Sing in a Capital Choir!
Joining one of our Capital choirs is easy. See the frequently asked questions below to find out how!
Sign up for your audition via Dr. Potter’s appointment booking page. If you have any questions, please contact him!
In most cases, yes—but the audition you complete depends on who you are and which ensemble you hope to join.
Voice majors and students whose primary instrument is voice must complete the Chapel Choir audition as their choral placement audition. Following that audition, they may be placed in Chapel Choir, Cantabile, Consort, or Choral Union.
Other Capital students may choose between two pathways:
Gateway Audition: for consideration for Cantabile, Consort, and/or Choral Union
Chapel Choir Audition: for anyone who would like to be considered for Chapel Choir; this audition can also lead to placement in Cantabile, Consort, or Choral Union
Community singers audition specifically for Choral Union.
Returning Choral Union singers who previously sang in the ensemble do not need to reaudition. They should complete the returning-singer registration form instead.
Chapel Choir — SATB
Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 2:00–2:50 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00–3:15 p.m.
Chapel Choir is Capital University’s highly select, auditioned SATB ensemble. Membership is an academic-year commitment.
Cantabile — Treble Voices
Tuesday/Thursday, 3:30–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, 3:00–3:50 p.m.
Cantabile is Capital’s semi-auditioned treble choir. If you are interested in participating but have a conflict with one of the rehearsal days, please still audition—Dr. Potter is happy to work around conflicts where possible.
Consort — Tenor–Bass Voices
Tuesday/Thursday, 3:30–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, 3:00–3:50 p.m.
Consort is Capital’s semi-auditioned tenor–bass chorus. As with Cantabile, singers with a potential rehearsal conflict are still encouraged to audition so that possible accommodations can be discussed.
Choral Union — SATB College & Community Choir
Monday, 7:00–9:30 p.m.
Choral Union brings together Capital students, faculty, staff, alumni, and singers from throughout greater Columbus in a large SATB ensemble. Fall rehearsals begin in late September.
Audition sign-ups are completed online using Dr. Potter’s appointment booking page.
Choose the audition pathway that applies to you—Gateway, Chapel Choir, or Choral Union—and select an available appointment.
If none of the available times work with your schedule, please still audition! Email Dr. Potter, and he will work with you to arrange another time.
Community members are warmly invited to audition for Choral Union.
If you have not previously sung in Choral Union, sign up for a Choral Union audition. Fall audition appointments are available on Mondays at the beginning of the semester.
If you have previously sung in Choral Union, you do not need to reaudition. Contact Dr. Potter for the returning-singer registration form.
Auditions take place in Dr. Potter’s office, CON 115.
When you arrive, you will find an audition information form on the music stand in the hallway outside the office. Please complete it while you wait your turn.
That depends on your audition.
Gateway Audition
You do not need to prepare a formal audition piece. You will sing a song of your choice, complete a brief range check, and sing back a short tonal-memory pattern.
You may sing anything you know well and feel comfortable singing—even something as simple as “Happy Birthday,” “Amazing Grace,” or “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”
Choral Union Audition
Like the Gateway Audition, the Choral Union audition requires no formal prepared solo. You will sing a familiar song, complete a range check, and sing back a short tonal-memory pattern.
Chapel Choir Audition
The Chapel Choir audition does require advance preparation. Singers should contact Dr. Potter for this year’s exercises and excerpts that they should prepare in advance.
The audition also includes sight-reading, tonal memory, and a brief interview.
Please arrive approximately five minutes early.
While you wait, complete the paper audition information form located on the music stand in the hallway outside CON 115.
There are three different audition formats.
Gateway Audition
Vocal range check
Sing a song of your choice
Tonal-memory exercise
There is no sight-reading in the Gateway Audition.
Choral Union Audition
Vocal range check
Sing a song of your choice
Tonal-memory exercise
The Choral Union audition is designed to be simple, welcoming, and low-pressure.
