FAQ

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, August 28, 2024 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.

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.

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

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.

The Interview will consist of a range assessment, singing “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)”, and an ear training and sight singing evaluation. You should come to the Interview prepared to sing ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee’ in a comfortable key with piano accompaniment. All sheet music will be provided at the Interview.

Interviews for new singers will be on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and August 28, 2024 (prior to our first rehearsal).

Interviews will be scheduled in 10-minute slots from 5:30-6:30pm on both dates. Please contact Cathie Grant-Goodman at (703) 201-4278 for further details and/or to schedule a VPI.

For the sake of consistency and efficiency at rehearsals, we ask singers to purchase scores from us, with little markup.

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.

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