Sing at Brock!

Image of virtual choir rehearsal

Brock Choral Ensembles 2021-2022

Open by audition to all students, faculty, staff & members of the Niagara community.

CONTACT Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff at rrensinkhoff@brocku.ca

FACEBOOK Brock University Choral Activities

CHOIR AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS 2021-2022

 

Click HERE to book your online Choir Audition.

The audition will include:

  • Sight-singing of two short melodies
  • Clapping a rhythmic excerpt
  • Sing-backs of several melodies played for you
  • Short discussion about your musical background and experience

PRIOR to your Audition, please complete the following steps: 

  • PREPARE A RECORDING and submit it with your Choir Information Form (see below) at least 12 hours prior to your scheduled hearing. For this recording (audio or video file, your choice), please sing along with this accompaniment, carefully follow these instructions:
    • Sing The Ash Grove along with the accompaniment. ​Please note that it is played in the key of F major even though the pdf score is in G major. Please just sing along with the F major accompaniment. When you record yourself, please wear headphones so that the accompaniment cannot be heard in the recording. I suggest plugging the headphones into your computer to hear the accompaniment and recording yourself singing with a phone device. Please state your name at the beginning of the recording.
    • Sing along with the range exercises that follow (using the same procedure—headphones on). When the range gets too high or too low, stop singing and wait for the next exercise. Try this a few times as it will help warm up your voice!          

It is recommended that you practice with the entire recording more than once before preparing your final submission.

FILL OUT THIS Choir Information Form no later than 12 hours prior to your scheduled online audition. Note that your recording must also be sent to rrensinkhoff@brocku.ca (wetransfer.com is recommended for easy transfer of files by email).

WHEN DOES CHOIR MEET?

University Choir

Mixed voice ensemble for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices
Open to students, staff & faculty of Brock University 

Mondays – 2:30 pm – 4:20 pm
Wednesdays – 2:30 pm – 3:20 pm (Sopranos & Altos only)
Wednesday – 3:30 pm – 4:20 pm (Tenors & Basses only)

Sora Singers

Upper voice ensemble for soprano & alto voices
Open to all members of the Brock AND wider Niagara community

Thursdays – 6:00 pm – 8:50 pm

Special Events

SHARED PERSPECTIVES

LIVE TALKS FEATURING GUEST CONDUCTORS, COMPOSERS, AND VOCAL CHORAL SPECIALISTS

BROCK UNIVERSITY CHORAL ACTIVITIES – Workshop & Interview Series Part I

Hosted by Rachel Rensink-Hoff

FREE REGISTRATION opens September 20, 2020. Email sing@brocku.ca

Leanne Vida | September 23, 2:30 pm – Breathing 101 for Singers

Robert Filion | October 5, 2:30 pm – Sing French with Confidence

Charles Bruffy | October 21, 2:30 pm – It Matters!

Lori Anne Dolloff | October 26, 12:30 pm – Cultural Humility in Intercultural Collaborations

Danielle Wilson | October 28, 2:30 pm – Voice Work from the Actor’s Perspective

Karen Burke | November 2, 2:30 pm – Gospel Techniques & Performance Practices

Laura Loewen | November 9, 2:30 pm – My Love Affair with Diction

Robert Cooper | November 11, 2:30 pm. – The WHY of Choral Singing

Nicholle Andrews | November 19, 7:00 pm – Bodymapping for the Choral Singer

Pearl Shangkuan | November 23, 2:30 pm – Tips for Smart Singing

Mark Sirett | November 30, 2:30 pm – Composer as Conductor

www.brocku.ca/music

SHARED PERSPECTIVES

LIVE TALKS FEATURING GUEST CONDUCTORS, COMPOSERS, AND VOCAL CHORAL SPECIALISTS

BROCK UNIVERSITY CHORAL ACTIVITIES – Workshop & Interview Series Part 2

Hosted by Rachel Rensink-Hoff

FREE REGISTRATION, Email sing@brocku.ca

Joel Ivany | Jan 20, 2:30 pm – The Creative Journey to Messiah/Complex

Katerina Gimon | Jan 27, 2:30 pm – Composing Aleatoric Choral Music: Approaches,
Techniques & Tools

Elaine Hagenberg | Jan 28, 7:00 pm – Discovering Your Creative Voice!

Lucinda Carver | Feb 3, 2:30 pm – Music Leadership from the Keyboard & Podium

Victoria Meredith | Feb 10, 2:30 pm – Choral Singing and Health

Sabrina Shawana | Feb 22, 2:30 pm – Building Community with the Strong Water Women Drum Group

Rollo Dilworth | March 3, 2:30 pm – Cultural Appropriation & Culture Sharing in Choral Music

Cynthia Peyson Wahl | March 15, 12:30 pm – Decolonizing the Music Curriculum

Leanne Vida | March 17, 2:30 pm – A Spectrum of Sound: Vocal Resonance

Christianne Rushton | March 24, 2:30 pm – Fact or Fiction: Debunking the Myths around Vocal Health

Ardelle Ries | March 29, 12:30 pm – The SingAble Society

Michael Barret | March 31, 2:30 pm – Traditional South African Music

www.brocku.ca/music

Shared Perspectives is generously supported by the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation of Brock University (Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant-Experiential Education Stream) and the Walker Cultural Leaders program of the MIWSFPA.

We invite you to view the workshops below. For more presentations in this virtual series, please visit our MIWSFPA YouTube channel.

Upcoming Events

Summer Choral Workshop in Niagara

The Summer Workshop is postponed to 2021.
Please check for details.

SOUND & STYLE – Deepening connection through resonance
REHEARSAL PROCESS – Building relationship through shared artistry
CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE – Cultivating trust through gesture

Choral ensembles are an integral part of the Brock University Music program.

Avanti Chamber Singers,
Choir in Residence

Open by audition to adult community members.
Rehearsals Tuesday evenings, 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.

Chamber Choir

Open by audition to all Brock students, faculty and staff. Credit options available to students.

Rehearsals Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 to 4:20 p.m.

Women’s Choir

Open by audition to all Brock students, faculty, staff and community members.
Credit options available for students.

Rehearsals Thursday evenings, 6 to 8:45 p.m.

Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Conductor