Who Can Join
Over 300 children between the ages of 6 and 17 are members of the Toronto Children’s Chorus. Our minimum age is 6 (or going into grade 1) to be eligible to audition. The older than 6 they are, the more musical training or experience they are expected to have. The longer a child is in the program, the more they learn and the more they gain both musically and socially.
The Audition Process
The audition process, especially at the preparatory level, is to determine if the child enjoys singing and if he/she can be taught in our program – if the child is a good match with the Chorus. It is an interactive process where the artistic staff work with each child to assess their receptivity and interest in musical instruction. Every situation is unique as every child is unique.
If children at the preparatory level show that they enjoy singing, can work in a group, and can read, then they will most likely be accepted. Conductors are looking for teachability and responsiveness to instruction. The Chorus accepts 80% of children who audition.
At the audition, children are invited to sing a song of their own choice. The artistic staff works with the child to find the singing voice. Older children will be expected to match a pitch.
The children are auditioned by all three conductors: Elise Bradley (Artistic Director), Teri Dunn (Assistant Artistic Director) and Carole Anderson (Associate Conductor). The audition is very important because it determines if the child is fit for the program and which choir level best suits him/her and will enable them to thrive. While the children are auditioning, the parents meet with administrative staff to review the programme, talk about the expectations and answer questions.
