Open Auditions for All Voice Parts Begin January 31

JANUARY 10, 2024 -  The award-winning San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International will host open auditions on Wednesday, January 31st from 6:45 PM - 9:45 PM.  The chorus performs 4-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style.

The event, which will be hosted in Room #207 of the Casa Del Prado Building in Balboa Park, offers an overview of the audition and membership pathway. Women and non-binary treble singers of all musical backgrounds are welcome. Interested singers are encouraged to RSVP to reserve a spot.
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​Guests are invited to participate immediately in the Chorus warmup and rehearsal process. The interactive evening sometimes includes a private vocal assessment, a brief performance and an educational breakout session. Visitors receive details about the year-round soft audition process, membership, and history about the San Diego Chorus and Sweet Adelines International. Singers who successfully complete the audition process are paired with a chorus mentor and have the support of a year-long Rookie program designed to help singers build relationships and navigate their first year of membership.

Watch this video to know what to expect when you visit during an Open House.

Singers rehearse midweek in the Casa Del Prado Room #207 of Balboa Park.

The San Diego Chorus offers a year-round, self-paced "soft" audition process.

"The San Diego Chorus provides musical education, coaching and skill development that helps singers grow as musicians, performers and competitors," says Musical Director Kathleen Hansen. "We continuously strive to improve our contest program and expand our repertoire in preparation for upcoming performances."

The organization was awarded 2nd place in March of 2023 at the Region 21 Contest. This score earned them 2nd place and merited a Wild Card Invitation from parent organization Sweet Adelines International. The Chorus is currently ranked 5th worldwide and will compete on the International Stage in October of 2024. The event will be hosted in Kansas City, and features an adjudicated contest for both quartets and choruses. A recent order of performance announcement from Sweet Adelines International revealed that the San Diego Chorus will be the first chorus to take the stage in the 2024 competition.

"It's an exciting time to begin our audition and membership process," says Hansen. "Qualified singers will enter our competitive cycle with enough time to join us on the International Stage. Moreover, they will benefit from valuable vocal production and performance coaching as part of our preparation." ​

The San Diego Chorus will soon celebrate it's 75 year anniversary. The organization is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Membership is open to women and non-binary treble singers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of varied religions.

Claudia Cannon is a 29-year member of Sweet Adelines International. She has been a member of the San Chorus since 2006 and serves as Membership Chair for the Chorus. Previously, Cannon was a member of the Greater Auckland Chorus and the Na Leo Lani Chorus, which she directed from 2004-2007. Cannon also serves as the Marketing Coordinator of the Region 21 Management Team.

"The San Diego Chorus offers tremendous opportunities for growth, both musically and personally," says Cannon. "What people may not immediately realize is that there is much more happening here than just high-level singing! There's leadership development, community service and competitive accomplishment. But at the heart of it all is deep community among our members that often spans a lifetime."

If you would like to learn more about singing with the award-winning San Diego Chorus, RSVP for the January 31st Open House to learn more and begin your audition process.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Knox sings with Nick of Time A Cappella Quartet and is a member of the San Diego Chorus, where she was named the 2023 Sweet Adeline of the Year. A fractional Chief Marketing Officer by trade, she encourages organizations and singers by sharing her time and expertise in support of best-in-class brand, marketing and communications.

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ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO CHORUS
Founded in 1951, the San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International performs award-winning, four-part harmony in the barbershop style. Twice named International Chorus Champion of Women’s Barbershop Harmony, the nonprofit performing arts organization entertains in many musical genres along with its signature vibrant choreography. Led by Master Director and Sweet Adelines International Faculty, Kathleen Hansen, the San Diego Chorus is dedicated to local education, entertainment and competition. The Chorus welcomes women and non-binary treble singers who share a love of music and dedication to personal and musical growth regardless of age, race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender expression. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings in Room 207 of the Casa del Prado building in Balboa Park. Additional information can be found on their website at SanDiegoChorus.org.  ​

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ABOUT SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL
Sweet Adelines International is a musical force in the United States and around the world. The organization is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma where it was founded in 1945. This nonprofit music education organization is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women, encompassing more than 25,000 members, 1,200 registered quartets, and 600 choruses in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Wales. More information is available on the International Web site by visiting: 
http://www.sweetadelineintl.org. ​