LA Children's Chorus holding auditions for its Young Men's Ensemble

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC) announces auditions for middle school- and high school-aged boys with changing or changed voices for its newest choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, on August 23 and 24, 2010. Candidates must prepare one solo art or folk song and will be gauged on their ability to sing as part of an ensemble. Those interested in auditioning should be proficient in the fundamentals of music theory and musicianship. The vocal audition also includes a written music theory test and a sight-singing evaluation.

LACC’s Young Men’s Ensemble, one of only a few choirs in the country to serve young male vocalists with changing voices, is designed for boys who wish to pursue singing and the choral arts throughout middle and high school. Led by Dr. Steven Kronauer, it offers quality vocal and choral training in a supportive environment along with essential tools needed to bridge the gap between treble and young men’s choral singing. One of the fundamental considerations for working with the choir, Kronauer notes, is being flexible with the repertoire, which he may change from week to week based on fluctuations in the singers’ voices to ensure the voices are never “pushed” or strained.

Established in September 2009, Young Men’s Ensemble holds weekly rehearsals, and features a specially tailored musicianship course and individualized vocal coaching sessions that adhere to LACC’s exceptionally high standards and rigor. Among the highlights of its first season, YME gave several notable performances, including a concert with the esteemed University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, attended a retreat at USC Thornton School of Music and participated in a special seminar with acclaimed counter-tenor David Daniels.

Young Men’s Ensemble of Los Angeles Children's Chorus is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and The Green Foundation. Auditions will be held at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, located at 585 East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California 91101. For more information or to make an audition appointment, please call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.