I would really see at my college as a student).Apparently though a good bit of them are reoccurring from other church choirs and such so they all read sheet music rather well and know the material already etc,but I am literally just starting out again basically with almost 0 memory of sheet music (I usually play guitar) and haven’t even been to church for a couple years or so

They sounded good in the practice session and after they finished I went up and just greeted my old director as I hadn’t seen her in a while and to ask her about practice,she asked why I just was sitting down outside mainly just listening and looking in and I just said I came late initially and didn’t want to interrupt (which was a lie to be fair,in church lol) but a few people over heard our talk and called me out on it like it was a big deal lol

Well I just said that it is scary because I am the only other guy there and no one else is my age even either out of like 20 people,but she reassured me it would get better and sent me a link to join the groupchat and such (She also told me that the guy there was just her husband anyway,so it kinda made me feel even worst)

Now I’m not sexist and I have female friends at school,work,wherever but I just have had this happen before in Highschool (which is also partly why I left) because while my voice is pretty flexible with tenor and soprano,that I usually get those sort of parts,but she was discussing more of a tenor/bass part as "we need bases really bad" she said,and I just don’t like being put into that sort of box just because I am a guy,and I wanted to do this more casually anyway as it was just my old director and a church choir I thought 😭

Sorry for kinda dumb story,but point is that practice was tonight and I didn’t go just because I felt really anxious about going and even worst because I don’t even believe it either at my church and I feel almost like some people will also judge me for that

I know this is all sort of "what could happen stuff" and I probably could still join as it’s only the 3rd practice,but I feel as tho if I’m going to be the only actual guy to stay for the whole thing then maybe it’s better just being a more older woman’s choir thing for people who are pretty serious about it and maybe this one is not for me

Just seeing if anyone else has even been there before or any input on if I’m being way too much in my head about this and should just try and see where it goes despite my fears

Edit:thanks everyone for the comments and support and advice,I really appreciate it and won’t let this be the end of my choir choir and see what kind of benefit I can still bring to it or even invite a few men too if I can and explore some other groups too :)