Betsy Weber hopes to hear a few good voices this summer.

The University of Houston’s associate director of choral studies began conducting auditions for the UH Concert Chorale and Concert Women’s Chorus on Wednesday. These try-outs will continue throughout the summer.

Weber said that only students are eligible to audition for the Concert Chorale, but nonstudents may participate for the Concert Women’s Chorus as well as the two nonauditioned university choruses, the University Women’s Chorus and the University Men’s Chorus.

Auditions will consist of vocalizing, tonal memory drills, sightsinging and a prepared solo. A pianist will be available during all auditions.

“We at the Moores School of Music (MSM) believe anyone can sing,” Weber said. “We also believe that UH has an ensemble that will fit anyone’s talent level. Many singers start out in the nonauditioned groups. After they sing in either of these groups for a semester or two, they often are ready to move to the next level.”

Weber added that UH faculty and staff, as well as members of the local community are eligible to participate in the nonauditioned groups, but must enroll through the MSM’s Preparatory and Continuing Studies.

“Being in a chorus helps people discover the joy of singing,” she said. “It also puts people in touch with the great musical masterworks of all time. All our groups perform important repertoire. Most people never get the chance to perform classics with an orchestra the way our students do. Our students sometimes call this experience, ‘life changing,’ and it really is.”

For more details on this summer’s auditions, contact Betsy Weber at bweber@mail.uh.edu or at (713) 743-3194.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu