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Submit to Children of the Gospel Choir Vocal Auditions

* Please scroll to bottom of the page to continue.*



Eligible age range: 9-18 years old

Deadline for Online Submissions: Rolling admission 

Next In Person Live Audition:  Applicants will be invited to a live audition on a rolling basis (see information below)

AUDITION PROCESS: 

Auditions for Children of the Gospel Choir consist of two rounds: 

  • a preliminary online screening through Submittable.com and 
  • a secondary live in person audition with COTG faculty 

1. Register for the preliminary online audition through https://washingtonperformingarts.submittable.com/submit. 

  • Select Children of the Gospel Choir Vocal Auditions by clicking the “Submit” button.
  • You’ll be prompted to sign-in or create a free Submittable.com account at the bottom of the page.

2. Using the Submittable.com audition portal, submit video recordings of two (2) selections:

  • Star Spangled Banner (a cappella)

And one of the following selections: 

  • Bridge Over Troubled Water - any arrangement
  • Encourage Yourself - Donald  Lawrence
  • Ordinary People - John Legend
  • I Love the Lord - Whitney Houston
  • Something's Coming - from West Side Story
  • Love on Top - Beyonce
  • If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys 
  • Feeling Good – Various Artists (may be performed a cappella)
  • Your second selection should include musical accompaniment such as piano, guitar, or prerecorded track. 

3. Washington Performing Arts Staff will notify you of your audition results and, if applicable, schedule your in-person live audition date/time.

4. Candidates who advance to Round 2 will participate in the following activities as a part of live auditions. 

  • Candidates will sing two (2) selections
  • Candidates will participate in musicianship exercises.
  • Candidates will also participate in movement/ stage presence exercises

Auditions are typically scheduled at the beginning of each of two performance cycles: 

  • September – December 
  • January  – June 

Deadline for Online Submissions: Rolling admissions

Next Live Audition: Applicants will be invited to a live audition on a rolling basis.   

If you have questions contact us at gospelchoirs@washingtonperformingarts.org. 

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Submit to The Reggie Award, Children of the Gospel Choir

“The Reggie” award was created to honor former Washington Performing Arts Board Chair Reginald Van Lee, who has been an avid supporter of the Children of the Gospel Choir. It will be awarded annually to a high school junior or senior member of the COTG who exhibits the qualities that Reggie has always exemplified: strong self-discipline; high goals and high achievements; unfailing good cheer and generosity; and an enthusiasm for the arts that’s accompanied by a commitment to a broader education. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

Applicants Must Be: 

  1.      A current high school junior or senior 
  2.      An active member for Children of the Gospel Choir for at least two (2) years who, in addition to meeting all other responsibilities of membership, has

            a. regularly attended rehearsals and performances and

            b. consistently demonstrated both leadership and discipline in rehearsals and performances.


AWARD DETAILS

This award is for one year of support in an amount between $1,000 and $2,000. 

Awards may be applied to arts-related education or activity, including but not limited to: 

  • tuition and fees for colleges or trade schools;
  • books, supplies, and/or equipment required for course study;
  • college or trade school applications and/or related travel fees; 
  • professional recordings for college auditions;
  • professional development or advanced training; or
  • other activities that are arts-related (to be described in detail in your application).

Formal notification of any award will be made by WPA’s Gospel Programs Committee to each selected award recipient. Award funds will be paid directly to the award recipient(s) in a single lump sum by July 31, 2024.

Any award recipient in her/his junior year of high school shall return for her/his final (senior) year in the choir. 

Within one year of the date of receiving the award, each recipient shall 

  1. submit a letter of appreciation to Reggie Van Lee; and 
  2. submit a written report or video recording to Washington Performing Arts describing in detail how the award was used. Details of the reporting process will be determined by the Gospel Programs Committee and communicated to each recipient.


HOW TO APPLY

Your completed application must include:

  1. The Application Form
  2. Two (2) recommendations, each using the recommendation form. Recommendations may be completed by teachers, mentors, or arts instructors not related to the applicant. The artistic directors of WPA’s resident ensembles shall not serve as recommenders for this application. 
  3. A personal statement answering all three of the discussion questions set forth below. This statement shall be submitted in one of the following two formats:

            a. A typed, double-spaced, written statement between 350 and 700 words in length; OR 

            b. a video recording no longer than three minutes. 

            c. Discussion questions: 

                  i.    How has your participation in COTG impacted you? For example, what are the biggest lessons that you have learned by participating in COTG?

                  ii.    Although Reggie Van Lee chose a career path in the sciences, he participated in and supported the arts throughout his life. What role do you expect that music or other art forms will play in your future – both in the near-term and long-term? 

                  iii.   How would you use the award if selected as an award recipient? 

Submit your application and personal statement at https://washingtonperformingarts.submittable.com. Your teacher or mentor must submit the recommendation form separately at https://washingtonperformingarts.submittable.com. You will be notified when all of your materials have been received. 


SELECTION PROCESS 

A panel of judges comprising members of the Washington Performing Arts’ Gospel Programs Committee will choose the award recipient(s). 

The panel’s selection will take into consideration each applicant’s:

  • Application Form
  • Personal Statement (written or video recorded) 
  • Recommenders’ Comments
  • Children of the Gospel Choir Participation Assessment* 

*The artistic director of Children of the Gospel Choir will complete an assessment form rating each applicant’s participation in the choir. The assessment will specifically focus on the applicants overall participation in the choir (i.e. preparedness for rehearsals and performances), discipline during rehearsals and performances, and student leadership. 

Please Note the Following:

  • Social Media profiles may be reviewed by the award panel in evaluating this application.
  • Awardees will be selected based on the quality of their application materials (i.e. completed materials with minimal errors; thoroughly answered questions; strong, engaging personal statements etc.), as well as their demonstration of active leadership and engagement as a member of COTG. If the adjudication committee is unable to identify an awardee from the submitted application pool, no awardee shall be selected in that year.
  • Lastly, in the event that the awardee does not remain in good standing as a choir member (i.e. regular participation in rehearsals and performances) for the remainder of the season, they may become ineligible for the award. 


DEADLINES

All parts of the application must be submitted by Wednesday May 9th, 2024. 

The Application will be reviewed and the selected recipient(s) will be announced at our 30th Anniversary Concert on June 1st 2024. 

Washington Performing Arts