Chorus Auditions (25/26 Season)

Stagetime Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The San Francisco Symphony Chorus invites auditions for the 2025-26 season. Audition sign-ups are part of a staged process beginning with prescreening recordings, followed by in-person evaluations with the Chorus Director and a guest adjudicator.

Excerpts from Brahms, Fauré, Handel, and Mozart may be requested, with ensemble work in SATB quartets considered. Paid positions are available for 32 chorus members for rehearsals and performances under AGMA terms.

Qualifications

• A trained voice of solo quality.
• Vocal maturity, color, range and flexibility.
• Excellent reading ability and musicianship.
• Language experience in English, Latin, German, and French.
• Continued growth and training.
• Punctuality and discipline.
• Ability to control vibrato, i.e. to employ as needed.
• Ability to sing out, not subdued.
• A singer does not need to be a current member of AGMA to audition for an AGMA position, but acceptance of a paid position will require the singer to become a member of AGMA. A resume will be required.

Responsibilities

• Submit a prescreen recording if you have not auditioned for SFSC previously.
• Attend Phase II audition with Chorus Director and adjudicator.
• Perform contrasting works, sight-read, and sing excerpts as listed.
• Demonstrate range through vocalizes and ensemble singing in SATB format.

Skills

Vocal quality

Sight-reading

Musicianship

English

Latin

German

French

Punctuality

Job description

The San Francisco Symphony Chorus Staff will hear auditions in April & May for the San Francisco Symphony Chorus' 2025-26 season.

By agreement between the San Francisco Symphony and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), in 2025-26, 32 members of the Symphony Chorus will be paid for rehearsals and performances.

Qualifications of an AGMA Chorister include:

• A trained voice of solo quality.
• Vocal maturity, color, range and flexibility.
• Excellent reading ability and musicianship.
• Language experience in English, Latin, German, and French.
• Continued growth and training.
• Punctuality and discipline.
• Ability to control vibrato, i.e. to employ as needed.
• Ability to sing out, not subdued.
• A singer does not need to be a current member of AGMA to audition for an AGMA position, but acceptance of a paid position will require the singer to become a member of AGMA. A resume will be required.

AGM Audition Procedure

Phase I - Prescreening (for new auditionees)

For those who have not auditioned for the SFSC previously, we require you to submit an excerpt for prescreening. Please submit a recording of yourself performing a selection of your choosing. The recording can be accompanied or unaccompanied. If you pass this prescreen, you will be invited to audition in person.

Phase II - Singing for Chorus Director Jenny Wong & Guest Adjudicator

1. Perform one to two contrasting works or excerpts of your choosing.
2. Sight reading a choral excerpt
3. Perform one or more of the following excerpts:
   • BRAHMS Ein deutsches Requiem, "Wie Lieblich," 50-53
   • FAURÉ Requiem, "Offertoire," pgs 20-23 (in Latin)
   • HANDEL Messiah, "And He shall purify," bars 25-51
   • MOZART Ave verum corpus, complete
4. Vocalize to demonstrate range

N.B. For the 2025-26 auditions, excerpts will be performed in SATB quartets, consisting of a mix of current regular SFSC AGMA choristers, current substitute SFSC AGMA choristers and new auditionees. Individuals will sign-up for a thirty-minute audition slot with three others. Each will perform the first two components of the audition alone before all four will join together for the excerpts. This format will allow the panel to judge your ensemble skills. Ultimately, though, each singer’s eligibility will be evaluated individually.