| Q: |
What type of a
cappella music does Northwest Sound (NWS) sing? |
| A: |
NWS sings a
variety of traditional, gospel, blues and barbershop
arrangements. All arrangements emphasize tight
harmony and overall musicality of the song. |
| Q: |
How much singing experience do I need to have to join the NWS? |
| A: |
No prior experience is required but you do need to be able to sing in tune, match pitches and harmonize. |
| Q: |
Who are the
members of the chorus? |
| A: |
NWS consists of
men from all walks of life - high tech, blue collar,
retired and students. There are folks
from Microsoft (Jeremiah Pope, John Ludeman),
Lawyers (Gary Ackerman), Doctors (Chuck Caplan, John
Caner) plus many other career professionals.
We all have in common the joy music when wrapped in
tight vocal harmonies. |
|
| Q: |
What's the audition like? |
| A: |
Auditioning is a
two step process. There is an initial no
preparation pre-screening step that looks at range,
tonality and ability to sing in tune. After
passing this, you will be given the current chorus
audition piece and asked to memorize it and be able
to sing your voice part against a recording with
that voice part missing. You will be given the
part recordings with and without your voicepart to
help you prepare. Multiple audition attempts
are allowed and feedback will be given on what to
work on if you did not pass. Auditions are
normally arranged before or after rehearsal nights.
During the audition process you should plan on
joining the chorus for rehearsal as that will help
you understand what the chorus is looking for in its
members. |
|
| Q: |
What kind of time commitment is involved to belong to the NWS? |
| A: |
We rehearse from 7:00 to 10:00pm every Wednesday. We put on two shows per year (June and December) and compete in two chorus competitions per year (which may include some regional travel). Just before shows and competitions we may have
retreats with special coaches
like Mark Hale, Jim Lyon, Sean Divine or any number
of other highly qualified individuals to help raise
the bar of the chorus. Practicing your music at home is expected
and will require a regular commitment of time
outside the chorus rehearsal.
Quartet participation is
optional but highly encouraged as
it is one of the most effective ways to train the
ear and voice. |
|
| Q: |
How much is membership in the NWS and what are other incidental costs? |
| A: |
Currently, annual dues are ~$170 (flexible payment plans are available) and include Chorus, Evergreen District, and Barbershop Harmony Society memberships. Members receive the semiannual District newsletter "The Timbre" and the bi-monthly Society magazine "The Harmonizer", in addition to a wide variety of other benefits. Contest entry is typically $30 - 40 per member. Some uniform items are provided, but most will need to be purchased. |
|
| Q: |
Are there special membership prices for students? |
| A: |
Yes! Student dues are discounted by half! |
|
| Q: |
Do I need to wait for a special guest night to come by and visit a rehearsal? |
| A: |
Absolutely NOT! Every rehearsal is open to the public. You can come to listen or join us in song on the risers. The only times we may ask you watch, and not participate, is when we are preparing for contest. |
|
| Q: |
Who can I contact to hire the chorus or a quartet? |
| A: |
Bookings are handled by our
VP of Marketing and Public Relations. |
|
| Q: |
Even if I can't sing are there ways I can become involved in the NWS? |
| A: |
Yes. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the production of our (2) annual shows, Volunteer opportunities exist in set building, stage direction, lighting, costume design and production. |
