Singers, Learn Your Craft. Audition for the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Chorus.

PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Luhrs & Associates, luhrsassocpress[at]verizon.net (Bergen County, New Jersey; August 1, 2017) – The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, the house opera company of the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), invites singers to audition for the Verismo Opera Chorus. Artistic Director Lucine Amara announces professional, amateur, and retired male and female singers may audition for the Verismo Opera Chorus. Auditions take place on Wednesdays, August 23 and 30 and September 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The auditions are held at 44 Armory Street in Englewood, New Jersey. For all auditions, an appointment is required and must be made in advance. To schedule an audition appointment, call (201) 886-0561 or contact info@verismopera.org. During the company’s 2017-2018 season, choristers will perform in the company’s productions of Giacomo Puccini's dramatic works, Tosca, on October 15, 2017 and Turandot on April 22, 2018. Both operas will be presented at 3 p.m. at bergenPAC, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street, in Englewood, New Jersey. Vocalists will perform live and sing in Italian. "The chorus is for anyone interested in singing, as well as being involved with a massively immersive theater experience. You not only get to act; you are encouraged to do so! This is a great way to get on stage with other people with similar interests," said Associate Conductor/Chorus Director Michael Wittenburg. Preparation includes instruction in the pronunciation of the text in Italian, vocal warm-ups, learning the music and detailed staging. The operas will be fully staged and performed in costume accompanied by an orchestra led by the company's Principal Conductor/Music Director, Maestra Lucy Arner. Audition Process Male singers, representing all vocal ranges and ages, are especially needed. Adult applicants should have a rudimentary working ability to read music and experience singing. Teenagers, ages 17 to 19, may also audition for the Verismo Opera Chorus and must read music and have some prior vocal experience singing with a school, choir, or another performing group or organization. Previous stage experience and foreign language study are desirable, but are not a necessity. Applicants who have these skills and experiences will be given preference. The audition consists of singing five note scales. During the audition process, each singer's range and vocal category will be determined. Applicants do not need to bring a song or music to the audition. An application may be downloaded at http://verismopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/chorus.pdf. For information or to schedule an appointment to audition for the chorus, call (201) 886-0561 or contact info@verismopera.org. Accessible Site The audition site is handicapped accessible and designated handicapped parking is available in the adjacent lot. The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera is committed to ensuring its programs and services are accessible. Vocalists requiring a special accommodation or with specific questions about the physical features of a facility where Verismo Opera performs may call (201) 886-0561 at least two weeks prior to the audition. About New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera For 28 years, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera has been an integral part of the region’s classical music culture. Led by Metropolitan Opera luminary Lucine Amara, Verismo Opera delivers a rich, grand opera experience for performers and viewers. As the Bergen Performing Arts Center's house opera company, Verismo Opera provides performing opportunities for young musicians and artists through its semi-annual productions at the theatre and concerts held in community settings. Community members are invited to get involved as supernumeraries and volunteers. An annual international vocal competition is conducted in November with finals generally drawing artists throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Verismo Opera also organizes opera workshops, master classes and concerts and offers affordable, highly professional productions. For more information, visit Verismo Opera's web site, www.verismopera.org; follow the company on Facebook, http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; or call (201) 886-0561. ###