2020-2021 Audition Information

We are thrilled that you want to be part of the award-winning Centennial High School Choral Department. Because of our current school shut down, we are making modifications to our audition process to best serve all students interested in singing. Auditions are designed not to exclude students, but rather, to help us place them in the appropriate choral ensemble so that we can best support your musical development and growth. 

For the 2020-2021 school year, Auditions will only be required for admission to VARSITY TREBLE CHOIR, CHAMBER SINGERS, and SHADES OF BLUE (Show Choir). 

Auditions are not required to be a member of our program. You may join our program by adding "Choral Music" to your schedule for the upcoming school year. New Students that do not wish to audition for one of these groups will be placed in the ensemble that most appropriate for their previous musical experience. Students currently enrolled in our program that do not wish to audition for one of these groups will be placed based on information collected through assignments that are required of all CHS Choir Members. 

ALL STUDENTS AUDITIONING FOR THE VARSITY TREBLE CHOIR OR CHAMBER SINGERS MUST COMPLETE THE TWO REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS BELOW AND UPLOAD THEM USING THE FORM ON THE RIGHT BY MAY 6, 2020.

SPECIAL NOTE: We realize that during this time you may be dealing with circumstances that could affect your ability to prepare/participate in this process. Please contact Mr. Cooley if you encounter issues so that might assist you with this process.

STUDENTS WISHING TO AUDITION FOR CHAMBER SINGERS
​Like all of our other screening processes this year, auditions for Chamber Singers will take place online. We welcome any student in the 10th-12th grade that will be enrolled in the CHS Choir Program during the upcoming school year to audition for this group. 

In addition to the elements listed above, students that desire to be considered for membership in Chamber Singers will be required to complete one additional assessment task. Music and Rehearsal Materials for this portion of the audition process will be posted in Google Classroom no later than Friday, May 1st. Students will record their personal performance against the backing tracks provided. Audition recordings will be turned in to Mr. Cooley via Google Form by Thursday, May 14th. More details about this process will be shared next week. 

ASSIGNMENTS REQUIRED OF ALL CHOIR MEMBERS AS PART OF YOUR ONLINE LEARNING:
  1. My Country Tis of Thee Recording
  2. End of Year Vocal Assessment (Included in Online Learning: Weeks 4-6) 

FOR STUDENTS AUDITIONING FOR VARSITY TREBLE CHOIR OR CHAMBER SINGERS: 
In addition to the audition elements listed above, students must schedule a "live" online sight-reading audition with Mr. Cooley. You can sign up for a time using Mr. Cooley's Appointment Calendar Link below. When it is time for your audition, you should open to Google Meet (meet.google.com) and enter the nickname "CHSCHOIR2020" to access the "audition room." Note: Please do not "join the meeting" if another student is present. Once they depart you may enter the meeting. Sight reading will used during this audition will be equivalent to the LEVEL III examples linked on this page. 
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Sight-reading Audition Times - Contact Mr. Cooley if an alternative time is needed
Current 10th-11th Grade Students (Click HERE to Book Your Audition Time)
  • Wednesday, April 29 - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Thursday, April 30 - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Current 9th Grade Students (Click HERE to Book Your Audition Time)
  • Wednesday, May 6 - 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
  • Thursday, May 7 - 23 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

​Preparing for your Sight-reading Audition:
The goal of this process is to determine the current level of your independent music reading skills. The results of this assessment will not only help us place you in the appropriate ensemble, but also support our work as teachers to refine our teaching plans for the coming school year. We do not expect that every student be able to perfectly perform these examples. Mistakes are acceptable and expected. 

In order to further prepare yourself for the sight-reading audition use the resources on this page. Procedures for your online sight-reading audition are as follows:
  1. Schedule your time on Mr. Cooley's Appointment Calendar
  2. Use the resources on this page to prepare. Your audition for Varsity Treble Choir and/or Chamber Singers will contain sight-reading at Level III. 
  3. Use the sight-reading audio prompts to get your pitch and get an understanding of practice time. I will use the same tracks during your "live assessment." 
  4. Several minutes before your audition, login to the Google Meet using THIS LINK. Enter the nickname "CHSCHOIR2020" to access the "audition room." Please do not "join the meeting" if another student is present. 
  5. Mr. Cooley will share a sight-reading exercise with you via screen share and then begin the audio prompt. 
  6. The recording will say “You may now look at your sight-reading exercise” and the tonic chord will be played for you in broken fashion (Do Mi So Mi Do So Do) followed by the first note of the exercise. You will have 30 seconds to study the melody. You MAY sing, chant, and/or audiate during your study time. You MAY NOT play the melody on any device. 
  7. At the completion of the study period, the recording will say "please stop" at which time the tonic chord will be played again (Do Mi Do Mi Do So Do) followed by the first note of the exercise. You are encouraged to sing this pattern with the piano.
  8. Once this has been played, you will sing the exercise using solfege and hand signs at a tempo of your choice. If you are unable to sing using solfege, you may use a neutral syllable of your choice, however, your knowledge of solfege will be considered in your audition.​
Audition Resources
SR Practice Files
Audition Form