Auditions
Audition applications for 2027-28 Season open on November 30.
Founded in 1961, the San Diego Master Chorale is a 130 voice chorus of San Diego County residents. The SD Master Chorale is a hybrid choir made up of primarily Volunteer Singers and a paid core of Staff Singers. Repertoire performed by the Chorale spans from symphonic to chamber works, sacred music to Broadway, and masterworks to contemporary choral works.
The SD Master Chorale will hold auditions for new singers in San Diego for the 2027-28 Season in February 2027. Audition applications for both Volunteer Singers and paid Staff Singers for all sections is now open.
Please review the following Audition FAQs for information about becoming a Chorale member.
Audition Timeline
Audition Schedule for the 2027-28 Season:
- Applications from all sections will be accepted for both Volunteer and paid Staff Singer positions.
- Application Deadline: January 8, 2027
- Pre-Screen Materials: January 8, 2027
- Audition Dates: February 6, 7, 8, & 15, 2027 in San Diego, California.
Please review the sections below for full instructions, repertoire excerpts, and expectations.
Volunteer Singers
Volunteer Singer Auditions will include the following components to evaluate vocal technique, musicianship, and preparation:
- One song or aria of your choice, not to exceed three minutes. Please provide a hard copy of the sheet music for the accompanist.
- Short sight-singing exercise(s) upon request.
- Short tonal memory exercise(s) upon request.
- A prepared excerpt, which will be added here in November.
Paid Singers
Paid Singer Auditions will include the following components to evaluate vocal technique, musicianship, and preparation:
- One song or aria of your choice, not to exceed three minutes. Please provide a hard copy of the sheet music for the accompanist.
- Short sight-singing exercise(s) upon request.
- Short tonal memory exercise(s) upon request.
- Prepared excerpts, which will be added here in November.
- Recite a short excerpt in a foreign language at sight, including English, German, French, Latin, and Italian upon request.
Audition FAQs
To be considered for an audition in the future, please send an email with your contact information to auditions@sdmasterchorale.org. And thank you for your interest in joining the SD Master Chorale!
Weekly rehearsals are typically held Monday evenings from 7-9:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley. There will be additional rehearsals during the week preceding each concert, and sectional rehearsals may be scheduled, as needed.
Yes, you must be 18 years or older.
In addition to your initial audition, all members of the Chorale are re-auditioned on a regular basis, generally every two years. An individual may also be asked to re-audition if they miss one or more entire concert sets.
Concert week rehearsals are mandatory and the maximum number of missed rehearsals for any concert is two. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Music Director, but only with advance notice.
Practicing difficult or assigned passages between rehearsals is an essential duty of all singers. The Music Director may assign musical checkpoints and evaluate your individual preparedness on assigned portions of the score.
We have two sets of concert attire, one for formal concerts and one for informal concerts.
Yes, Chorale members are required to pay annual dues each year. Dues waivers are available for any singer for whom this may be a financial hardship.
The musical success of the organization depends upon your dedication to the ensemble and sense of workmanship with the scores. When a singer accepts an offer of Chorale membership, it implies a desire to collaborate with the musical staff and fellow singers in the spirit of cooperation necessary to meet the standards set by the Music Director, professional orchestras, and conductors with whom the Chorale often joins forces.
The Chorale’s Paid Staff Singers draw upon San Diego residents who are experienced professionals or emerging, highly trained singers who are interested in singing in a choral setting and taking on a leadership role within the Chorale. If you would like to audition as a Paid Staff Singer in the Chorale, please indicate on the Audition Request Form that you are interested in auditioning as a Paid Staff Singer.