The Boston Symphony Orchestra invites singers to audition for the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

Audition timeline

• Wednesday, July 17, at 11:59pm: Deadline to submit online application and audio/video recording (details below)
• Wednesday, July 31: Notification of invitation to in-person audition
• Wednesday, August 14: In-person audition at Symphony Hall

Audio/Video Recording details

Please video record yourself singing a classical piece of your choosing which best shows off your vocal talents, your vocal range and your musicality. The piece should fit one of the following categories: art song, opera aria, solo aria from an oratorio or classical piece, or an extract from a choral work in which your voice part is prominent or frequently used. (Given that the chorus mainly performs classical repertory, please note that songs from the American Songbook, folk songs, or Musical Theatre numbers are not permitted for this audition. If you are unsure about your choice, please email to ask for advice.)

• The piece should be sung in any one of the following languages: English, French, German, Italian or Latin.
• The recording should last around 3 minutes.
• It may be a cappella or accompanied.
• Please sing straight through the piece. No postproduction editing (including modifying the reverberation) should be used on the recording. A recording on a smart phone is acceptable.
• Please label your recording "Last Name_First Name_August2024" and use the subject line "August 2024 TFC Audition" when submitting to tfc@bso.org.
• Please submit by no later than 11:59pm Wednesday, July 17, 2024 to tfc@bso.org.

Candidates selected for an in-person audition will be notified following submission to confirm an audition time at Symphony Hall. Candidates are asked to comply with the BSO’s safety protocols. Please note that filling out the application form does not guarantee an in-person audition, as there is a limited number of audition slots.

The in-person audition will last approximately 10 minutes and consist of:

• A prepared excerpt - Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (b. 86-153) from Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, movement IV.
• The excerpt should be prepared to be sung in German. An audio pronunciation guide will provided, along with a PDF of the vocal score.
• Sight reading and aural tests.
• Vocal exercises.

Singers accepted as new members will be invited to participate in the upcoming 2024-2025 BSO Symphony Season, 2024 Holiday Pops season, as well as the Tanglewood 2025 Season. Rehearsals begin in September 2024 with performances scheduled for:

• 2024-2025 BSO Symphony season (September 2024-May 2025)
  • October 4, 5, and 6: MAHLER Symphony No. 8
  • January 23, 24, and 25: BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9
  • January 30 and February 1: KORNGOLD Die tote Stadt
  • March 27, 28, and 29: MOZART Requiem
  • April 26 and 27: VREBALOV New Commission, STRAVINSKY Symphony of Psalms
• 2024 Holiday Pops (December 2024)
  • December 5-24
• 2025 Tanglewood season (July-August 2025)

Future Auditions: If you are interested in auditioning for the chorus but can’t make it this time around, please email us at tfc@bso.org and you will be notified when applications are open again.