Tabernacle-Choir-
The Tabernacle Choir sings during the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Scott G Winterton, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.
This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Christine Rappleye, Church News
The application and audition process for the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will open this year Thursday, June 1, and close on Tuesday, August 15. The link and application guide will be available on the choir’s website at TheTabernacleChoir.org starting June 1.
The all-volunteer Tabernacle Choir performs in about 75 scheduled performances each year, including the weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” live broadcast and other concerts, tours and recordings. They dedicate five to 20 hours a week for this volunteer musical service.
The annual four-phase application and audition process stretches over nine months, and auditions are usually open for all voice parts, according to the choir’s website.
Membership criteria includes being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing, residing within 100 miles of the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and be between 25 and 55 years old on April 30, 2024.
The audition process includes:
- The first phase is submitting the electronic application, including a digital photo and digital voice recording, during the June 1 through August 15 application period on the choir’s website. A recommendation from a local Church leader will be requested after the application is submitted. Those who advance to the next phase will be notified by email in early September.
- The second phase is a 2½-hour musical skills and aural assessment to measure musical ability and aptitude. It’s usually on a Saturday in mid-September, and those with acceptable scores (usually 80 percent or better) advance to the next phase.
- The third phase is an in-person interview and audition. The interview is with the choir president, and the audition is with the choir’s music director and associate music director, and includes solo singing, vocal range testing and sight reading. The in-person interviews and auditions are usually in mid-October, with results sent by mid-November.
- Those in the fourth phase are invited to participate in Choir School and the Chorale at Temple Square. The 16-week training is on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and applicants commit to 100 percent attendance over the four-month period. It culminates in a concert by the Chorale at Temple Square with the Orchestra at Temple Square. More about the Choir School and Chorale at Temple Square is available on the Tabernacle Choir’s website.
After the Chorale at Temple Square concert and passing the Choir School final exam, participants will become members of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
For more information about applying and auditioning for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, see the choir’s blog post “Upcoming Choir Audition and Application Information.”
Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.