Auditions for UWCC are held in the first week of Term 1 of each academic year. The dates of this year's (2011) auditions are Tue 4th, Wed 5th and Thu 6th of October 2011: more information to follow nearer the time. The auditions will take place in the Ensemble Room of the Music Centre. The Music Centre can be accessed via Warwick Arts Centre: it is between the Arts Centre Conference Room and Eat restaurant and is clearly sign-posted. Below are a number of frequently asked questions and their answers:
Am I good enough to Audition?
Every year we get asked this same question. The most likely answer, if you have taken the time to find this information, is yes.
Entry into UWCC is competitive each year but do not be put off by this. We are not a choir with only 2 places per year and, if you meet the standard, then you are more likely than not to be let in. The auditions are not a test of experience, but potential, and so past experience of choral singing is NOT essential (although, desirable!).
What is the format of the auditions?
Please arrive 15 minutes early for your audition. You will be asked to register your details on the Music Centre system and fill in a short questionnaire detailing any experience you have.
The audition will consist of a range test followed by a short piece of sight-reading. This piece will be simple and in English. Every year a number of excellent singers get scared by this aspect and choose not to audition because of this element. They invariably regret this decision by Week 3 of Term 1 and end up auditioning the following year. The audition will last between 5 and 10 minutes.
How and when do I sign up for an audition?
Audition sheets will be placed in the Music Centre foyer from the Friday before the start of term and to audition all you need to do is sign-up for a slot on those sheets. You can sign up until the time of the last audition: but PLEASE do so as early as possible, because if you forget a year is a long time to wait.
The Music Centre can be accessed via Warwick Arts Centre: it is between the Arts Centre Conference Room and Eat restaurant and is clearly sign-posted.
I am a visiting student or wasn't at Warwick for the audition day, can I still join?
In the first instance, you should contact the Director of Music directly to discuss this; he can be contacted through the Music Centre office. If you were at Warwick on the audition day you are unlikely to be admitted. The Director of Music's decision is final in all matters of music.
When will I hear if I'm in?
Successful candidates are contacted as soon as possible after the decision is made. Depending on the level of competition this will either be on the day of the auditions or the following day before the first UWCC rehearsal which starts an hour earlier than usual at 16:00 on the first Thursday of term. The new rehearsal slot is Tuesday evenings from 17:00-19:00.
