Upcoming Auditions:
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If you have a passion for choral music and desire to sing with a Hawai‘i-based professional choir, then this is a perfect opportunity!
Auditions are held every August and January (before our Fall and Spring seasoons) at the University of Hawaii Music Department, Room 36. Interested singers must fill out the Audition Inquiry Form to schedule an audition. After the form is received, our Managing Director will connect with you to schedule an audition time and send you an audition application, which is to be filled out and brought to the audition. Any singer who is 18 years of age or has graduated from high school may audition. Auditions include singing an art song, aria, or hymn of your choosing (memorization optional). In addition to singing a selected piece, singers will be assessed on their musicality through vocalization, sight singing, and pitch retention. Please bring 2 copies of sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. |
Requirements for Singers
Acceptance into the O‘ahu Choral Society (OCS) is by audition. Chorus members agree to abide by a set of requirements designed to support the goal of providing professional-quality musical performances in the state of Hawaiʻi.
Dues
Dues for OCS are $250 per year. Scholarships may be available at the discretion of the Board. Membership dues are waived for students. If you foresee our dues as a hardship that would hinder joining, then please reach out to our Board Chair and/or Treasurer to discuss payment plans or other options. Acceptance of a scholarship and/or waived dues will be coupled with volunteer hours to the organization.
Attendance
Attendance is expected at all rehearsals and performances. Schedules will be published before the start of each season, and members are highly encouraged to plan their personal schedules accordingly. Consistent participation throughout the entire season is imperative, with a commitment that spans from August through May. As choral singing is a collaborative group effort, member attendance is crucial to building our musicianship and performance skills together.
Multiple unexcused absences will put your OCS membership under review. If an absence is anticipated, please notify your Section Leader of those dates as early as possible, in writing, via text or email. If an absence is necessary without advance notice or there's an emergency, then please notify your Section Leader, either by voice message or text/email, as soon as the situation allows.
Multiple absences within a concert cycle, or absences during concert week, may lead a singer to being unable to perform in the concert for that cycle. The Artistic Director has full discretion to preclude any under-prepared member from singing in an upcoming performance.
Music Scores
Music for each composition will be made available to members at the beginning of the first rehearsal, either hard copy or by download. Occasionally, it will be possible for members to purchase the music. When music is loaned to members, it is to be returned to the Managing Director and/or Librarian no later than the first rehearsal following a performance. A member who loses a score or fails to return it will be assessed the replacement cost. You may, and should, mark your scores with pencil during rehearsals to reflect what is being sung and directed. Sheet music and/or electronic devices such as iPads or Notebooks must be held in a solid black folder/cover during performances; choral folders may be purchased from OCS directly for $25 or you may provide your own.
Rehearsal Decorum
Members are expected to arrive sufficiently early so as to be in their seats and ready to sing when the rehearsal commences. All members are expected to have their music, a pencil, and water bottle at each rehearsal. Please refrain from extraneous talking during rehearsals - while we appreciate that we all want to connect and build community, please do so before and after rehearsal and during our breaks.
Concert Decorum
For OCS performances, all singers are expected to wear concert black.
Clothing options include:
- Former OCS black choir dress
- Solid black, long-sleeved dress shirt or short or long-sleeved blouse, with black dress pants or long black skirt
- Other solid black, full length outfit (i.e.: romper, pantsuit, dress suit, etc.)
Shoes: dress shoes, solid black, low heels or flats; if socks or stockings are to be worn, they must also be black or dark-colored
As a professional choir, we ask our members to please refrain from wearing the following items for their black concert attire:
- athletic clothing & shoes
- plunging necklines, spaghetti straps, off the shoulder or sleeveless tops and dresses
- clothing that exposes midsection
- cargo/work pants, denim
- shiny, glittery, sheer, or sequin fabric
Accessories: should be small and matte, please avoid excessive or colored accessories; including overcoats, scarves, large hair accessories, flowers, shiny/large jewelry, or any such items that may be considered distracting from the stage.
