S. Bennerstrom, Nether Land 19
Join Our Musical
Community!
If you are a singer, consider joining Whatcom Chorale. Chorale is always looking for dedicated singers to join our ranks! Audition dates for our 2023–2024 season will be announced as soon as possible. The chorale sings diverse music at each concert, and the selections are always challenging and exciting to perform for our enthusiastic audience. Our members are fun, hardworking singers who get their reward by performing at the top of their game. We welcome new members!
Audition and Time Requirements of Members
To become a member, all new members must complete an audition process. If accepted, you agree to meet the membership requirements. The chorale meets for rehearsal on Tuesday evenings during the concert season (September through June). Rehearsals are from 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, on Walnut Street in Bellingham, Washington. There are no rehearsals during the summer. All members are expected to regularly attend most rehearsals. Concerts are given three or more times yearly, as determined by the Artistic Director and with board approval. Singing is a full-season commitment; it is expected that once accepted into the chorale you will participate in all the season’s major performances.
Whatcom Chorale, its Board, and the Artistic Director are dedicated to giving singers what they need to succeed and grow as both singers and members of Whatcom Chorale, and they expect the same in return from all members. We work and sing hard and are looking for people who want to be a part of a fun group of people focused on the music and the friendships that arise from making music together.
The next opportunity to audition as a prospective new Chorale member will be in September 2023. All auditions are also held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. For your audition, prepare a song to perform for the Artistic Director and other representatives of Whatcom Chorale. There will be a piano accompanist available for your use. Please bring a photocopy of your piece for their reference. The Artistic Director may also assess your sight-reading skills and vocal range as part of the audition.
To schedule an audition appointment:
Contact registrar Kristi Champagne, kfchampagne@gmail.com, (360) 595-8345.
Tuition
Members pay an annual tuition of $200 to sing with Whatcom Chorale. Tuition can be paid in full by September 30th, or in installments, by arrangement with the registrar, over the course of the singing year. Part of tuition is used to purchase music, which becomes a part of the chorale library; the remainder helps to fund concerts and rehearsal space, accompanist, and artistic director salaries.
Tuition of $200 covers the entire singing season. Singers joining in September commit to the full season to ensure unity of sound and balance between sections. For singers joining the Chorale in January, tuition is $140 for the two remaining quarters. Those joining the chorale in March pay $70 for the single remaining quarter.
Partial scholarships are available, as the Board intends that no eligible member be turned away because of financial hardship. Members may ask the registrar privately about scholarship tuition reductions.
Photo: Holly Zwolinski