Auditions for Snowflake High School Choirs
2026-2027 School Year ~ Auditions Process happens from March 9-April 21, 2026. Results Posted April 23, 9pm
Madrigals,♬♭♩Honor Choir, ♪♮ Women’s Choir, ♫♯ Troubadors
Who: Anyone planning to enroll at Snowflake High School for the 2026-27 school year.
What: Try-out for a position in these four great choirs. Earn your spot with the singers.
Madrigals & Honor Choir are open to auditions from 10th, 11th & 12th grade musicians in 2026-27. Women’s Choir is open to auditions from 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grade musicians. Troubadors is a Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass choir open to the first seventy five singers who enroll. No audition required to join Troubadors.
WHAT DOES THE AUDITION LOOK LIKE? (see below) #1 is over the internet, #2,3 & 4 are in-person, singing by appointment, at the Snowflake High School Choir Room. A score-sheet rubric is attached, so take a look at all the ways to earn the most points.
A solo that you sing, and record a video to send to me. Please have your name stated either in the video or on the filename you send me. We should hear your voice clearly, and any piano or instrumental accompaniment or audio track should be softer than your voice in the recording. Movie or broadway tunes, hymns, primary songs, art songs, folk songs, classical. YOUR SONG CHOICE. A melody that shows height or depth vocally is better than a melody with limited range. Example: National Anthem has a melody with a wide range. “Macarena” has a melody with very limited range.
A tonal memory check. (I play 3 tones, you sing them back to me. I play 5 tones, you sing them back to me. I play 7 tones, you sing them back to me.)
A vocal range check. (how high and low your voice goes- very similar to a choir warm-up.)
A sight-reading music notation attempt. (You read the notes of six measures printed on a paper and after being given a starting pitch, you do your best to sing what is printed.)
When: Solo videos (2 min. excerpt) may be submitted anytime during March 9th -22nd, 2026. In-person auditions for tonal memory, vocal range check and sight-reading will be held April 7th, 8th, 9th, with a sign-up schedule posted on the high school choir room door. Email benp@snowflake.k12.az.us or txt 801-380-3153, and I will let you know available times to come audition in-person.
Madrigal Call-backs will take place the evening April 21st (time TBD) for singers who scored high enough to be considered for voice blend-checks with returning Madrigal class members.
Where: Solo videos should be submitted online to benp@snowflake.k12.az.us or to youtube and send me a link. https://www.facebook.com/ben.peterson.5030?mibextid=ZbWKwL is a way to send video to me through fb messenger. I will also have a macbook in my classroom where iphone or other apple devices can airdrop the video.
Why: Auditions help group singers into similar ability levels. This grouping leads to better circumstances for growing your musicianship at each level. Become part of this strong performing-arts tradition. Make friends, memories & have fun at school!
How: Solo videos (2 min. excerpt) may be submitted through google drive sharing or upload, emailed links, youtube links, or any means of sharing video with clear audio. See contact info above. In-person audition appointments can be made by writing your name on a time-slot on the choir room door, or emailing me. Thank you for making sure I can see you singing in the video and that I have your name either in the filename or stated by you during the video.
Do I want a 5 minute singing video? Nope. Just 2 min! Keep it simple. Pick your favorite part of the song, and record that part. 5 min. X 240 singers = 20 hours of solos to listen to.
If registered with the county as a homeschooled student, you may enroll in two (2) high school music classes, no less than two. (Any combination of Band, Choir or Orchestra with supporting audition results.) Limiting homeschooled students to a maximum of two music classes has been SHS’s consistent practice.
More information about each choir:
Madrigals is a zero hour class that meets before school from 7:00am-7:55am M-Th. Advanced vocal technique, literate musicianship, and a high level of commitment is required. Specific concert attire is required costing $70-$95 per student, unless borrowed or purchased used from alumni in adequate fit and condition. We travel to JazzMad Festival at NAU each February, and compete in other festivals around the state of AZ. Please check carefully how CNA, Cosmo, and other class program schedules may prevent you from being able to attend. I cannot admit students who won’t be in class at least 90% of the time.
Honor Choir meets 3rd hour from 10-10:55 am M-Th. Advanced vocal technique, literate musicianship, and a high level of commitment is required. This choir often sings 4 part or 8 part harmony. An inventory of school-owned concert attire is issued to each student, and must be paid for, if damaged or lost.
Encore Women’s Choir is for female students. They meet during 4th hour from 11:35-12:35 M-Th. Advanced vocal technique, literate musicianship, and a high level of commitment is required. Specific concert attire is required costing $70 per student, unless borrowed or purchased used from alumni in adequate fit and condition.
Troubadors is a Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass choir, which often sings 4 part harmony. Beginner and Intermediate Musicianship. CONCERT ATTIRE: The 2026-27 ensemble will order matching polo shirts, which will cost about $30 per student, to be worn with black pants (no holes) and black shoes supplied by students.
CLASS FEES:
If a student is in more than one choir, they pay only one choir class fee. I’m developing a way for the enrollment and finance office to only charge once. ( Not finished yet, but I’m working on it.)
Madrigals, Honor Choir, Women’s Choir & Troubadors are a $60 fee.
Ben Peterson
801-380-3153
benp@snowflake.k12.az.us