Audition Process
Competitive auditions for admission in the fall of 2008 academic year will be held in Chicago on Monday, March 3, 2008 at the Chicago Youth Orchestra rehearsal hall from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in Philadelphia at AVA on March 17 and 18, 2008. Final Auditions will be held on March 19, 2008 at AVA.
Videotaped audition
Applicants may submit a videotape of the required audition repertoire in lieu of
a live audition. All applications, fees, and videotapes must be received by a
date to be announced. Videotaped auditions will be reviewed by the executive
director, music director, and musical staff. Applicants will be notified in
advance regarding their eligibility for the finals in Philadelphia on a date to
be announced. Pre-screened video applicants who advance to the finals must
perform in person for the members of the faculty on a date to be announced
in Philadelphia. If you are auditioning live, either in Philadelphia or Chicago,
DO NOT send a video or audio tape.
Live audition
Preliminary competitive auditions will be held in Chicago on March 3, 2008, and
in Philadelphia at The Academy of Vocal Arts on March 17 and 18, 2008. All live
preliminary auditions will be videotaped. Finalists selected from the
Philadelphia preliminary auditions will be notified that day, and should
herefore plan to remain in Philadelphia through the date of the final audition
on March 19, 2008. Applicants auditioning in Chicago will not be required to
attend the finals in Philadelphia. Acceptance into AVA will be based upon the
videotape of the live audition. Applicants will be notified after the finals in
Philadelphia on March 19, 2008.
Final audition
Final auditions will take place in Philadelphia on March 19, 2008 at The Academy
of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please see
application form [148K PDF] for audition locations and
dates, and indicate preferred audition date.
Applicants must be prepared to sing five opera arias in contrasting styles and languages. At the audition, the applicant chooses an aria to sing, and the panel may choose an additional aria (or arias). Five copies of the list of arias should be provided at the time of the audition. The audition panel consists of the executive director, music director, all voice instructors and vocal coaches, or any combination of above.
The Academy provides an accompanist, but applicants are permitted to bring their own. The applicant must supply the appropriate scores at the time of audition.
Applicants may warm up for 30 minutes in a practice room before their auditions. If an applicant is late for the scheduled audition, the panel will decide whether or not to hear the audition. The panel is not obliged to hear all the music that an applicant may have prepared or to give an audition evaluation.
Applicants will be notified by mail of the status of their application within a few weeks following the audition.
