Professional Choristers (regulars, subs, extras) Church of the Ascension

Chicago’s Church of the Ascension is auditioning all voice parts for its professional choir for the 2017-2018 season. Those auditioning will be considered for regular positions as well as a place on the sub/extra list.

Ascension is an Anglo-Catholic parish, and the 11:00 AM Solemn High Mass features the Gregorian minor propers chanted by the tenors and basses, a choral Mass Ordinary, and solos, anthems, motets, and congregational singing appropriate to the day.
(Visit http://www.ascensionchicago.org/music/music-list-2016-2017 for our 2016-2017 repertoire.)

Tenors and basses are generally called at 9:00 on Sunday morning to rehearse the chant, and are paid $85. Sopranos and altos are generally called at 9:15, and are paid $80. There are no regular mid-week rehearsals. Major holy days, substantial solos, significantly longer calls, and any special rehearsals are paid extra. There are also additional calls for Choral Evensong, Lessons & Carols, and selected feasts, which are paid according to this system.

Tenors and basses chant year-round, while the full choir sings from Michaelmas (transferred in 2017 to October 1st) through Corpus Christi (transferred in 2018 to June 3rd). There are occasional soprano/alto-only or tenor/bass-only Masses, depending on repertoire.

The ideal singer is:
-a capable soloist
-an experienced ensemble singer
-comfortable adapting vocal color and style to the period and to his/her section
-a self-sufficient musician and quick learner
-willing and able to sing one-per-part when required
-happily flexible
-a good and friendly colleague
-respectful of the religious context
-available for the vast majority of all calls, including Christmas Eve, Holy Week, Easter, etc.

Singers are sent scores and detailed information in advance (via email), and are expected to come prepared. Each person is expected to know his/her skills, and to spend as much time in preparation as necessary. Excellent sight-readers will spend much less time in preparation than average sight-readers, but the standard once we assemble for rehearsal is the same for all.

I hope you will consider joining us as we strive to maintain the excellence for which our choir is known, in service of God and the parish. If you are interested in auditioning, please complete the following survey and I will get back to you with some possible audition times:
https://goo.gl/forms/W7tguMvrOU48kJwH2

Benjamin Rivera, DMA
Music Director and Choirmaster
Church of the Ascension, Episcopal
1133 N LaSalle Blvd, Chicago (one block from the Red Line; free parking available)
http://www.ascensionchicago.org
www.benjamin-rivera.com