OBF Chorus

OBF Chorus

The OBF Chorus is made up of professional singers from all over the United States. Chorus members are compensated for their work during the Festival and receive room and board during their stay. Auditions are judged against the standard of the chorus and those deemed of the quality required are added to the list of potential singers for future openings. 

Please note, we are not accepting auditions for the 2024 Season as all spot are filled. If you want to add your name to our OBF Chorus Audition Interest list, please email Barbara Harris at bharris7@uoregon.edu

Audition Information

Auditions are submitted via online Slideroom and there is no cost to audition. The application procedures include submission of the following materials:

• A recorded audition of the material listed below.
• A resume listing your education, training, and pertinent professional solo and choral experiences.
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses for three professional references.
• One letter of recommendation, submitted through the audition portal.

Non-US citizens please note: OBF is not able to assist non-US citizens in obtaining visas to enter the USA for the purpose of singing in the OBF Chorus. If you wish to audition, you must have a visa, green card, or other form of U.S. work permit valid for the duration of Oregon Bach Festival

We are interested in the ability of each singer to keep vibrato under control at all volume levels, particularly in high voices. Please keep this in mind as you prepare your performance. Note that a total of 3 files may be uploaded on the audition site, so plan and label your recordings accordingly. On each recording please identify yourself and the part for which you are auditioning (e.g., soprano 1, tenor 2).

We recommend delineating the recordings as follows:

1. A piano-accompanied solo of your own choice, as listed below in Audition Requirements #1.
2. Your voice part to the “cum sancto spiritu” fugue from the Bach Mass in B Minor, as listed below in Audition Requirements #2.
3. German text selection and vocal exercises 4 – 6, as listed below in Audition Requirements #3-6.

Requirements:

1. A piano-accompanied solo of your own choice, preferably sostenuto. The purpose of this is to hear your voice with music that you feel comfortable with, and that will illustrate the quality of your voice.

2. Your voice part to the “cum sancto spiritu” fugue from the Bach Mass in B Minor (mm. 37-63, Bärenreiter measure numbering), with accompaniment. The purpose of this exercise is to determine your flexibility at a very fast tempo. Please sing the passage as close to quarter note=110 as you can. All sopranos should do soprano 1. Those wishing to be considered for soprano 2 should also perform that part.

3. Read aloud the following German text:

Zwar ist solche Herzensstube wohl kein schöner Fürstensaal, sondern eine finstre Grube; doch sobald dein Gnadenstrahl in denselben nur wird blinken, wird es voller Sonnen dünken.

4. Sing exercise #1 on “ah” (no initial consonants) in the following ways. You may repeat individual exercises if you wish.

5. Sing exercise #2 on “ah,” beginning in the middle of your range. Repeat the exercise, each time a half step higher, until you have reached the upper limit of your useful range. Please announce at the beginning the key you are starting in.

6. Sing exercise #3 on whatever vowel you wish, starting in the middle of your range, at the same tempo as exercise #2. Repeat the exercise, each time a half step lower, until you have reached the lower limit of your useful range. Please announce at the beginning the key you are starting in.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

If you have questions, contact  obfchorus@uoregon.edu.