Audition Guidelines for Singers

1. Use arias from the standard repertoire. Arias should only be 3 to 4 min.
2. Use arias appropriate to your voice type.
3. The arias should contrast in mood and style.
4. Do not use arias that are new to you.
5. Only use arias that display your abilities and that are completely comfortable.
6. Consider the difficulty of the accompaniment.
7. Make sure the entire role from which the aria is taken is vocally suitable.
8. Attempt to sing an aria from the company repertory.
9. Have on you everything you sing well (as well as the number of arias needed).
10. Bring extra photos, resumes.
11. Have something in English.
12. Have a Musical Theater piece
13. Avoid traps. Ex. the audition panel has you sing something you have never seen.
14. No show is a no no. They keep records.
15. Do not sing if you are sick. Call/email and cancel.


When they call your name . . .

1. You are “on” when you step in the room.
2. Give the pianist your music, Give instruction only if they ask. Do not conduct.
3. Say you name loudly and state what you will sing.
4. Never say “First I would like to sing”. They might not hear a second.
5. Sing your tempo.
6. Know what you are singing and who is on stage with you during the opera. Be specific with gestures and never perform a half gesture.
7. Never outwardly comment on your performance. If they cut you off mid-aria do not make a facial expression of disappointment etc. you might have won the role and they don’t need to hear anymore!
8. When they say “Thank-you” the audition is over. Return the gesture by saying
“Thank-you” back to them.
9. There is rarely any correlation between how you thought it went and whether you were successful.

How to prepare your music.

1. Have an audition binder with your repertoire.
2. Have clean copies, double sided. mark all cuts, cleanly whole punched, all the notes must be on the page.
3. Block cuts out completely with a piece of paper taped (not stapled) to the page.
4. Do not use transparent folders as this causes glare and static.


What are they looking for?

1. Vocal Health
2. Your ability to create a mood and character.
3. Whether you can move on stage.
4. Authority on stage
5. Pizzaz.

What goes on a resume?

1. The truth.
2. Name, email. phone number, alt phone number
3. Vital stats
4. Opera experience

Roles

Count Almaviva LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Opera Toronto 2009
Sid ALBERT HERRING Fresno Grand Opera 2008

Representative roles

Taddeo ITLAIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS

Oratorio

Jesus ST. MATTHEW PASSION Fresno State 2009

Education

Bachelor of Arts, music FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY 2009

Special Awards

Singer of the World BIGTIME VOCAL COMPETITION 1999

Special Skills

Teachers and Master classes


Advice to remember:

1. An audition is a business transaction.
2. The audition panel is made up of real people and they genuinely want you to do well.