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All applicants for Choral Awards are auditioned through the inter-collegiate Choral Trials. The 2023 Choral Trials will take place in Cambridge 20-22 March.

Before the Choral Trials (by 10 March 2023)

You will be required to submit a video-recording in advance, of yourself performing a piece of your choice, which should be something that demonstrates the suitability of your voice to the traditional choral repertoire. The piece can be sacred or secular but should not exceed four minutes in length. A performance with pre-recorded accompaniment is fine.

If you do not have access to an accompanist, you may sing one of a number of set pieces for which we can provide pre-recorded accompaniment (see table below to download sample scores and audio files). 

The Choral Trials (20-22 March 2023)

The audition itself will consist of:

  • a live performance of a traditional song (folk song). Download PDF icon Folksong scores for further information. 
  • a short piece of sight-reading. This will most likely include sixteenth-century polyphony (probably in Latin).
  • a range tests and / or aural tests. This will consist of exercises such as recognising intervals, singing the middle note of a given chord, singing back a short melody, and other similar exercises. See Aural Tests for examples.

You may also be invited for a second audition with any of the Directors of Music of the choirs on your list of choices, and some Chaplains also like to interview candidates. These additional meetings will be organised by the individual Colleges.

Sample scores and audio files for pre-recorded audition pieces

PDF Score MP3 Audio File
PDF icon A Bereite dich.pdf
PDF icon A He shall feed his flock
PDF icon A Qui sedes
PDF icon An die Musik B flat (low)
D (high)
PDF icon Apres un reve A minor (low)
C minor (high)
PDF icon B Betrachte
PDF icon B The people that walked
PDF icon Caro mio ben C major (low)
E flat major (high)
PDF icon Die Forelle B major (low)
D flat major (high)
PDF icon Music for a while A minor (high)
C minor (low, or very high)
F minor (medium)
PDF icon S Come unto him
PDF icon S Ich will dir mein Herze schenken
PDF icon S Mein gläubiges Herze
PDF icon T Adam muss
PDF icon T Every valley
PDF icon T Ich will nur dir

Contact

Louisa Denby
Choral Awards Co-ordinator
E choralawards@group.cam.ac.uk

Key Dates

  • 15 February 2023 - Choral Award application deadline
  • 1 March 2023 - Choral Award references receipt deadline
  • 10 March 2023 - Pre-recorded videos receipt deadline
  • 20-22 March 2023 - Choral Trials
  • 29 April 2023 - Choral Awards Open Day

Choral Awards Applications 2023

Please submit your application by 15 February and your reference by 1 March. 

Application form

Reference Form