FAQ

For the 2023-2024 season, Saratoga Voices has planned three performances. Rehearsals are weekly, with additional rehearsals (typically two or three) the week of the performance.

Fall 2023

Magnificat! Music That Makes The Spirit Soar

Dress Rehearsal:

Thursday, Nov. 2 5:30-9:30 pm

Performance:

Friday, Nov. 3, 7:30pm

Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Winter 2023

Saratoga Voices Presents:A Choral Christmas

Dress Rehearsal:

Thursday, Dec. 7 7:30-10:00 pm

Performance:

Sunday, Dec. 10, 3:00pm

St. Edward the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Spring 2024

Vestiges, Heroes, and Legends

Collaboration with Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra (SSSO)

Dress Rehearsal (TBD)

Performances (Two Dates):

Saturday, April 27, 2024  at 7 p.m.

Universal Preservation Hall (UPH); 25 Washington Street; Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

AND

Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 3 p.m.

Proctor’s Theatre, Main Stage; 432 State Street; Schenectady, NY 12302

Ensemble balance is critical in the choral arts.  Singers are encouraged to sign up for annual registration, and this is reflected financially in the percentage discount singers receive when signing up for the year.  Musically, it not only aids the chorus in having a strong foundation in which we learn to breathe and grow as an ensemble, but it also helps determine what repertoire we may pursue.

You may choose to register to sing in any number of concerts, paying “a la carte” (per concert) registration.

Saratoga Voices rehearses Wednesday evenings, 7-9:30, at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, 88 Lakehill Road, Burnt Hills NY 12027.  See map rendering and zoom in for more detail. Additional directions to the chorus room are listed under the “When is the first rehearsal?” (next accordian).

On occasion, rehearsals may be at Burnt Hills United Methodist Church, 816 Route 50, Burnt Hills, NY 12027. Enter the front door of the church (to the left of the building from the main parking lot area on Route 50) and follow signs within building to the practice area. This location is around the corner from the usual location. Please note that any location alterations are indicated via email.

Saratoga Voices follows the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District emergency closing schedule.  The district may delay their announcement of canceling evening activities late in the day.  If you wish to sign up for emergency closing notification (email or text) from the school, please visit their website for instructions on how to do so or follow this link [https://asp.schoolmessenger.com/burnthillsballstonlake/subscriber/newsubscriber.php].

Wednesday January 10th, 2023 at 7-9:30 pm at the Burnt Hills United Methodist Church, 816 Route 50, Burnt Hills, NY 12027.  Come by 6:30 pm on Rehearsal #1 to register or sign in, pay (if needed—by cash, check or credit card), and receive your music.

Only new singers or those who did NOT sing in 2023 fall or Christmas concerts need to register. Only new registrants pay the $55 registration fee in addition to music fee.  All singers must pay the $15 music fee. New singers: You do not have to complete a vocal placement interview (VPI) prior to registering.

There is no audition, but singers will be asked to participate in a “Voice Placement Interview.” If you can match pitch, your voice and talent will be welcome in Saratoga Voices.

The purpose of the voice placement is for our Artistic Director to get to know you and to recommend a voice part. Are you tenor or baritone? Are you soprano 1 or soprano 2? Our Artistic Director will be able to answer such questions and guide you to sing the music for which your voice is most suited.

The interview will last about 10 minutes. Since this is the only opportunity for the Artistic Director to chat with you one-on-one, s/he will spend some time getting to know you. Other pertinent interview participation:

• Be prepared to sing “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)” in a comfortable key (piano accompaniment provided) (to assist in your preparation, click on hyperlink for a copy of the score);
• a range assessment;
• ear training evaluation;
• and sight-singing evaluation.

(NB: All sheet music will be provided at the Interview.)

Saratoga Voices uses the Vocal Placement Interview (VPI) as a chance for our Artistic Director to meet new singers and hear their voices to determine sectional placement and understand how each voice will fit with the whole ensemble.

“We want everyone to return” assures our Artistic Director. “My agenda is not to cut people out. My agenda is to move us all forward together.”

The Vocal Placement Interview is not an audition — all singers are invited to join Saratoga Voices — it’s simply an opportunity for the conductor to meet you and assess your voice. All singers joining Saratoga Voices who have not done a VPI must sign up for an Interview.

Vocal placement interviews (VPIs) are scheduled by the Artistic Director Noah Palmer with assistance from the Chair of the Music Committee, Cathie Grant-Goodman. New singers need to complete a registration form and pay registration & music fees, but not a VPI prior to participating. Simply check the box in the online registration form indicating that you (a new singer) need a VPI. Someone will contact you to schedule the interview, which will occur sometime after Rehearsal #1 on 1/10/24. Or you can email or call us using our contact information.

Saratoga Voices are guest participants in Schenectady Saratoga Symphony Orchestra’s spring performance of Mozart’s Requiem.  SSSO’s Artistic Director Glenn Cortese has chosen a specific edition that is not often used. For the sake of consistency and efficiency at rehearsals, we ask singers to purchase these scores from us, with little markup, for $15.

The dress code varies, depending on the genre performed, but is chosen with the goal that singers need not purchase special concert attire. Most likely, you will find what is needed already in your closet.

In addition to our scheduled social break at rehearsal, Saratoga Voices hosts gatherings throughout the year and over the summer. There have been events such as our Open House, which is geared toward welcoming new members and Summer Sings, which welcomes current, new, and former members to sing with us. In addition, we will be gathering to celebrate and welcome our newly appointed Artistic Director on Sunday, August 27 from 3-7 pm. Join our mailing list to partake in our meet and greet!

You can send us an email at this link or call the Saratoga Voices phone: 518-416-4060.