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University Choral Calendar
University Choir and University Singers
Prof. Stephen Coker, conductor
Hye-Young Kim, pianist
University Women's Choir
Keith Hancock, conductor
Lisa Kaminaga, pianist
2009-2010 Choral Calendar of Activities
Fall 2009
Aug. 27-29 - Auditions (10am-5pm, see Audition Info below)
Aug. 31 - First Day of Classes
Sept. 7 - No School (Labor Day)
Oct. 30-31, Nov. 1 - Opera Chapman
Nov. 6&7 - American Celebration (AMCEL), University Singers, Chapman Auditorium (TBD)
Nov. 20 - Dress Rehearsal for Fall Concert/Finale, All Faiths Chapel (Call 6pm)
Nov. 20 - Fall Concert, All Faiths Chapel (Perf. 8pm)
Nov. 26-29 - Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 1 - Christmas Performance (Singers), The Covington, Aliso Viejo (7-8pm)
Dec. 3 - Dress Rehearsal, Wassail, All Faiths Chapel (7-10:30pm)
Dec. 4&5 - Wassail, Beckman Hall/All Faiths Chapel (5:30-9:30pm)
Dec. 7 - Final Exam, BH 109 (4-6pm)
Interterm 2010
Jan. 2-3 - Return for tour rehearsals, Salmon Recital Hall (9am-4pm)
Jan. 4-15 - Pacific NW and California Tour
Spring 2010
Feb. 1 - First day of classes
Feb. 5 - Home Concert, Chapman Auditorium (Call 6:30pm, Perf. 8pm)
Feb. 19 - Invitational Chamber Choir Festival, Chapman Auditorium (3:30-10pm)
Mar. 3-6 - ACDA Western Regional Convention, Tucson, AZ
Mar. 5 - CCO/University Singers Joint Concert, St. John's Church (Call 5pm, Perf. 7pm)
Mar. 20 - Founders Day, Chapman Auditorium (Call 1pm, Perf. 1:30pm)
Mar. 19 - Invitational Concert Choir Festival, Chapman Auditorium (3:30-10pm)
Mar. 27-Apr. 4 - Spring Break
Apr. 23-25 - Opera Chapman, Chapman Auditorium
Apr. 30 - University Singers Spring Concert, Salmon Recital Hall (Call 6:30pm, Perf. 8pm)
May 8 - Sholund Scholarship Concert, Chapman Auditorium
May 14 - Women’s Choir Spring Concert, Salmon Recital Hall (Perf. 8pm)
May 17 - Final Exam
May 22 - Graduation
CHORAL AUDITIONS FOR 2009-2010
Hello, all, and thanks for your interest in the Chapman Choral Department. This is Stephen Coker, and I’m thrilled to be on board as a new faculty member of Chapman University and especially as its Director of Choral Activities, a department rich in tradition of fine choral music making. I look forward to an exciting year and to meeting all of you soon.
Below is information that should answer most all your questions about auditions for the choirs this year. We are pleased to have non-music majors join us as well as to greet our new and returning classes of music majors. For auditions, non-music majors need not necessarily have a prepared piece to sing, as prescribed below for the voice majors, but may simply sing the melody to “America, the Beautiful” without accompaniment in place of the prepared solo.
AUDITIONS HELD THURSDAY through SATURDAY, AUGUST 27-29,
10-NOON AND 2-5 P.M., in the
Shanley Choral Rehearsal Hall, Bertea Hall (BH) 109
A sign-up sheet will be posted on the Choral Studies Bulletin Board
just outside BH 126 by Wednesday, August 19.
If you plan to be part of any of Chapman University’s vocal ensembles, auditions for all NEW and RETURNING students will be held at these times. ALL NEW AND RETURNING SINGERS MUST AUDITION PRIOR TO THE FIRST CHOIR REHEARSAL August 31. Anyone having a significant problem scheduling an audition during the above times may contact Prof. Stephen Coker (coker@chapman.edu) to make other arrangements. Students from all disciplines are welcome to audition for Chapman’s Choral Ensembles:
Women’s Choir – Keith Hancock, conductor (Mon, 7:00pm-9:45pm)
University Choir – Stephen Coker, conductor (Mon/Weds, 4:00pm-6:00pm)
University Singers – Stephen Coker, conductor (Tues/Thurs, 2:30pm-4:00pm)
For descriptions of these choirs, please visit Performing Ensembles.
In keeping with Chapman tradition, the University Choir and the University Singers will tour c. Jan. 3-16 during the university’s Interterm, this year probably flying into Seattle and making their way back home via bus through Washington, Oregon, and California. This autumn semester, all choirs will sing the Fall Concert (Nov. 20) and the annual Holiday Wassail Concerts (December 4&5), both held on campus in the All Faiths Chapel. The University Singers will participate in the annual American Celebration, November 6 & 7 held in Chapman Auditorium, conducted and produced by Dean William Hall. In the spring, the Women’s Choir concert is scheduled for May 14. For the mixed choirs, such annual events such as the Post-Tour Concert (Feb. 5) and the Chapman Festivals (Feb 19 and March 19) will be held. Exciting details concerning the annual Sholund Concert featuring a major choral-orchestral work are still being discussed.
