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Sing in the Choir

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Joining the Choir

Thank you for your interest in joining your voice with Portland Choir & Orchestra.

Auditions for our 2025-26 season are closed.  Auditions for next fall should be posted in August.  In the meantime, please fill out the form below and we will notify you when audition appointments are available for signup.

Add your email to our Auditions list

Audition Process 

  • Choir auditions will test vocal quality, range, sight reading skills and ability to adjust your singing to various musical directions (e.g. sing that phrase again, this time legato).
  • You should come prepared to sing a song you are comfortable with and that represents your best vocal ability (hymn, aria, lied, art song, folk song, etc.)  You will also be given a series of vocal exercises to sing, as well as basic choral parts for sight reading.  PLEASE DO NOT BRING AN ACCOMPANIST; YOU WILL SING UNACCOMPANIED.
  • You will audition one-on-one with the Music Director or an assistant.  If multiple slots are available per listed time, this means multiple auditions are happening simultaneously but in separate rooms (i.e., you will not sing together with other candidates).

Members of the choir must commit to the agreement below each season so that we as an organization can strive for excellence in musical performance.  To submit your agreement, please login using the Sign In link above with credentials associated with a current choir member.  If you do not yet have an account, you may create one using the same link, but understand, only confirmed choir members can commit.

Contact Us

Member Agreement

Attendance and Tuition

  • Choir members commit to (a minimum) of a 9-month concert season, typically from September to May or June, with a mid-season break.  You can review our season calendar here.
  • Attendance is required at all concert performances including tech and tutti rehearsals. (A tutti rehearsal is a final rehearsal involving all musicians and production crew.)
  • Attendance at weekly rehearsals is critical to our success.  While 80% attendance is the minimum requirement, most PCO members average 90-100% attendance.  Rehearsals during concert season are 7:30-9:45 pm every Thursday at the Lake Oswego Stake Center, 14903 Westlake Drive.  We have been asked to park in the lot on the south side of the building, unless you are unable to negotiate the stairs.  Choir members will be notified of exceptions through our email list and the calendar.
  • Any exceptions to the above require advance approval from the Music Director.  Details for any leave of absence within the season must be worked out and approved by the Music Director well in advance, including the date for possible re-entry and whether a re-audition will be necessary at that time.
  • Choir tuition is $90 payable in one sum by the first of October.

Concert Attire

  • It is the responsibility of each individual member to purchase the approved tuxedo or dress within two weeks of acceptance into the choir.  These are purchased through PCO (currently $120 for men and $100 for women) and can take the place of the first year tuition.
  • Members who find the cost of performance attire to be prohibitive should contact the PCO President for assistance.

Ticket Sales

  • Each member is encouraged to sell tickets for the concerts to friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

Sheet Music

  • Choir members are responsible for obtaining a matte (not shiny) black binder of their choosing to be used (in concert).
  • The music binder and a pencil are required at all rehearsals.  Original sheet music from the publisher is loaned to choir members from the PCO library and may be lightly marked in pencil.  Digital sheet music (PDF) may be distributed to choir members from this website based upon physical or licensed digital copies in the PCO library.  Choir members using binders are responsible to print their own copy for their binder and destroy all digital and physical copies after the final performance.  Digital sheet music printed by choir members is not subject to the markup restriction.
  • A digital tablet may be substituted for the music binder.  Approved devices are iPad, Android and Windows tablets.  A smart phone will not work.  As the tablet must be held for up to 30 minutes without resting, please be mindful of the tablet weight before purchasing one.  PDF versions of sheet music are available for choir members registered on this website on the Musicians page.  Note digital music is on loan to choir members strictly for use in rehearsal and performance, and must be destroyed immediately after the final performance.
  • Paper sheet music distributed in rehearsal that is not returned at the final concert in a concert set will be assessed a $10 late fee.  Such music not returned by 30 days after the concert will be assessed a $5 per piece replacement fee.