Disciplines

Learn More

ACTING

Learn More

CHORUS

Learn More

CREATIVE WRITING

Learn More

DANCE

Learn More

DRAWING & PAINTING

Learn More

FILM & VIDEO

Learn More

ORCHESTRA

Learn More

PHOTOGRAPHY

2020 Chorus

Learn More

Dr. Robert Ward serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He holds degrees from Oklahoma State University, B.M. and Southern Methodist University, M.M. in music education, and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of North Texas. Robert maintains a full singing schedule as a chorister and soloist performing with a variety of professional and civic choirs around the country. Dr. Ward is a proud alumnus of OSAI, having attended as a chorus member from 1996-1998.

Robert Ward

2019 CHORUS CONDUCTOR

The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Chorus is a 60-member choir led by internationally recognized conductors and assisted by expert vocal teachers/coaches. The daily schedule includes full chorus rehearsals as well as individual and sectional coaching. Students may also participate in supplemental study and ensemble work. Repertoire consists of a wide variety of standard and contemporary choral literature. The chorus performs two concerts during the Institute.

Requirements for Applicants

1. Complete an online application and schedule your audition no later than noon the weekday before your desired audition date. See dates in right side bar or view full audition schedule here. Audition spaces fill quickly, so schedule as soon as possible.

2. Bring a government-issued I.D. or birth certificate to your audition for age verification purposes.

3. Read guidelines below to prepare your audition. Please note: You MUST audition for the part you wish to sing at Quartz Mountain, though the conductor reserves the right to change part assignments during OSAI.

4. Arrive at your audition at least 15 minutes early to check in and warm up.

Click Here to Apply

Audition Guidelines

The audition consists of 3 components. PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS BELOW CAREFULLY. Failure to adhere to these requirements could keep an otherwise outstanding voice from being accepted to OSAI!

1. Sing your choice of ONE of the songs listed below. You must sing your selected song AS WRITTEN on the sheet music provided here (click links below to download music). The music and words do NOT have to be memorized. If you would like to bring a copy of your music to the audition, you must print it beforehand. While you are encouraged to practice your piece with a metronome in advance, electronic devices (including cell phones and metronomes) are NOT permitted during the audition. The beginning pitch will be provided for you at the audition, and you will sing unaccompanied (a cappella). Vocal embellishments, inaccurate tempos, or otherwise not singing the music as written will result in significantly lower scores.

OPTION A: America the Beautiful
TEMPO: Quarter note = 75 - 90 b.p.m. (Set your metronome at a tempo between 75 and 90; each click represents one quarter note.)
> Download America the Beautiful – SOPRANO
> Download America the Beautiful – ALTO
> Download America the Beautiful – TENOR
> Download America the Beautiful – BASS

OPTION B: Greensleeves
TEMPO: Dotted quarter note = 40 - 60 b.p.m. (Set your metronome at a tempo between 40 and 60; each click represents one dotted quarter note.)
> Download Greensleeves – SOPRANO
> Download Greensleeves – ALTO
> Download Greensleeves – TENOR
> Download Greensleeves – BASS

OPTION C: O Danny Boy
TEMPO: Quarter note = 50 - 65 b.p.m. (Set your metronome at a tempo between 50 and 65; each click represents one quarter note.)
> Download O Danny Boy – SOPRANO
> Download O Danny Boy – ALTO
> Download O Danny Boy – TENOR
> Download O Danny Boy – BASS

Again, you only have to sing ONE of the songs listed above. If you have any questions, please call 405.605.7500 or email oai@oaiquartz.org

2. Sing four short musical exercises to determine tonal memory. In each exercise, applicants will be required to listen to 4-7 pitches, then sing the sequence of pitches back by memory. Tonal memory can be sung using any syllable (e.g. “do do do,” “la la la”). Listen tonal retention examples of comparable difficulty below.

> Tonal retention example – SOPRANO
> Tonal retention example – ALTO
> Tonal retention example – TENOR
> Tonal retentional example – BASS

3. Perform a short sight reading exercise. Each applicant will have 90 seconds to review the sight reading before beginning. Sight reading will be in major mode and may include limited accidentals and/or intervals up to an octave. The vocal range will be limited to an octave and a third. View a sight-reading example of comparable difficulty.

Audition Tips

Watch our video to learn what to expect at your OSAI Chorus audition.

Feel free to wear casual/comfortable attire. Since auditions are blind and will be audio recorded for adjudication at a later date, you will not be interacting with judges at your audition.

Visit the sight-reading practice and preparation resources below. Remember, the best way to become a better sight reader is to PRACTICE sight reading!

