Katy Green

Saturday, March 7th 9:45am

We are in the midst of a long-overdue effort to increase diverse representation in choirs across America. Yet, there is an area in our field that continues to be overlooked: the audition process. And in many ways, that’s completely understandable- auditions were never designed with inclusion in mind. In fact, they often do the opposite.

So, how can we build on the progress we’ve made and work to increase diverse representation in our select, auditioned choirs- whether in schools, universities, or at the regional, state, and national honor choir levels?

This session will examine frequently assessed audition criteria and propose adaptations for a more equitable audition process. These adaptations aim to enhance representation in select choral ensembles by identifying and exploring processes to mitigate implicit bias and more intentionally embrace the rich contributions of musicians from varied educational and cultural backgrounds. Examples of audition content and rubrics will be provided for session attendees.

Although auditions were never designed to be inherently inclusive, that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to make them more equitable. Together, we can implement audition criteria that affirm, welcome, and celebrate the wide spectrum of musical aesthetics and lived experiences that our prospective musicians bring to the table, and ideally, to our choral ensembles.