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Date Posted: 18:31:31 02/16/05 Wed
Author: Nickie
Subject: Soloists within choral pieces

Last spring, I took part in something called Senior Project, which was when all the eligible seniors went out into the work force and volunteered with a mentor in the field we want to go into for 4 weeks. I did my project with a junior high (grades 7-9) choir director. During my 4 weeks of volunteering, my mentor had to pick soloists for a few of the choral pieces that had small solos within them. This process turned out to be far more demanding than I thought.

I guess what I'm getting at is this.... If you choose a piece with a particular soloist in mind, and after the choir learns it, you are prepared to give it to that soloist... should you still audition the solo to all the students who want to try it? Even if you already have the one person in mind? To me, it only seems fair to still hold auditions despite the fact that you may have picked the piece for one particular solo voice. What do you guys think???

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Replies:

[> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Lindsay, 11:00:21 02/18/05 Fri [1]

I would say that if you have a solo picked for a specific person, don't audition, it's unnecessary and causes extra stress and disappointment for those others who try for it. Otherwise, audition every solo and give everyone an opportunity. If you do the first kind all the time, you may not be very well liked by your students, since you "play favorites." However, this is strictly up to your preference as the teacher. If you have a great soloist who would sound great on a particular solo, then pick it, but don't audition for it.

In middle school, though, I'm not sure how wise it would be to pick solos for particular students. At that age, sticking out can be dangerous to their social status, or it might be beneficial. Since it's so unstable, and self-esteem issues are so large at that level, I would probably be safe and audition for all solos. That way, only those who really want it and are comfortable enough would audition, and then none of their peers would tease the soloists about how they're "teacher's pet" and so on. It probably will happen anyway, but you can reduce that by emphasizing that you only pick those students who are the best, not those whom you like the most. Also, even if you know one particular student would sound good on it, you can make sure that others get their fair chance at showing you they can sound good, too. And if that one student ends up with the solo, oh well. :)


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[> [> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Brigid, 19:36:01 02/22/05 Tue [1]

I think that even if you have a certain vocalist or instrumentalist in mind for a solo, you should hold auditions. There may be a student out there who has talents that go unnoticed, and they're just waiting for the opportunity to share it. You may be suprised how some students rise to the challenge of performing a solo, and depite the fact that you had a certain musician in mind, you may find someone who exceeds what you were looking for in the first place!


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[> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Chad, 12:15:45 04/13/05 Wed [1]

I agree with you Nickie. Even if you have a particular soloist in mind for a particular piece, you should permit open auditions for the solo. It is a good consideration to encourage excellence despite the harsh reality of limitations in which you must set. Being exclusive has limits of its own, but by putting on an appearance in relation to inclusiveness, there would be a better reflection upon your school's music department, even if your initial soloist was chosen.


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[> [> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Ben, 19:46:36 01/23/06 Mon [1]

Its my belief that a director should audition choral soloists even if he or she has a particular student in mind. You never know when a student will surprise you. Holding auditions shows your students that, even while you may have a preference for a particular solo, the ball is in their court. With sufficient practice and solid interpretation, they could fesably get that solo.

Almost all high school and middle school choir members can hear when a soloist's voice fits a given solo. They will likely complain about whoever gets the solo whether or not the director holds auditions. So hold auditions, I think you'll find your students will work just a little bit harder, and you'll better understand and know your students' voices.


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[> [> [> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Cory Ridge, 20:50:33 01/23/06 Mon [1]

Well I would tend to agree with Ben. I feel that it is worth the extra effort to give students a chance to at least be heard. I think if a choir director keeps giving solo's to people he already has in mind especially at that age then two things could happen: One a really talented singer could go unnoticed for their enire choral singing career, or two they could be turned off from singing because they felt they were not given a fair shot at the solo. I mean that doesnt mean that will definitely happen and I am in no way naive I know that no matter what song a conductor is choosing he is choosing because he knows that he has a person capable of singing it. So in some regards conductors I think always have someone in mind but I still think we as teeachers have an oblgation to be fair.
At least thats my point of view.

Cory Ridge


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[> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Kevin, 10:50:06 04/26/06 Wed [1]

With the whole just choosing a song just because you know of a certain voice that can sing that is somewhat stupid in my mind. Only because yeah the choir part maybe amazing and graceful, however, if you have a soloist already in mind you should still hold auditions. The chance may come that maybe there is a better voice that just shocks you. While the voice you had in mind is not quite as good as this brand new vocalist that just shocked you with their ability to sing the solo. It however is a very hard call to make I would just open auditions just to see what I would get. Of course I like to be open minded when it comes to that for the exciting shock factor that can be present. I hope that makes sense!!


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[> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Hayley Pletcher, 18:54:31 01/30/07 Tue [1]

I think that you should still allow the others to audition for the solo because even though you already have someone in mind, another person could come out of the blue and just blow you away. It's an equal opportunity for everyone this way.


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[> Re: Soloists within choral pieces -- Chad B, 11:56:29 02/14/07 Wed [1]

I also feel that you should still hold auditions. High school tends to be filled with social drama and choosing a piece for a specific soloist can cause problems amongst peers in the class. As mentioned before, you're likely to find more than one person who can perform well on the same solo. By holding the audition, it creates an opportunity for constructive competition to earn, instead of inherit.


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