Concordia's National Honor Choir
Each year, the best high school vocalists from around the country audition to be a part of Concordia’s National Honor Choir. In their time on campus, students selected to participate work with Concordia's music department students and faculty in clinics and rehearsals. They receive a full day of high energy, focused rehearsing and acclaimed performances. Any high school choir students are encouraged to audition! For those selected to participate, a $45 registration fee applies and covers event costs, lunch on Friday and an Honor Choir t-shirt. Additionally, participants traveling from a distance may request overnight housing in the dorms with CUNE student hosts.
Applications and video auditions are due October 2.
Schedule
Check-in at 8:30 a.m.
Rehearsal, lunch, rehearsal
4:30 p.m. concert at St. John Lutheran Church
Audition Instructions
Make a video recording including the following, in this order:
- State your name, current grade level and the name of the school you attend. (Please make sure we can hear you!)
- Demonstrate your vocal range by singing a series of scales.
- Start in the middle of your range and sing a five‐note ascending/descending pattern. Move your starting note up a half step and sing the pattern again. Repeat and go as high as you can.
- Start again in the middle of your range and sing a five‐note descending/ascending pattern. Move your starting note a half step lower and sing the pattern again. Continue as low as you can go.
- Sing (a cappella) the first stanza of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”:
My country, ' tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring!
FAQs
We welcome – and encourage ‐‐ auditions for choir and band from high school level students (freshman through senior) from any public, private or home school.
Absolutely! Just make sure you complete an application and submit a video for each ensemble for which you’d like to audition. Please clearly state your name, grade level and high school at the beginning of each video.
If it’s helpful to start your scales by playing a note on the piano, feel free! Excerpts from solos or etudes can also be accompanied – just make sure we can hear you on the video and not just the piano. For vocal auditions, the stanza of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” should be unaccompanied. If you’d like to sing a short excerpt from an additional song with accompaniment, you may... but again, be sure we can hear your voice clearly and not just the piano! Your audition should not include video of you playing/singing in an ensemble.
Give it your best shot! Your school ensemble director, lesson teacher or church musician can also be a great resource if you have any questions about what to do for your audition or how best to prepare. And you can always email music@cune.edu with your questions, too.
Auditions and applications will be reviewed in the first week of October and results sent via email by October 12. Make sure you include your correct contact information on your application form so we can reach you! Those selected for the ensembles MUST confirm their participation. An online confirmation form will be with the audition results.