The Brock University Choir is returning this fall, giving students, employees and the local community the chance to take the stage and showcase their singing skills.

Brock’s Department of Music (MUSI) will host University Choir auditions in person at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) in downtown St. Catharines on Thursday, Sept. 7 and Friday, Sept. 8.

The choir is welcoming Shawn Grenke as Guest Conductor for the 2023-24 season while Associate Professor Rachel Rensink-Hoff is on sabbatical. Grenke, a conductor, pianist and organist, will also being teaching music courses at the MIWSFPA.

Brock University Choir 2023-24 Guest Conductor Shawn Grenke.

Director of Music at Eglinton St. George’s United Church in Toronto, collaborative pianist with the Elmer Iseler Singers of Toronto, and Artistic Director and Conductor of the 80-voice Achill Choral Society in Orangeville, Grenke is ready to welcome new choir members in the fall.

“I am looking forward to working with the community at Brock this coming year,” he said. “Rachel and I have been working hard over the summer to ensure everything is in place for September and beyond.”

The audition will consist of sight-singing two short melodies (music provided on the spot), clapping a rhythmic excerpt, and sing-backs of several melodies, in addition to a short discussion about musical background and experience.

All Brock students, staff and faculty as well as community members are welcome to audition. Upon acceptance, students will be granted permission to register in choir for course credit (but are not required to do so).

The audition sign-up sheet is now available online for those wishing to reserve their audition spot through the MUSI website.

For more information, please contact the Department of Music at music@brocku.ca