Application and Audition Information | The Hillsdale College Chapel Choir

On-Campus Audition Weekend: January 30–31, 2026

‍Pre-Screening Video Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025
‍(Please use Pre-Screening Scholarship form linked in the button below to submit your video.)

Choral Scholars FAQ Pre-Screening Scholarship Application Form

Prospective Hillsdale College students applying for admission in Fall 2026 and wishing to be considered for a Choral Scholars Scholarship must submit a pre-screening video by December 1, 2025. The application form and submission portal can be found here. Pre-screening videos will be reviewed and invitations to campus will be sent by Dec. 15, 2025. Note that a pre-screening video is required before any invitation for an on-campus audition will be extended. Please see the guidelines below outlining the requirements for the pre-screening audition. On-campus auditions will take place on January 30-31, 2026. If you are unable to accept an invitation to our on-campus Audition Weekend due to scheduling difficulties, alternate visit dates can be arranged.

Typically, Choral Scholars awards are $10,000.00 per year, renewable according to the terms of the aid agreement. The distribution of awards depends on various factors, including funding cycle capacity, the vocal needs of the choir, and the relative strength of the applicant pool in the particular year. The terms of the award are presented to successful candidates before accepting the scholarship, and fully outline the duties and expectations of Choral Scholars.
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The on-campus audition includes the following elements:

You will perform one or two solo work(s) that demonstrate(s) your voice at its best. Any genre of classical music is acceptable for this solo, from Gregorian chant to opera and oratorio. If you are unsure about your selection, please reach out to your faculty contact to ascertain if your selection is appropriate. You will be asked to submit your prepared solo work(s) in advance, and an accompanist will be provided.
You will perform the assigned choral repertoire provided by your faculty contact.
You will be asked to perform vocalises to demonstrate vocal range and tessitura.
In order to determine musicianship, you will be asked sight-read selections of choral music ranging from relatively easy to more advanced (see note below on preparing for this audition element).
Finally, you will have a simple aural memory evaluation to conclude the audition.

Note: we have had successful candidates with various levels of instruction prior to auditioning, but we strongly recommend preparation especially in the area of sight-reading and aural memory. To this end, we have found that the exercises provided by Sight Reading Factory and Meludia are a good training regimen to improve these skills.

Pre-screening Procedure for Applicants to the Choral Scholars Scholarship Program‍

‍Note that the pre-screening video assumes the assistance of a qualified accompanist. Please be sure to enlist the assistance of a competent accompanist in the preparation of these materials.‍

The applicant should submit all recordings as unlisted YouTube links. All submissions must include video of the teacher/accompanist and applicant recording the various portions of the audition. A straight-through performance of the whole audition is preferred to starting and stopping the recording between portions of the audition.
Solo repertoire should be fully accompanied in the recording. You may record up to two solo selections, preferably of contrasting style and character. Selections should be from classical voice or classical sacred music repertoire. If you choose to sing an unaccompanied solo, such as a Gregorian chant, you should also submit a solo that includes accompaniment.
Please sing your voice part from this edition of A New Commandment by William Mundy (c. 1529–1591). For the prepared choral repertoire portion, the teacher/accompanist should play one adjacent part with the applicant singing his/her appropriate voice part, such that:

a.) If the applicant is soprano, the teacher/accompanist plays alto while the applicant sings the soprano part.
b.) If the applicant is alto, the teacher/accompanist plays soprano while the applicant sings the alto part.
c.) If the applicant is tenor, the teacher/accompanist plays bass while the applicant sings the tenor part.
d.) If the applicant is bass, the teacher/accompanist plays tenor while the applicant sings the bass part.
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Vocalises (these can be printed for the applicant to read from):

a.) Vocalise 1 should be performed with piano from B♭3 for men and B♭4 for women. Proceed downward by half-step.
Tenors should vocalize down to approximately B♭2. Basses should vocalize down to approximately F#2. Sopranos should vocalize down to approximately B♭3. Altos should vocalize down to approximately G3.
b.) Vocalise 2 should be performed with piano from E♭3 for men and E♭4 for women. Proceed upward by half-step.
Tenors should vocalize up to approximately G4. Basses should vocalize up to approximately E♭4. Sopranos should vocalize up to approximately B♭5. Altos should vocalize up to approximately F#5.

If you have more questions about the Choral Scholars Program or the audition process, please use the contact information below. We will be happy to hear from you!

Timothy McDonnell, DMA Director of Sacred Music and Associate Professor of Music
sacredmusicprogram@hillsdale.edu

"Participating in the Chapel Choir has helped me to build my confidence and develop my musical skills. It’s a great community where everyone works hard together. I love being a part of Evensong and worshipping God with our music."

—Annie Brooks, ’23

music

"Lively personal faith in Jesus Christ is a vital pillar of our campus culture. The sacred music program both expresses and enhances this culture. Worship led by our chapel choir expresses both gospel joy as well as musical excellence. It enlivens my own faith to be a part of it."

—ADAM RICK

Hillsdale college CHAPLAIN

"There is something deeply meaningful about the fact that we do not prepare music for a performance so much as we prepare for a service of worship. I love the combination of traditional texts and unique compositions for Choral Evensong. It is a lot of work to learn new and complicated settings for each service, but it is glorious."

—Paul Lindauer, ’24

english

"The saying attributed to Saint Augustine, 'He who sings prays twice,' truly encapsulates my experience with the Chapel Choir and Choral Evensong. I am able to combine my love for singing with my desire to praise the Lord, not only through a beautiful melody but also with words, and within a community that shares in the experience."

—Marie-Thérèse Romanos

Music and Philosophy

Choral Scholars FAQ

What is the weekly rehearsal schedule for Choral Scholars?

The Choral Scholars’ schedule is intensive but rewarding. The framework is derived from the intercollegiate athletic model, and the opportunity to bond with colleagues through teamwork and camaraderie is likewise inculcated in the program. Choral Scholars rehearse Sunday through Thursday in the late afternoons, with sung services on Sundays. In the first semester of membership, Choral Scholars receive specialized and individualized training in musicianship and ensemble skills, which form that basis for a lifetime of excellent music making and enjoyment.

Do I have to be a music major or minor to be a Choral Scholar?

Absolutely not! We welcome talented students who are excited about our work from every academic area. Choral Scholars are drawn from a wide array of major study areas, and we believe this enriches the character of our environment.

Are there opportunities for lessons attached to the Choral Scholars Award?

Yes, students wishing to take private voice lessons can register for lessons without charge.

What if I am unable to audition during the specified in-person audition weekend? Are alternatives possible?

On-campus auditions are required as part of the Choral Scholars application process. Following the pre-screening process, select students are invited to campus for a live audition during the weekend of January 30-31, 2026. If travel to Hillsdale is not possible at that time, we can make separate arrangements to hear you in person. Note that awards may be quickly depleted following the audition weekend, so scheduling as close as possible to the Audition Weekend is recommended.

What are the various performance opportunities for Choral Scholars?

Choral Scholars form the core of the Christ Chapel Choir, and therefore are part of all the sung choral services, concerts, and special events that the Chapel Choir performs throughout the school term. Choral Scholars will also have their own rehearsals, separate from the full Chapel Choir, and will prepare services and other special events which they will perform on their own.

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Hillsdale College Choral Scholars Auditions