Because a spot in Florakören is in great demand we organise auditions in the beginning of both the spring and autumn semesters.
Do you want to join Florakören?
We are primarily looking for singers studying in Turku in the ages 18-20. But everyone with a completed secondary education (a finnish standard, “toisenasteenkoulutus”) are welcome. Contact us if your age deviates from the before mentioned but still feel that Florakören would be something for you!
If you want to join the choir you are warmly welcome to our auditions. During the audition your vocal range, ability to hit notes and ability to sing in a quartet will be tested. Every singer will also perform a short song, free of choice, so that we get to hear your unique voice.
What happens during the auditions?
The auditions are held at our practice premises with our musical board (consisting of some singers from different voice parts) and our conductor. The audition will take from 5 to 10 minutes. There is a form to register for the auditions. After registration is closed a specific audition time will be sent to you. If you for any reason cannot make it to your specific audition please let us know about it as soon as possible. The audition results are sent to all applicants by email after the musical board has heard all aspiring choir singers. A complete list of all accepted singers will usually be posted on our Facebook page (if permission of name has been given).
What song should I choose?
Choose a song that you feel confident about and that shows off your voice in the best possible way. Simple and traditional songs (e.g. “Vem kan segla förutan vind”) have been popular choices throughout the years. A lot of vibrato and glissando is suitable for a solo singer, but be mindful that in a choir it is seldom desirable. When singing your own song the musical board pays attention to your pitch accuracy and what voice part would suit your voice best.
What is required of a singer in Florakören?
To uphold our good reputation we wish that all participating singers do so regularly and actively. That means showing up for rehearsals and paying attention during them. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays at 18:00 and till 21:00. Weekend practices (Friday evening and Saturday) are also held once or twice per semester. We have concerts usually once per semester, sometimes twice, and all singers are expected to participate. You need to have attended at least 75% of the rehearsals to be able to sing at the concert.
Do I have to know how to read sheet music?
We don’t require for our singers to be able to read sheet music. But if you can it could be of great help to you as some of the pieces we sing can be quite complicated.
Lastly…
Florakören practices for and performs at concerts, travels around the globe and has fun both by ourselves and with our choir brothers in Brahe Djäknar, and sometimes with other student choirs. We are a merry band of people who enjoy spending time with each other. No wonder that many lifelong friendships and even several marriages have started in choir contexts. Choir life is a socially intensive context that yields immense value, but also requires for you to be able give it some of your time.
And remember that it does not mean that you are a bad singer if you don’t get accepted into the choir on your first try. The need for singers in the different voice parts varies by semester and the number of accepted singers is adjusted in accordance to that. So don’t give up, keep on singing and reapply when the next auditions are held! The auditions are not a singing competition with harsh critics – it’s nothing to be afraid of. So don’t hesitate, come to our auditions!
If you have questions you can contact us at flora(a)abo.fi