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Fill out a Choral Information Card prior to your audition - These cards will be available outside BH 109, the Choir Room, on the day of your audition. Arrive shortly before your audition time to accomplish this. |
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Prepared solo - Voice majors should prepare a work—an art song or aria--that best displays their voice’s color, control, size, range, etc. If you like, you may bring more than one selection in case the audition panel requests an alternate composition. Please bring your sheet music as an accompanist will be provided. Non-voice majors and non-music majors are not required to prepare a solo. Those opting not to sing a prepared work will be asked to sing the melody to “America, the Beautiful” without accompaniment. Sheet music for this will be provided. |
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Vocalize for Range - Five-note exercises will be demonstrated by the accompanist (5,4,3,2,1 or sol, fa, mi, re, do and 1,2,3,2,1 or do, re, mi, re, do). Sing these vocalises on any syllable/vowel/combination that you prefer. You may even change the vowels/syllables to your liking at any given point. You’ll repeat these exercises, ascending/descending by ½ steps and whole steps until the reasonable limits of your low and high ranges are reached. |
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Sight read - You will be asked to demonstrate your sight reading ability by performing one or more of the following: |
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a) a simple unaccompanied melody;
b) one part of a two-part composition—the other part will be played by the accompanist. In this exercise, the accompanist will be directed not to stop before the end, even if you make a mistake. In that case, find your place and resume singing;
c) 4-part chorale. In this exercise, all parts of the chorale will be played by the accompanist EXCEPT the part that you will be singing (S, A, T or B, according to your classification).
NOTE. Unless the sight reading example has text, you may choose a sight reading method that is easiest for you, that is, on “la,” solfege, numbers, whatever. Examples of the above will be posted outside the audition room. |
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Callback process for University Singers - After your audition, you may be invited, either in person or later by email, to be a part of the “callback” process to determine the personnel for the University Singers. Should you be invited to this, you will be given a moderately difficult melodic exercise to prepare to sing by yourself at the callback time, that being during the first rehearsal for the group, Tues., September 1, 2:30-4:00 pm in the Choir Room. Other things that will be done during the callback could include vocalization--both alone and with others, a foreign language diction check (repeating a spoken phrase in German or French, perhaps, and a brief discussion of the year’s events. |
That’s it. You’re done! Tentative rosters of the choirs will be posted (perhaps by email, but hard copy on the Choral Studies Bulletin Board for sure) hopefully by 5pm, Sunday evening, August 30 before classes begin the next morning.
The Choir Commandments
As a member of the University Choir, it is important that you abide by these simple rules:
- Arrive to choir rehearsals on time with all of your music and a pencil, and arrange your music in the rehearsal order indicated on the board.
- Please keep talking to a minimum during rehearsals. This is especially important so that our rehearsals are as efficient as possible.
- Attend your sectional rehearsals! Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your section leaders.
- Be respectful to your fellow singers in rehearsal. Please use encouraging language during rehearsals (including sectionals!) . . . no amount of talent affords the right to disrespect others.
- Arrive to concerts at the designated call time, dressed in the appropriate attire, with your black choir folder. There will be opportunities to purchase a black folder if you do not have one.
- Memorize your music on time (as prescribed by Dr. Coker). Yes, this means you should PRACTICE outside of choir rehearsals.
- Please inform Dr. Coker if you will be missing a rehearsal. He can be reached by email (coker@chapman.edu) or at (714) 744-2106. Three (3) or more unexcused absences will result in your dismissal from the ensemble.
- Please help with setting up and breaking down risers when asked to do so in rehearsals, at concert time, and on tour.
- You must turn in all of your music at the end of the school year. A fine will be added to your account for any missing music, and you may receive an incomplete in choir for failure to do this.
- Participate in the annual Wassail celebration as either a server or member of one of the various teams (i.e. wine and cheese, caroling, etc.)
- You must wear the proper concert attire at all performances.
- Men: Black Tails, white vest and white bow tie. BLACK SOCKS and black dress shoes. Please make sure these items are well maintained and presentable! Hair should be neat and out of your face.
- Women: Your NEW!! black choir dress, black nylons, and black closed-toe shoes (no pumps or open toes). HAIR MUST BE UP and out of your face. This does not include your standard ponytail . . . PLEASE take a few moments to do your hair nicely for each performance.
- Neither Men nor Women can wear perfume or jewelry. Remember that you will be standing close together for long periods of time, so PLEASE wear deodorant!
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