Singapore Symphony Youth Choir

Wonderful news, our choirs have made a full return to live rehearsals following the new measures! As we gear up for an exciting new season, you may revisit our musical moments, on the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Choruses’ YouTube channel, our  Spotify page and our  recordings.

How are choir rehearsals conducted?
Our rehearsals are conducted live at the Victoria Concert Hall. With safe management measures still observed, each session consists of a combination of sectionals, small group singing and score study sessions. Rehearsals are focused primarily on vocal development and future concert preparations.

What are rehearsal times like?
The Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir rehearse weekly on Monday evenings, and the Children’s Choir, on Saturdays. Do refer to each choir’s FAQs for specific rehearsal schedules and times.

I’m interested. Are auditions for the Singapore Symphony Choruses still open?
Yes! The Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir (SSYC) continue to run open auditions weekly while the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) conduct yearly auditions between late September to early October; keep your eyes peeled for our announcements!

Keen or have questions? Drop us an email at choral@sso.org.sg.

What are choir auditions like?
With our choirs recent return to live rehearsals, auditions will be done live and in-person.

For SSC and SSYC, auditions are conducted in 2 parts: sit-ins and auditions. You will get to sit-in for a live rehearsal with the respective ensembles, then assessed on a following date, in a live audition.

For SSCC, applicants with successful registrations will be allocated audition timeslots, along with information on the audition venue. Do refer to the SSCC Auditions event page for more information!

What kind of music does the choir sing?
In addition to our main repertoire of symphonic choral master works, our choristers are also exposed to a wide variety of music and iconic choral pieces, including a cappella works from the Renaissance era to the 21st century.

When and where do we rehearse?
We generally rehearse at the Dance Studio, Victoria Concert Hall, every Monday from 7.30pm to 10.15pm. Closer to performance dates, we run additional rehearsals on Thursday evenings and during concert week, consecutive weeknights.

How many projects am I expected to sing in?
Most of our choristers try to do all of them, to maximise their experience with us! We recognise that our members lead busy lives, but we do ask all to commit fully to rehearsals and attending them. Professionalism and diligence will help us progress more effectively during rehearsals.

What performance opportunities will I get with the choir?
The choir regularly records and performs with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, alongside the Singapore Symphony Chorus and Children’s Choir, as well as in independent projects. We most recently recorded Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances and presented at the Video Games Classics.

Who are we looking for?
We are on the lookout for singers in every section, Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. If you’re aged between 17 and 28, we’d love to hear from you. We also welcome young men between 15 and 16, whose voices have transitioned, to continue singing with us.We do need prospective members be literate in music theory and proficient sight-readers. It would also be advantageous to have prior experience singing in a choir though not compulsory. Our choristers may at times, also be required to remain standing throughout performances, which could last up to 60 minutes or more.

I’m interested, how can I get in touch?
We’d love to hear from you. Do email us a copy of the completed audition form to choral@sso.org.sg and we’ll get in touch with arrangements.

Is there an audition?
Yes, although it is not an overly formal process. The Choirmaster needs to run this process to determine your vocal range and place you in the appropriate section(s), as well as to ascertain your readiness to sing with us in concerts. Don’t Strauss it, we’ve got your Bach.

What can I expect at the audition?
Do prepare a song of any language (preferably classical, choral or from a musical), not exceeding four minutes. You may choose to sing a cappella or bring a spare score if you require piano accompaniment. To determine your vocal range and music reading ability, we will also want to hear you sing some scales and vocal exercises, and will provide some sight-reading material.

Can I “try-out” with the choir before auditioning?
Sure, you may! We welcome all prospective members to first drop by for a sit-in, sing along the choir for an evening session before auditioning with the choir. Do email a copy of the completed audition form to choral@sso.org.sg and we’ll get in touch with arrangements.

When and where are auditions held?
Ad-hoc auditions are held throughout the season typically at the end of a rehearsal session. We may hold off auditions nearer to performance dates, to concentrate on concert pieces. Once we have received your application, the choral administration will get in touch with more information including venue and details of a sit-in and audition slot.

What happens after my audition?
We will write to you within a week after the audition, to let you know if you have successfully secured a placement in the choir. An annual membership fee applies upon the acceptance of the offer. You may refer to the SSYC’s handbook for more info.

For further enquiries, please contact the Choral department at 6602 4215/4248 or email choral@sso.org.sg.