Call for Auditions: Professional Soprano Choral Section Lead

Call For Auditions: Professional Soprano Choral Section Lead

Do you love sacred choral music? Are you looking for a welcoming choral family? Do you have a heart for social justice? Are you looking for solo and small-ensemble singing opportunities? Met United could be your next musical home!

The Choir of Metropolitan United Church invites a professional soprano section lead to audition to join us as a staff ensemble member for the 2023-24 season. Our ideal candidate will have excellent skills as a choral singer and soloist, a good knowledge of performance practice and lyric diction, and will enjoy engaging with both amateur and professional singers, musically and socially.

The Met Choir sings Sunday morning services (rehearsal 10:00-10:30, service 11:00-12:15 approximately) from September to the end of June inclusive, and rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. during that time. In addition to the regular choral singing, there is frequent opportunity for leads to perform solo repertoire with keyboard or small ensemble accompaniment. Several additional seasonal services are included in the annual contract, including the December Lessons and Carols service (December 17, 2023, evening); Christmas Eve 11:00 p.m.; Good Friday morning (March 29, 2024); and one additional community-building, fundraising-style concert. Significant additional income is possible through extra services, concerts, weddings and funerals, which are remunerated separately at competitive rates. Sundays in July and August are sung by soloists, also paid above the base contract amount of approximately $7,600 per annum.

Audition Requirements

• One aria of your choice (please send a .pdf with your application–an accompanist will be provided);
• Some brief excerpts to sing at sight;
• Two prepared choral excerpts (click here for a .pdf):
  • J.S. Bach: Johannes-Passion, BWV 245, opening chorus: mm. 86-95. Tempo: quarter note ca. 72 bpm;
  • Amy Summers: Nunc dimittis: mm. 1-30, tempo quarter note ca. 84 bpm
• A brief interview with a small group that may include representatives of the choir’s volunteer and paid membership; the music committee; and the Minister of Music.

Interested candidates are requested to send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Minister of Music Dr. Jonathan Oldengarm at jonathano@metunited.ca. Auditions will take place on a rolling basis until the position is filled.