Blog Post #7 - The Audition Process

By: Juliet Giangregorio '20
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Each year, the Danvers High School Select Vocal Ensembles (Chamber Singers and the A Cappella Groups) hold their auditions for new members.  Scary, I know. From the outside, the auditions might seem very competitive and intimidating. But, as someone who has auditioned a couple of times, I can assure you that it is not as nerve-wracking as it seems.  Actually, it’s quite exciting. The process is simple to audition for the a cappella groups: pick a contemporary pop song you like, and sing a verse and the chorus. Then, Mr. Grover tests your range, and your ability to sing a part of one of the group’s songs.  Voilà. That’s it. Mr. Grover also asks some questions about your day at school, your favorite class, or even your hobbies to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable if you’re nervous. Personally, I get very nervous. I always think of the worst thing that could happen, instead of focusing on reality. But, some of my friends have some pretty funny stories about their auditioning experience.

Even if you’re like me, and get freaked out about auditions, I promise that you’ll be okay.  It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get into a group, and every time you audition you gain more experience and confidence.  I know that I’ve grown from the first time I’ve auditioned for anything to now. Plus, you’re supposed to do one thing that scares you everyday, right?  Here are some auditioning tips:
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1. Pick a song you’re comfortable with. If you sing a song that you don’t know well, you are more likely to forget the words, or get nervous.  Confidence is key!
2. Drink water with lemon in it.  No, I’m not talking about the lemon water that’s all the rage at school.  I’m talking about genuine water with slices of lemon in it. It really helps.
3. Practice with friends before your audition.  If don’t like to sing in front of people, it’s always a good idea to start off singing in front of people you’re comfortable with.  It’s also a great idea to ask for feedback, so you can tweak parts of your song if necessary.

Congrats to Emily DiStasio, Anissa Knight, Charlotte Larson, Gabby Sherrick, Victor Stiles, and Craig Zorzy for their acceptance into Chamber singers, John Ferriera, Anna Krisko, Amanda Larson, Sam Patterson and Jazmine Wallimann on their acceptance into Falconize, Lily Albiero, Cynthia Boyd, Caitlin Emery, Allison Kasprzak, Haley Murphy and Lilli Peluso on their acceptance into Ingrid Sound, and Ivy O’Connell on her acceptance into Deception!  Everyone is so excited to meet the new members of the groups.