North Shore Choral Society Auditions for Our 2020-2021 Season

Auditions for the 2020-2021 season will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, between 7 and 9:30 p.m., via Zoom. Our current membership is about 130 singers and our Music Director, Dr. Julia Davids, will accept new members that complement our current section balance. To audition, you must exhibit basic music literacy, including secure intonation, and a good quality tone. 

 Growing Musically as Individuals and as an Organization

While the COVID-19 pandemic means that we are unable to sing together in person, we are embarking on a time of substantive growth as individuals and as an organization. This fall we’ll focus on developing our voices with the guidance of Dr. Julia Davids, co-author of the book “Vocal Technique: A Guide to Classical and Contemporary Styles for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers” (2nd edition newly published in May of 2020.) In demand as a workshop leader throughout North America, Julia will unpack practical singing topics such as resonance, vowels, vibrato, range development and others. In addition, we’ll be learning about the history and development of Black choral music in America with special guest facilitators Dr. Thomas Jefferson from North Park University (Spirituals) and Dr. Marques Garrett from the University of Nebraska (Non-Idiomatic Black Choral Music), and of course, learning music together. The NSCS is a close-knit group of interesting people from all over the Chicago area.  Until such time that we can resume live rehearsals and performances, our rehearsals will be via Zoom, every Tuesday evening, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., beginning September 8th.
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Live rehearsals and performances will resume once Illinois moves to Phase 5 and it is safe for all participants to sing together, and / or when a safe and completely effective vaccine is available to each and every NSCS member.   When we are again able to rehearse in person, we will do so every Tuesday evening from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church (3637 Golf Road, Evanston).

Membership in NSCS

NSCS dues are $100 per year.  Music and reasonably priced uniform concert attire are also purchased be each NSCS member.  In a normal season – which this is not – NSCS performs at least three concerts as well as a Holiday Concert with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.  Attendance at rehearsals and participation in ALL concerts is an expectation of NSCS membership.  Our full Expectations Statement, for a normal season, is provided below.  We ask that you review it before scheduling an audition.  Given the current unprecedented times, it is entirely possible that expectations for Zoom rehearsals will be more flexible, but we share our Expectation Statement for a normal season because our hope is that each new NSCS members becomes a long-term NSCS member, with many normal seasons ahead.
 
If, after reviewing the Expectation Statement, you want to schedule an audition, follow the link below and fill out the Audition Form, including information about what voice part you sing (Sop I, Sop II, Alto I, Alto II, Tenor I, Tenor II, Baritone or Bass) and any previous singing experience.  We will get back to you with an assigned Zoom audition slot for September 1, 2020.

To schedule an audition, please click here. 

Expectations of NSCS Members 

The North Shore Choral Society strives to provide our audiences and members with outstanding musical experiences. By accepting membership in NSCS you are agreeing to do your best to attend all rehearsals on time and in their entirety and to participate in all performances. This allows us to support each other and to perform to the best of our abilities. We do understand that there will be occasional conflicts with rehearsals and possibly even with a performance. Early communication about conflicts is essential. While you may feel that your absence will not harm the ensemble, NSCS is a team and we need all singers to be fully committed to the organization.