Check out our guide to practicing Tonal Memory. As with any other part of the audition, practicing this skill is vital to a successful audition! Below are some resources and tips you can use to practice tonal memory.

  • Ask your choral director or other music instructors to play short melodies (4-7 pitches) for you to sing back. They can help you learn what to listen for and to make sure that you’re singing back melodies correctly.
  • Try singing back melodies you hear on the radio, television, or even melodies you hear in the practice rooms or at your school. Start with small fragments and try to gradually sing back longer and longer sections of melody.
  • Learn to identify and sing common musical elements like scales, chords, and sequences. Recognizing these patterns in the tonal memory exercises can help you remember longer fragments of melody.
  • Practice melodic dictation exercises from online music theory websites. Two good websites are SonicFit.com and Teoria.com.
    • If you’re new to tonal memory, try starting with SonicFit’s Melodic Fragment exercises.
    • If you’d like a bit more challenge and longer phrases, use SonicFit’s Sing Back exercises.
    • Finally, use the Melodic Dictation exercises on either SonicFit or Teoria to practice retention of both melody and rhythm.

Judging Criteria

• Tonal retention – 10%
• Prepared piece – 70%
    Artistry/musicality – 20% 
    Technique/tone – 30%
    Intonation – 20%
• Sight reading – 20%

Read general information about our adjudication procedures here.

Funding for the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute chorus program is generously provided, in part, by the SBC Foundation Choral Music Endowment Fund.

Return to top

Chorus Audition Dates:


ALTUS

Wednesday, January 22, 2020
ALTUS HIGH SCHOOL
400 N. Park Avenue
Enter through the lobby of the auditorium. Parking is available on the sides of the auditorium.

ALVA

Wednesday, January 22, 2020
ALVA MIDDLE SCHOOL
800 Flynn Street
Enter through the northeast doors. Parking is available in front of the building and across the street to the west of Alva's Market.

ARDMORE

Tuesday, February 4, 2020
PLAINVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Fine Arts Center
1140 S. Plainview Road
Enter the Fine Arts Building through the south doors. Parking is available in front.

BARTLESVILLE

Tuesday, January 21, 2020
BARTLESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Fine Arts Center
1700 S.E. Hillcrest Drive
Enter the Fine Arts Center off E. 18th St. Parking is available to the south.

DUNCAN

TBA

IDABEL

Wednesday, January 29, 2020
IDABEL HIGH SCHOOL
901 E. Lincoln Road

LAWTON

Thursday, February 6, 2020
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL
5202 W. Gore Boulevard
Use the south entrance, closest to the parking lot.

MCALESTER

Thursday, January 30, 2020
MCALESTER HIGH SCHOOL
Wanda Bass Fine Arts Building
1 Buffalo Drive

MUSKOGEE

Monday, February 3, 2020
MUSKOGEE HIGH SCHOOL
3200 E. Shawnee Road
Enter to the right of the auditorium through the double doors. Parking is available in front of the auditorium.

NORMAN

Thursday, January 23, 2020
NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL
911 W. Main Street
Enter through gate 13 on the northwest side of campus. Parking is available in the lot behind the tennis courts (third entrance on the east side of Berry Road just north of Main Street).

OKLAHOMA CITY

Monday, January 27, 2020
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY
Wanda L. Bass Music Center
Blackwelder Avenue & NW 25th Street
Use the main entrance on the east side of the Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

Monday, February 3, 2020
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY
Wanda L. Bass Music Center
Blackwelder Avenue & NW 25th Street
Use the main entrance on the east side of the Wanda L. Bass Music Center.

Saturday, February 8, 2020
PUTNAM CITY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
11800 N. Rockwell Avenue
Use the main entrance on the east side of the building.

Sunday, February 9, 2020
PUTNAM CITY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
11800 N. Rockwell Avenue
Use the main entrance on the east side of the building.

OWASSO

Thursday, February 6, 2020
OWASSO HIGH SCHOOL
12901 E. 86th Street North
Use the band entrance off E. 86th Street. Parking is available in front of the building.

SHAWNEE

TBA

STILLWATER

Tuesday, February 4, 2020
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Seretean Center, Percussion Studio
S. Knoblock Street & W. Maple Avenue
Use the entrance on the east side of the building located off Knoblock Street. Parking is available on the street or 1 block away at the student union.

TULSA

Saturday, January 25, 2020
TULSA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
1202 W. Easton Street

Sunday, January 26, 2020
ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
Timko-Barton Hall
7777 S. Lewis Avenue
Use parking lot H and tell the security guard in the guard stand you are there for OSAI auditions. Timko Barton hall is just down the hill from parking lot H.

> Click to view full Audition Schedule.