Auditions for the fall semester of the NIC choirs, were held the week of Aug. 22-25 in Boswell Hall. The final decisions for the Jazz Co., NIC Cardinal Chorale, and the NIC Chamber Singers; can be found on the division Chair and choral instructor Max Mendez’s office board or on sing4nic.com.
No auditions are necessary to join the NIC Cardinal Chorale, which meet every Tuesday, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., in Boswell Hall Room 102.
The auditions began with some warm up exercises and a little bit of piano chaos. A group of between 15 and 20 students relaxed after a few minutes. Participants then sang in quartets; one soprano, one alto, one baritone, and one tenor, using the practiced music. Afterward, Mendez selected a few people to stay after to hear them sing again.
“I was nervous, but excited for the opportunity to be in choir and to work with Max Mendez,” Gustave Lester, 18, music, from Caldwell, Idaho said.
“The auditions definitely seemed daunting at first, but once I got in with the experienced musicians I felt at home,” Conner Ealy, 18, music, from Renten, Washington said. “Mendez is a smart and wonderful teacher. Come out to see the choir.”
Participants seemed to take their talents seriously. Their pitches were on key for the most part and they were steady in their notes.
“I think choir is going to be really good this semester. Everybody sounds so good,” Courtney Swanson, 18, music, from Spokane said.
Mendez said the chamber singers and choral singers have two concerts this semester; the dates to be announced. One of the concerts, a mix of holiday themed music, is expected to happen in December.
“I’m always excited at the beginning of the school year to meet new singers and reacquaint with returning ones,” said Mendez. “It’s always fun to make great music.”
He encourages as many as possible to see the choir. For information on any of the three choirs, email mjmendz@nic.edu or call Mendez at Ext.3275.
