Auditions

The singers for each Cappella Romana project are chosen from an international pool by the ensemble’s Music Director, Dr. Alexander Lingas, according to the musical demands of the repertoire to be sung.

Some programs may feature as few as 4 singers performing medieval music one-to-a-part, whereas others may require a more conventional SATB chorus (normally 10–16 singers, but usually 24 for the PBO Messiah and very occasionally over 25). Singers are usually contacted regarding their availability by a contractor, administrating the invitations from the music director.

In addition to outstanding musicianship, our repertoire sometimes requires singers to possess combinations of specialized skills including: reading Byzantine or other chant notations at sight; familiarity with Greek or Slavonic; the employment of non-Western vocal timbres; understanding pre-modern Western mensural notation; the ability to apply historically and culturally appropriate forms of performance practice (tunings, ornamentation, musica ficta, etc.). However, not every project has such requirements and we invite excellent choral singers from many backgrounds to submit their materials.

How to Audition for Cappella Romana

If you are a choral singer and wish to be considered for the rosters of future Cappella Romana projects, please submit via email to singing [ at ] cappellaromana.org a curriculum vitae or résumé accompanied by a cover letter indicating: a) any special linguistic skills or musical experience relevant to the work of the ensemble; and b) if would like to conduct a choir audition in person. If you wish, you may also attach a headshot and up to three mp3 sound files. Your information will then be added to our database of prospective singers.

If you have indicated a desire to audition in person, your name will be added to a list of singers to be contacted when Dr. Lingas is in the Pacific Northwest with sufficient time to hear you.

Cappella Romana offers annually a self-produced concert series in the Pacific Northwest and touring programs for other presenters.

It also serves as the chorus for the Portland Baroque Orchestra. In recent years Cappella Romana has been presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC), the Getty Center (Los Angeles), Princeton University, Yale University, the Queen’s College (University of Oxford), St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), the Irish World Music Centre (Limerick), and the Pontifical Oriental Institute (Rome).

Some programs are recorded for broadcast, podcast or disc/digital release.