The UM Chamber Chorale and University Choir are open to all students across campus regardless of their major. Placement into Chamber Chorale requires an audition (information below) while University Choir does not. All singers must complete a voice placement, regardless of whether you’ve been in choir at UM before. A voice placement is NOT an audition. Following the voice placement, those interested in auditioning for Chamber Chorale who have qualified to continue will be notified via email and those interested in University Choir are done! Both choirs are MUSI 112a for freshmen & sophomores and MUSI 312 for juniors, seniors, and graduate students. University Choir is section 01 and Chamber Chorale is section 02. Registration can be changed after the auditions.
NOTE: It is best to wait until AFTER Chamber Chorale Callbacks before registering. Students may register for University Choir at any time, but they MUST complete a voice placement prior to the first day of class (see information below).
Rehearsal Times
- University Choir: Tues/Thurs 12:30 pm-1:50 pm
- In addition to regular rehearsals, University Choir performs twice per semester and holds one retreat per semester on a Saturday or Sunday. The schedule is provided at the beginning of each semester.
- Chamber Chorale: Mon/Wed/Fri 1:00 pm-2:20 pm
- In addition to regular rehearsals, Chamber Chorale performs two concerts per semester on campus and holds up to two retreats per semester on a Saturday or Sunday. Participation in Chamber Chorale is a year-long commitment (Fall, Spring, Summer) unless graduating or student teaching. Students are also expected to attend one-hour sectionals every week and to participate in any additional gigs; performance tours; and summer performances, events, or tours that may arise. The schedule is provided at the beginning of each semester. In the event there will be a summer commitment, students will be made aware in August.
2026 Fall Voice Placements
Fall Voice Placement Registration
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Current UM students — University Choir voice placements and Chamber Chorale auditions for Fall 2026 are now open. Email Dr. Hirner (stevie.hirner@umt.edu) for more information on how to register.
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New/incoming students who are planning to enroll in choir for Fall 2026 — please email Dr. Hirner to let her know, and she will notify you once new student voice placement registration is open.
Joining University Choir ONLY? (if interested in both ensembles, see the information about Chamber Chorale below)
- A voice placement for University Choir is NOT an audition! It is only an assessment of your voice and capabilities in order to place you in the correct section within the choir. It is low pressure, and no prior experience is needed! For the most accurate assessment, please arrive already warmed up.
- You'll sing a few exercises to establish your range, echo played examples to demonstrate tonal memory, and complete one sight-reading exercise to demonstrate music reading. It is 100% ok if you cannot read music, though!
Interested in auditioning for Chamber Chorale?
- Complete the registration form. All singers auditioning for Chamber Chorale are also eligible for University Choir. There is no need to do a separate voice placement.
- In the Chamber Chorale audition, you'll sing exercises to establish your range; echo played examples to demonstrate tonal memory; sight-read three exercises with chromaticism in various keys, time signatures, and difficulties; and sing an ascending and descending major scale while the same scale is played in a different key (ex. sing in C, but piano plays in Bb). For the most accurate assessment, please arrive already warmed up.
- Following the Chamber Chorale audition, all singers who qualify for the Fall semester must participate in the Callback audition, which is typically held on the first day of classes in August at 6PM in MUS 218 (Choir Room). See below for more information. Spring semester callbacks are on an as-needed basis.
Categories of Assessment for Chamber Chorale Audition:
- Highest / Lowest Possible Note
- Highest / Lowest Functional Note
- Registration Control / Mode of Phonation
- Breathing Technique
- Timbre
- Focus of Tone
- Onset
- Maturity of Technique
- Tension
- Vocal Weight
- Intensity/Volume
- Intonation
- Vibrato
- Accuracy of Rhythm / Pitch
- Steady Tempo
- Use of Solfege or other sight-reading method
- Tonal Memory
- Vocal Independence
Chamber Chorale Callback Information:
- Fall callbacks will be held at 6PM on the first day of classes in August in MUS 218 (Choir Room). Spring callbacks are on an as-needed basis.
- Participation in the Callbacks will require independent preparation of the selected audition excerpts. Audition excerpts will be announced and sent to singers at 5PM on the Friday before classes start.
- Chamber Chorale will not hold rehearsal on the first day of classes in August, but the choir room will be open and students are encouraged to gather together to practice the audition excerpts.
- At the callbacks, students will be expected to demonstrate that they have learned the correct voice part for the provided excerpts by performing them alone and/or in small groups. There will be two portions of the callbacks: 1) auditions by sections 2) auditions in octets with one singer per part.
Feel free to reach out to Dr. Hirner if you have any questions: stevie.hirner@umt.edu