Chapel Choir Audition
Range check
Vocal flexibility exercise (provided by Dr. Potter)
Prepared choral excerpts (provided by Dr. Potter)
Sight-reading
Tonal memory
Brief interview
The Chapel Choir audition is evaluated holistically; no single mistake or exercise determines the outcome.
For the Gateway and Choral Union auditions, that is completely fine! You do not need to prepare a formal solo.
Sing any song you know well and enjoy singing. The goal is not to choose something impressive—it is simply to allow Dr. Potter to hear your voice comfortably and confidently.
If you have sheet music, bring it with you and Dr. Potter can accompany you at the piano. If not, choose something you can sing unaccompanied.
The Chapel Choir audition is different: rather than preparing a solo, you should prepare the exercises and two choral excerpts provided in the audition packet. Contact Dr. Potter to receive the audition packet.
Yes, piano accompaniment will be provided where it is part of the audition.
For Gateway and Choral Union auditions, if you bring sheet music for your song, Dr. Potter will be happy to accompany you.
During the Chapel Choir audition, piano accompaniment is provided for the range exercises and prepared excerpts as indicated in the audition instructions.
For a Gateway or Choral Union audition, you do not need to bring anything special. If you plan to sing a song for which you have sheet music, you are welcome to bring it.
For a Chapel Choir audition, come having prepared the required exercises and excerpts and bring your copy of these with you. You may use music while singing the choral excerpts; they do not need to be memorized.
It depends on your audition.
Gateway Audition: No sight-reading is required.
Choral Union Audition: No sight-reading is required.
Chapel Choir Audition: Yes. You will be given a short sight-reading example, your key, and your starting pitch, followed by 30 seconds to look through and practice the example. You are encouraged to practice aloud during those 30 seconds.
You may use whichever system works best for you: solfège, scale-degree numbers, letter names, or a neutral syllable such as “la.”
Most importantly, keep going even if you make a mistake. The ability to maintain the pulse, recover, and continue making music is an important part of the assessment.
Here is the simplest way to decide:
If voice is your major or primary instrument:
Complete the Chapel Choir audition.
If you want to be considered for Chapel Choir:
Complete the Chapel Choir audition.
If you are a Capital student and are interested only in Cantabile, Consort, and/or Choral Union:
Complete the Gateway Audition.
If you are a faculty or staff member:
Choral Union is the most natural option for most faculty and staff. If Monday evenings do not work and you would like to be considered for Cantabile or Consort, complete a Gateway Audition.
If you are a community member:
Complete the Choral Union audition unless you are a returning Choral Union singer.
Absolutely not!
Capital’s choirs welcome students from across the University. Non-music majors are encouraged to audition whether they have sung for years or simply miss making music.
Choir offers an opportunity to make meaningful, high-level music while building musicianship, confidence, friendships, collaboration, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Whatever your major, there is a place for your voice in CapChoirs!
No, you do not need to schedule a separate audition for every choir.
A Chapel Choir audition can lead to placement in any of Capital’s choral ensembles.
A Gateway Audition can lead to placement in Cantabile, Consort, and/or Choral Union, and you may indicate interest in more than one of those ensembles.
The Gateway Audition does not qualify a singer for Chapel Choir.
Yes. One purpose of the audition is to determine where your voice functions most successfully.
During the range check or prepared range exercises, Dr. Potter will listen to where your voice feels and sounds most comfortable and use that information when determining your most appropriate voice part.
For the Chapel Choir excerpts, prepare your preferred voice part.
Rosters for each choir will be sent by email prior to each respective ensemble’s first rehearsal.
Because choral placement depends on your audition pathway and results, make sure that your final class schedule reflects the ensemble in which you are ultimately placed.
If you have questions about registration or need help making a choir-related schedule adjustment, contact Dr. Potter.
Please still audition!
If you are interested in Cantabile or Consort but have a conflict with one of the rehearsal days, Dr. Potter is happy to work around conflicts where possible.
If your conflict involves Chapel Choir, contact Dr. Potter to discuss your situation. Chapel Choir membership carries an expectation of full participation in scheduled class