All auditions will take place at our facility (1336 Spring Garden Street). This is located on the northern Avenue of the Arts corridor, and houses our rehearsal spaces, voice studios, small performance spaces and administrative offices. The location is highly visible and easily accessible by car and public transportation as well as placing the Choirs in close proximity to Center City.
How does the audition work?
Auditions generally last 10–20 minutes. Parents/guardians fill out a registration form while candidates are reviewed by our faculty in one of our rehearsal rooms. We ask that families not record audio or video of any audition.
What do I need to prepare?
We ask only that candidates arrive relaxed and ready to sing. Girls do not need to prepare any song for their audition, although they may do so if they wish. See below for a more detailed explanation of the audition process.
PRO TIP: Get a lot of restful sleep the night before, drink plenty of water and approach the audition with a positive attitude—you can do it!
What can I expect in the audition?
- We’ll ask some basic questions about your age, your school, and any prior musical experience you may have.
- We’ll guide you through a few vocal warm-ups so we can assess your range and timbre.
- You’ll sing a few standard scales.
- You’ll do some rote learning, mimicking melodies.
- You’ll do some aural exercises, identifying pitches that you hear.
- We’ll give you an opportunity to sight-read music.
- You’ll sing solfège (do re mi fa sol la ti do).
- We’ll teach you a simple folk tune and/or a passage from our core repertoire and ask you to sing it.
- You may sing us a song of your own choosing, if you wish. It can be a patriotic song, a song from school/church/music class, or any other tune you know (please, no “Happy Birthday”). A whole song is not necessary—32 bars or so is sufficient.
Ultimately, your audition is a time for us to get to know each other a bit better, as well as to become acquainted with your vocal abilities. We are not looking for perfection—we’re looking for potential to grow and learn and smile.
Is there an age limit?
Most girls start in our Motif training program for ages 6-8. In some cases, girls with previous musical training can go right into Etude, Cantata, or Concerto. Girls generally graduate from the choir at age 18.
Does my child need music and/or voice training to audition?
Not at all! We welcome any girl to audition for us. Prior music experience is helpful, but all girls will have lessons on music theory and receive vocal training while in the choir.
What if my daughter or music student doesn’t think she’s good enough?
Some of our most successful girls in the Choir were initially reluctant to audition because they were afraid they weren’t good enough. If your daughter has a sincere interest, please encourage her to audition anyway.
Does my daughter have to give up the school or church choir or her other activities?
Absolutely not! Girls are encouraged to stay actively involved in all of their other choirs, as well as other activities such as sports and clubs. We try to be flexible with scheduling and attendance. That said, there is a commitment required for purposes of sound quality. If your daughter cannot make a large number of rehearsals, this may not be the right activity for her. We need to be able to work with the girls continuously.
What kind of time commitment is necessary?
Motif practices each Thursday for an hour and fifteen minutes (time TBA).
Etude practice each Thursday and the 1st and 3rd Saturday Mornings of every month.
Cantata practices each Tuesday in sectionals. The whole ensemble rehearses together each Saturday.
Concerto practices each Wednesday and each Saturday.
For a description of each ensemble, scroll down to “The Choir”.
How much does the program cost? Are there scholarships available?
Tuition for Philadelphia Girls Choir is $875 per semester (subject to change). Full and partial need-based scholarships are available. We seek girls with talent and potential, no matter their economic background.
Is there a required uniform?
At formal performances, girls wear red gowns, which can be ordered online. Dresses will need to be fitted. At informal performances, girls wear black PGC polos, which can be purchased at the choir office, and blue jeans.
Can I see some videos of the choir?
Here are some videos of the choir from the past few years, including a variety of styles of music:
YouTube – “Virtual choir” videos made during the height of the pandemic 2020-2021.
Vuelie – Live performance on tour of this song from “Frozen”.
National Anthem – Live performance at an Eagles Game. December 2021.
Are there performance and traveling opportunities?
The Philadelphia Girls Choir performs a capstone concert at the end of each semester. Throughout the season, we frequently sing at high-level engagements locally and regionally throughout the season. In addition, each summer, a group of girls from Cantata and Concerto embarks on an international tour for two weeks. On our 2020 tour, we visited Iceland and the Baltic States.
Anything else I should know?
Amidst all this learning and performing, there’s still time for fun! Field trips and museum visits round out the girls’ experience by linking music to the art, architecture, and history of its time. The girls gain a deeper understanding of what they are singing and its cultural relevance.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email us at info@phillygirlschoir.org.
The Choir
Philadelphia Girls Choir is a fun and educational choral experience for girls and young women in the Greater Philadelphia Area. PGC provides a comprehensive music education based upon the renowned Kodály Method. Nathan Wadley, music director of Philadelphia Girls Choir, teaches through the study of folk music and classical works. Divided into four distinct groups, Philadelphia Girls Choir provides the best fit for any girl who participates.
Motif
Our training group, Motif, works on the fundamentals of reading music and vocal technique. They have an annual recital in January, then join the rest of the choirs in the Spring Concert.
Etude
Our youngest performing group, Etude, studies the basics of music theory and performance. They also have a musical theme to guide them throughout the year.
Cantata
Our intermediate group, Cantata, continues their musical development with more challenging repertoire. Vocal technique is more important for members of this group. Through local concerts and appearances, Cantata members develop confidence and learn what it means to be a performer.
Concerto
Our most experienced group, Concerto, is the premier performing ensemble of the Philadelphia Girls Choir. Rehearsals offer increasingly difficult and exciting repertoire. The girls work on musicianship exercises that are designed to fine tune both the ear and the voice.
