How to join the World Youth Choir ?

How to join the next summer session:

Before joining the World Youth Choir, singers have to go through an international selection process.

The first step consists of a "live" audition in his/her own country or region. This audition is usually organised by prominent choral organisations or national sections of Jeunesses Musicales. The audition is fully recorded in order to be sent to the International Center for Choral Music in Namur, Belgium. Each National Jury has the right to send 12 applications.

Note: If you don't have a local organisation doing a live national audition, candidates can pass the audition with their own singing teacher. A letter from the teacher attesting that the recording has been done following the required procedure must be added to the sending of the recording. Please contact us on cprieto@ifcm.net or iccm@ifcm.net for further information. (see conditions below)

The second step is to be selected by an international jury gathering in late March in Namur. Members of the jury are high level choral conductors, including the conductors of the next summer session.

After listening carrefully to each tape, the jury can make 1 of 3 decisions :

• The application is accepted and the singer is invited to participate at the next summer session. Sometimes, singers could be requested to sing another part than the one they audition for. For example, S1 instead of S2.
• The application is accepted to be put on a reserve list for the next summer session.
• The application is refused. Singers are invited to audition again one year later.

No matter the jury decision, each applicant will receive a personnal letter within 2 weeks after the jury's meeting.

What do I have to do to apply and audition?

1. Read the pre-requisites below and check if you fulfill all.

• Candidates must be between the ages of 17 (before July 1st 2008) and 26 ( still on July 1st 2008).
• Candidates must enter a live audition process in their country. If they succeed at this level, their recorded audition will be sent to an international jury. Decisions of the international jury are definitive. Note: if no live audition is organised in your country, you may send your tape directly to the ICCM in Namur (see conditions below)
• As the choir's working language is English, candidates must have an intermediate level of English.
• Candidates must pay for their travel expenses (round trip) from their home to the WYC gathering place.
• Candidates will have to apply personnally for any visa they would need to travel to join the WYC. Visa are also of their own expense.

2. Find the organisation in charge of live audition in your country and make contact to know how and when a live audition will be set up. A list of organisations is available in this website. In the case that no organisation is listed for your country or no live audition is organised, you may send your tape directly to the ICCM in Namur, if this is your case please contact ICCM office on cprieto @ifcm.net or iccm@ifcm.net to get special instructions.

3. Conditions for sending your tape directly to ICCM, Namur

- There are no national auditions organised in your country.

- Other exceptional cases: please contact cprieto@ifcm.net or iccm@ifcm.net to get detailed information and approval.

Note: Please take into account that direct applications will only be considered with a previous approval from ICCM Namur. Is completely neccesary that you write us before sending your tape.

4. Audition live in front of a jury organized in your country or region. (also applies for tapes sent directly with the presence of your singing teacher) You will have to present :

• A sight reading exercice. You will have one minute to look at the sight reading given by the organisation and then you will have to sing it in front of the jury. This exercice is to be sung a cappella. (Note: If there are no national auditions organised in your country, the sight reading will be sent directly to your singing teacher after you contact us)
• A range test. This is a test of the whole range of your tessitura. It has to be sung forte and on an open vowel.
• A prepared score which you should do. You can dowload the file now. Each year, a new score is selected to be sung by all singers attending the audition process. You have to sing your part with the piano playing other parts. Do you want to start preparing right now ? Dowload the score in PDF.
• An aria or lied. Sing an aria, a lied or a folk song of your choice, with or without piano accompaniment. This is a chance for you to show your best artistic or vocal abilities.

5. Prepare:

• A letter, written in English, to explain why you want to join the World Youth Choir.
• A Curriculum Vitae, or Résumé, written in English, with all your musical experiences.

These documents must be given at the moment you pass your audition.

Remember: Auditions must be received in Namur before February 29th, 2008