CAN YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF ON THIS SIDE OF THE PODIUM?

CONSIDER AUDITIONING FOR THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CHORUS

ABOUT THE

CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA AND

BLOSSOM FESTIVAL  CHORUSES

The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus is one of the few professionally trained, all-volunteer choruses sponsored by a major American orchestra. In addition to performing with The Cleveland Orchestra in concerts at Severance Hall each season, the Chorus has appeared with the Orchestra on tour in Boston, Brussels, Edinburgh, Frankfurt,  London, Lucerne, Luxembourg, Miami, Paris, and New York, as well as on television and in numerous recordings. The Chorus has also toured on its own, either a cappella or with other ensembles, to the Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Chautauqua Institution in New York; and to venues in England, Wales, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.

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Cleveland Orchestra Chorus members hail from nearly 50 northeast Ohio communities. Together, the group’s 130 members volunteer more than 30,000 hours annually, through rehearsals and performances. They also raise money for their tours through a variety of projects and events.

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Blossom Festival Chorus

The Cleveland Orchestra opened Blossom Music Center in 1968 to serve as the orchestra’s summer home.  A large new volunteer chorus was assembled for the inaugural concert and included many members of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and members of other Northeast Ohio choral groups.  The Blossom Festival Chorus has since established itself as a permanent and beloved annual part of the Blossom Festival and has sung well over 100 concerts since its 1968 debut.

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In addition to their annual summer performances, the Blossom Festival Chorus joins the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus at Severance Hall every December for Christmas concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra. They have also performed at Chautauqua and on Cleveland's Public Square for the annual Fourth of July concerts.

AUDITIONS

Live performances for the summer and fall of 2020 have been cancelled due to the pandemic. However, ​​​there are plans for the COC to participate in virtual projects this fall.  Decisions will be made for spring 2021 as we receive updated information about the status of the pandemic.

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Auditions for the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus were held by video submission in September. If you would like to be notified when auditions are open again for either chorus, you can sign up here.

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In the meantime, here's what you can expect the audition process to be like.

COC auditionees are typically asked to complete the following:

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• Complete an online application.

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• Sing two solo prepared pieces (Blossom Chorus auditionees are required to sing only one solo). Repertoire may be art song, aria, or Broadway. At least one of the two prepared solos must be in French, German or Italian.

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• Sing an excerpt from an upcoming major work, selected by the Director.

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• Upload videos for the directors to view (as long as we are unable to meet in person). 

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• Attend a virtual 10-minute interview with the directors.

MEET OUR DIRECTORS

Lisa Wong

Director of Choruses

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Lisa Wong was appointed Director of Choruses for The Cleveland Orchestra in May 2018, after serving as Acting Director throughout the 2017-18 season. 

In addition to her duties at Severance Hall, she is a faculty member at the College of Wooster, where she conducts the Wooster Chorus and the Wooster Singers and teaches courses in conducting and music education. Ms. Wong holds a bachelor of science degree in music education from West Chester University, as well as master of music and doctor of music degrees in choral conducting from Indiana University.

Daniel Singer

Assistant Director of Choruses

Director, Youth Chorus

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Daniel Singer joined the choral conducting staff of the Cleveland Orchestra in 2012 as assistant director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. He was promoted to assistant director of choruses and director of the Youth Chorus with the start of the 2018-19 season.

Mr. Singer holds degrees in music education and conducting from Northwestern University and Michigan State University.