Scents: please refrain from wearing scented hair spray, perfume, or cologne, however deodorant is always encouraged.
Questions or Concerns
Each of the four voice sections has a Section Leader. Singers who have chorus-related questions that are not addressed in the singer emails, newsletters, or during rehearsal should first contact their section leader for clarification.
Any questions regarding an administrative matter may be addressed first to the Managing Director, and then to any member of the O‘ahu Choral Society's Board of Directors. Board meetings are generally held once a month and member concerns will be discussed as needed.
Dues
Dues for OCS are $250 per year. Scholarships may be available at the discretion of the Board. Membership dues are waived for students. If you foresee our dues as a hardship that would hinder joining, then please reach out to our Board Chair and/or Treasurer to discuss payment plans or other options. Acceptance of a scholarship and/or waived dues will be coupled with volunteer hours to the organization.
Attendance
Attendance is expected at all rehearsals and performances. Schedules will be published before the start of each season, and members are highly encouraged to plan their personal schedules accordingly. Consistent participation throughout the entire season is imperative, with a commitment that spans from August through May. As choral singing is a collaborative group effort, member attendance is crucial to building our musicianship and performance skills together.
Multiple unexcused absences will put your OCS membership under review. If an absence is anticipated, please notify your Section Leader of those dates as early as possible, in writing, via text or email. If an absence is necessary without advance notice or there's an emergency, then please notify your Section Leader, either by voice message or text/email, as soon as the situation allows.
Multiple absences within a concert cycle, or absences during concert week, may lead a singer to being unable to perform in the concert for that cycle. The Artistic Director has full discretion to preclude any under-prepared member from singing in an upcoming performance.
Music Scores
Music for each composition will be made available to members at the beginning of the first rehearsal, either hard copy or by download. Occasionally, it will be possible for members to purchase the music. When music is loaned to members, it is to be returned to the Managing Director and/or Librarian no later than the first rehearsal following a performance. A member who loses a score or fails to return it will be assessed the replacement cost. You may, and should, mark your scores with pencil during rehearsals to reflect what is being sung and directed. Sheet music and/or electronic devices such as iPads or Notebooks must be held in a solid black folder/cover during performances; choral folders may be purchased from OCS directly for $25 or you may provide your own.
Rehearsal Decorum
Members are expected to arrive sufficiently early so as to be in their seats and ready to sing when the rehearsal commences. All members are expected to have their music, a pencil, and water bottle at each rehearsal. Please refrain from extraneous talking during rehearsals - while we appreciate that we all want to connect and build community, please do so before and after rehearsal and during our breaks.
Concert Decorum
For OCS performances, all singers are expected to wear concert black.
Clothing options include:
- Former OCS black choir dress
- Solid black, long-sleeved dress shirt or short or long-sleeved blouse, with black dress pants or long black skirt
- Other solid black, full length outfit (i.e.: romper, pantsuit, dress suit, etc.)
Shoes: dress shoes, solid black, low heels or flats; if socks or stockings are to be worn, they must also be black or dark-colored
As a professional choir, we ask our members to please refrain from wearing the following items for their black concert attire:
- athletic clothing & shoes
- plunging necklines, spaghetti straps, off the shoulder or sleeveless tops and dresses
- clothing that exposes midsection
- cargo/work pants, denim
- shiny, glittery, sheer, or sequin fabric
Accessories: should be small and matte, please avoid excessive or colored accessories; including overcoats, scarves, large hair accessories, flowers, shiny/large jewelry, or any such items that may be considered distracting from the stage.
Scents: please refrain from wearing scented hair spray, perfume, or cologne, however deodorant is always encouraged.
Questions or Concerns
Each of the four voice sections has a Section Leader. Singers who have chorus-related questions that are not addressed in the singer emails, newsletters, or during rehearsal should first contact their section leader for clarification.
Any questions regarding an administrative matter may be addressed first to the Managing Director, and then to any member of the O‘ahu Choral Society's Board of Directors. Board meetings are generally held once a month and member concerns will be discussed as needed.