AUDITIONED CHOIRS
Request an audition to join Raku or Tarab this December!
Auditions will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024 for singers in grades 4-6.
Auditions for Sangat and Amore (grade 7 and above) will not take place until spring/summer 2025 for the 2025-2026 choir year.
In a joyful and supportive environment, choristers in Northwest Girlchoir sing, learn, and grow - as musicians and as young people. In several choir levels, singers develop healthy technique, build musicianship skills, and develop creative and collaborative skills that they share in public performance. Scroll down to read more about each choir level.
Rehearsals run September - June and take place at North Seattle Church at 2150 N 122nd St, Seattle, WA 98133.
How to AUDITION:
Northwest Girlchoir’s audition process is low pressure and fun! During the 10-minute audition, Artistic Director Karen Bruno will check each singer’s voice quality and listening skills by having them perform a simple song and echo a series of short patterns. She will be looking for your singer’s ability to match pitch, focus and take direction, and will watch to see how your child learns.
Please prepare your choice of "Are You Sleeping,” “My Country 'Tis of Thee," or "Twinkle, Twinkle" to sing without accompaniment, using this https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WbV9HbDTQfM as a starting note.
For singers in 6th grade and above, we recommend some previous musical training (not necessarily vocal). Good examples of this would be playing an instrument (e.g. piano, violin), performing in a band or orchestra, or participating in a church or school choir.
Auditions will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 for Raku and Tarab only for December enrollment.
Auditions for Sangat and Amore (grade 7 and above) will not take place until spring/summer 2025 for the 2025-2026 choir year.
2024-2025 Tuition & Tuition Assistance
Northwest Girlchoir offers several payment plans to accommodate families. Northwest Girlchoir also values accessibility and diversity, and has a long-standing, growing financial aid program. We encourage participation by any enthusiastic young singer regardless of ability to pay full tuition.
Learn how to pronounce our choir names!
Click on the sound clips below for the pronunciation of our choir names!
2024- 2025 Choir LevelS, Grades 4-12
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Raku 楽
(Japanese – "comfort")
Grades 4+
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:15pm
Raku 楽, our youngest auditioned choir, uses unison and two-part choral music from around the world to teach choral and musical skills. Learning to work as an ensemble in rehearsal and performance is balanced with learning how to notice and wonder as individual, developing musicians. A one-day springtime tour or festival is available to all choristers. Tours are optional and fee-based, with financial aid available.
Sangat संगत
(Hindi – “community of friends”)
Grades 7+
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm
Sangat choristers take on expanded leadership roles in rehearsal, concert, and Northwest Girlchoir functions. Choristers sing in multiple parts, explore their vocal ranges as determined by their voice change experiences, and sharpen their musical skills through treble choir repertoire from around the world. Sangat members can be counselors-in-training for our summer camp and have the opportunity to take a multi-day domestic tour every other year (next tour: summer of 2025). Tours are optional and fee-based, with financial aid available.
CorAzón
(Spanish – a combination of “Coro” and “Corazón,” meaning “choir of the heart”)
Grades 10-12
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, plus Amore rehearsals
CorAzón is made up of a small group of auditioned Amore singers who want the experience and challenge of performing in a smaller group. Its repertoire includes more a cappella singing and chamber music from many genres. CorAzón members are highly motivated and dedicated to the learning process and are featured performers at Northwest Girlchoir's annual fundraising event.
Tarab طرب
(Arabic – "music with joy")
Grades 5+
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30pm
Tarab طرب singers have mastered some of the basics of choral singing and are ready to meet twice weekly to deepen their vocal, musical, and ensemble skills. Singers explore unison, two- and three-part choral music from a variety of cultures as they learn to navigate the voice change, improve sight-reading ability, and strengthen collaborative skills. With more rehearsal time, they also start to build stronger friendships and a deep sense of responsibility for, and pride in, their choir community. An overnight tour in the spring gives Tarab طرب the chance to perform in different venues, learn from other musicians, and begin to develop independent and interdependent travel skills. Tours are optional and fee-based, with financial aid available.
Amore
(Italian – “love”)
Grades 10-12
Tuesdays, 6:45-9:00pm, one Sunday sectional per month between 5:30-8:30pm
Amore members are the student leaders of Northwest Girlchoir. Rehearsals help the singers deepen their understanding of, and build personal connections to, advanced treble music from a wide range of cultures and historical periods. Vocal techniques and colors are explored to broaden singers’ awareness and abilities. Amore members are invited to serve on a choir council or various choir committees, may participate in Board committees and projects, and are invited to apply as paid counselors for our summer camp. An international tour is available to Amore members every three years (next tour: summer of 2026); recent tours have included trips to England, Scotland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Tours are optional and fee-based, with financial aid available.