What is H+H CitySing?

We are looking for a few good singers! In the inspiring, original spirit of the “Society” of H+H, Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen is pleased to share our new program, CitySing, which brings more singers from our community into the fold. CitySing celebrates the vitality of Boston’s singing community and debuted last season in Handel’s Messiah.

This fall, the second annual CitySing will once again welcome 30 members of choral ensembles from around Boston to join the H+H Chorus on the stage of Symphony Hall, performing selected portions of Handel’s Saul.

Our Society was founded with a principle that music-making is a shared experience. Whether you're on stage, in the audience, or work behind the scenes to create the magic of H+H, You Are the Music. It's with this inspiring belief that we invite skilled and interested singers to join us.

Saul

The story of Saul, taken from the First Book of Samuel, is one of the most thrilling tales from the Old Testament. As a dramatic source, the story has all the necessary ingredients for even the grandest of productions: madness, jealousy, rage, battles, warriors, witches, and love triangles abound. The characters are marvelously portrayed in Handel’s musical setting of the libretto by Charles Jennens.

Musically speaking, Saul abounds with variety and the kind of unbridled creativity we have grown to expect from Handel. With no movement longer than five to six minutes, the work is wonderfully compact in both structure and form.

Though not for the stage by virtue of nomenclature, this oratorio is every bit as dramatic as its operatic counterparts. One might argue that, with its compact structure and shining orchestration, Saul surpasses Handel’s operatic efforts of the 1730s. Written in the late summer of 1738, Saul is the pivotal work signaling Handel’s career change from opera to oratorio composer.

"The level of professionalism with every single person we worked with is a testament to the greatness of H+H’s worldwide elite reputation"

– Past CitySinger

"I was reminded that the power of music can bring together strangers and make us into singing buddies and friends"

– Past CitySinger

More Details

Always wanted to sing on the stage of Symphony Hall? Dreamt of singing before a crowd of thousands? We are looking for you! H+H seeks a diversity of voices for CitySing, intending to assemble an ensemble that reflects the breadth of choral singing in our region and is composed of singers with a variety of experiences and vocal training. We will select singers who we believe have the best chance for success. This is a perfect opportunity to experience this iconic work surrounded by professional singers who are experts in H+H's specialty - historically informed performance.

What are we looking for?

Generally at H+H, we are looking for singers with the best of the following:

  • GREAT SINGING! We’re looking for great singers, including things like solid technique, vocal skills, intonation, healthy habits. H+H assumes musicianship skills, and seeks singers with a developed sense of musicality, beyond demonstration of musical accuracy.
  • PASSION for the repertoire. Though prior experience performing Baroque repertoire is highly valued, we are looking for singers with a passion for the repertoire we sing. Passion can make up for lack of experience.
  • COMMUNICATION Are you able to convey to the audience your passion and musicality?
  • PREPARATION H+H singers commit to learning the repertoire in advance of rehearsal so our time together can focus on the ensemble.
  • COLLEGIALITY Choral singing is, by nature, working with others. For the sake of all involved in the music-making, we value singers who sing with awareness of their voice with their neighbor’s, whose aural skills in rehearsal are as important as vocal skills, and whose comportment and presence contributes to a positive environment for the music and the musicians.

Rehearsal + Performance Schedule

(subject to change)

  • Saturday, Sep 20 - 1:00-4:00pm rehearsal +
  • Saturday, Sep 27 - 1:00-4:00pm rehearsal +
  • Sunday, Sep 28 - 1:00-2:00pm reception (optional); 2-5pm  rehearsal (location TBD)
  • Tuesday, Sep 30 - 6:00-9:00pm rehearsal #
  • Wednesday, Oct. 1 - 2:00-5:00pm rehearsal #
  • Thursday, Oct 2 - 1:00-4:30pm dress rehearsal *
  • Friday, Oct 3 - 5:30-6:30pm warmup; 7:30-10:30pm concert *
  • Sunday, Oct 5 - 1:30-2:00pm warmup; 3:00-6:00pm concert *

Locations

+ United Parish, Brookline (210 Harvard St, Brookline)
# BYSO Youth Center for Music (235 Huntington Ave, Boston)
* Symphony Hall (301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston)

Complimentary Concert Tickets

Selected singers receive two (2) complimentary tickets to one of the two performances of Saul.

Audition Today

Ready to join us for CitySing?

Just fill out this form and include a short video, where you should introduce yourself, your voice part, and one minute of something that shows off your voice. No accompaniment required. Though we might recommend arts songs or arias, we want to hear you sing music that shows you in your best light, even if it does not perfectly match the repertoire of H+H. If you’re not sure of what to sing feel free to use this excerpt from Saul.

Submit Your Audition Materials

Don’t delay. Apply now! Applications must be received by May 31. Not sure of your schedule for the fall? If space is still available, we will open another audition window in August. 

"I’ve learned more about the art of making music, particularly in a choral setting, than I ever expected"

– Past CitySinger

For more information, please reach out to us at citysing@handelandhaydn.org.