Joining the Chorale

Enrollment dates, or Open Calls, are sessions open to the public where new members can join the Chorale. They typically fall on the first two Monday evenings at the beginning of each trimester. Our joining process is friendly — we do not have a formal audition process, nor do we require any particular level of previous singing or music expertise. We have adult singers (18 and up) at all levels of experience in our group. You do not need to bring your own music, nor sing a prepared piece.

We rehearse at the Covenant Community Center*, 503 Duncan Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809. Park in the parking lot behind the building and come in the back door directly off the parking (next to the playground, it’s marked 503). Do not use the big doors at the front – they are locked. There is an elevator to the second floor where we rehearse.

*The Covenant Community Center was formerly the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant; it is now operated by Covenant Community Services.

Information About Joining the Chorale

  • Open Calls start at 6:00pm.
  • Our membership is restricted to people 18 and older.
  • Our joining process is informal and supportive — we do not have a formal audition process. You do not need to bring your own music, nor sing a prepared piece.
  • You will be greeted by our Membership Committee when you arrive, and will be asked to fill out a couple of forms.
  • New members then meet with our Artistic Director to determine voice section placement.
  • All singing members should have a good sense of pitch and be willing to learn to read music.
  • We are a SATB chorus (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). Each voice part is divided into an upper (1) and lower (2) part; this applies to some of the music we sing where one or more sections will divide.
  • Our Music Librarian will provide music.
  • Each Open Call session is immediately followed by a regular rehearsal at 7 pm, where the whole Chorale will be in attendance. This will be your first rehearsal. Rehearsals run from 7 to 9:30pm.
  • Usually our Fall trimester runs from September until early or mid December; our Winter trimester runs from January to late March/early April; our Spring trimester runs from late March/early April until late May/early June. We do three major concerts a year and a variety of short “outreach” events.
  • We have a smaller, auditioned, ensemble called Prism that is active during non-showcase trimesters.
  • Dues information can be found on our Pay Membership Dues page.
  • Our Membership Handbook has more information on the Chorale.

Showcase Trimester

Our Showcase Trimester (typically our January-March trimester) is very different from our standard seasonal concerts. Rather than a formal stand-and-sing format, Showcase is a more theatrical cabaret-style performance. We will typically have 4 full ensemble pieces and usually a SSAA and a TTBB featured piece. The rest of the performance consists of skits, small groups or solo performances to showcase the array of talent in our membership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this an audition?

No, this is not an audition. You will not be required to perform a prepared piece and there are no examinations of musical ability. The Artistic Director will be mainly listening to see if you can match pitch. It’s pretty laid back, so don’t be frightened!

Do I have to be able to read music?

No, though its great if you can! Once you join the chorale you will be asked to learn some basic music reading skills.

How often do you rehearse?

We rehearse once a week, on Monday nights, starting at 7pm. We also have sectional rehearsals. On average, there are about three (3) sectionals a trimester.

Is there an attendance policy?

Yes there is. Members are allowed to miss three (3) rehearsals a trimester. Note – if you watch the live-stream of a rehearsal you didn’t attend in person it doesn’t count as an absence, up to two (2) live-streams per trimester. Once you have four (4) absences you will need to discuss your progress with learning the music with the Artistic Director. If you miss five (5) rehearsals in a trimester, you will not be able to sing in the concert unless you get a waiver from the Board.

Where do you rehearse?

We rehearse at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant at 503 Duncan Rd, Wilmington. Park at the back and enter the back door from the lot. The Sanctuary is on the second floor and there is an elevator.

Who can I talk to if I still have questions?

If you have any other questions about joining please contact us.