Previously known as The Burnt Hills Oratorio Society
Saratoga Voices
The Power of Singing

The Power of Singing

Bring out your Inner Music with the Joy and Power of Singing

 

Over the past five years, Saratoga Voices has blossomed in audience attendance, in diversifying its repertoire, and in broadening the definition of the choral arts in the greater Capital Region. It is now operating at a higher level of artistic achievement and features guest artists with a national reputation.

You are invited

There are many reasons to sing with Saratoga Voices.
  • We are a welcoming and diverse group who actively encourages people of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to get involved and exercise their power of singing.
  • We seek opportunities for collaboration across the arts and culture spectrum, including beyond the accepted choral canon.
  • We are committed to finding new ways to further diversity, equity, and inclusion within Saratoga Voices and throughout our larger community.
  • We strive to make singing an integral part of our lives and share its many benefits and rewards with others.
  • We are building our educational activities to serve a need outside of schools and churches for training, performance opportunities, and singing-related resources.
  • Our choristers describe our artistic director’s rehearsals as “vocal master classes.”
  • Our choristers enjoy making new and deeper connections with music which, in turn, enriches their own lives and brings history and the human experience to life for others.
  • We are respectful of different levels of vocal competence, enjoy learning, and wish to provide opportunities to people who do not readily have them.
  • We have fun! Historically, our members host open houses and social receptions outside of rehearsals. We are moving forward in this endeavor after our COVID-19 intersession.

Quick Links

Registration Form
Request Vocal Placement Interview

Please complete this form if you want to schedule a vocal placement interview and you will be contacted for scheduling.

Name(Required)
Returning or New Singer(Required)
Have you sung with us before?
*****Note: You may select more than one of the following choices by holding "ctrl" + [non-consecutive selections] OR "shift" + [consecutive selections].***** Please select as many of the following timeslots as your availability allows. We will try to accommodate all requests to the best of our ability. You will be contacted with a confirmation of your timeslot once it has been received and scheduled. Interviews will be at: Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church; 73 Midline Road; Ballston Lake, NY 12019. There is an alternate date of Wednesday, Sept. 6 if you are unable to schedule for Wed., Aug. 30. You may also select the option that allows you to be contacted if you need to schedule an alternate day/time.
Voice Type(Required)
Once we receive this form, you will be contacted with the details of your vocal placement. Thanks!
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FAQ

What special Covid considerations are there for performers at the rehearsal venue and for the concert venue?

  • Agree to the Saratoga Voices Wellness Policy (COVID-19 Update, located in the registration form)

  • Masks optional

See above right-hand column in the section entitled “Quick Links” (under the image) for the registration form.

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How many performances are there this year? When are the performances and rehearsals?

For the 2032-2024 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
Are singers required to sing in all concerts for the performing season?

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.

When and where does Saratoga Voices rehearse?

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 Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church, 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake, NY 12019. This location is around the corner from the usual location. See map rendering and zoom in for more detail. 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].

Hidden - When and where does Saratoga Voices rehearse?

Saratoga Voices rehearses Tuesday evenings, 7:00 to 9:30, at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, 88 Lakehill Road, Burnt Hills NY 12027

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].

 

When is the first rehearsal?

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 7-9:30 at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church; 73 Midline Road; Ballston Lake, NY 12019. Arrive by 6:30 to register and receive your music.

If you have not completed a Vocal Placement Interview, you will need to schedule one prior to attending rehearsals.  All singers must fill out the registration form.

Is there an audition to sing with Saratoga Voices?

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.

What can I expect during the Vocal Placement Interview?

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.

Hidden (CSS) What are the participation fees? How do I register to sing?

Registration fees are $55 for one concert or $132 for all three concerts, plus the cost of music. The annual fee reflects a 20% discount.

The first step is to sign up for a vocal placement interview. At the interview, you will be provided with a registration form.  There are links to forms above on this page in the right-hand column.

Vocal placement interviews are being conducted for new singers who did not sing at any point during the Fall 2021- Spring 2023 seasons.

To be informed when vocal placement interviews will be offered for future performances send us an email at this link and request to be added to our singer outreach. You are also encouraged to check the website regularly.

How do I schedule a Vocal Placement Interview? When and where will they be?

Vocal Placement Interviews will be arranged between you and the Artistic Director. To arrange a Vocal Placement Interview, click on the “Request Vocal Placement Interview” checkbox on the registration form, which is listed above in the right-hand column or by contacting Noah Palmer (AD@saratogavoices.org) for an appointed time and include Carol Drake (boardofdirectors@saratogavoices.org) in your request for the interview.

Mr. Palmer will contact you to schedule your vocal placement interview, which will be held at:

Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church
73 Midline Road
Ballston Lake, NY 12019

To be informed when vocal placement interviews will be offered for future performances send us an email at this link and request to be added to our singer outreach. You are also encouraged to check the website regularly.

Can I use my own music?

Saratoga Voices provides musical scores that are carefully marked by the Artistic Director. The markings include word pronunciations, phrasing and breathing, counting and cut-offs (such as beat placement of a final “s”), interpretive comments, and other valuable and interesting comments about the music. This practice is adopted to add efficiency to rehearsal time and to ensure consistency of execution and performance. Singers are asked to use the provided marked scores during rehearsals and performances. With all singers “being on the same page” the end result is a successful and artistic performance.

Do you have a dress code for performances?

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.

How do singers get to know each other better?

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!

Further questions

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

What are people saying about Saratoga Voices!

"I have worked with the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society [now Saratoga Voices] since 1984 from the tenure of Glenn Soellner to its [current] director...

I have been concertmaster of the orchestra for most of that time, as well as contractor. The passion and enthusiasm for singing the chorus displays is both contagious and delightful. Under the leadership of Dr. Gray and Derek Stannard the quality of singing continues to refine, and it's a joy to make music with the group. Dr. Gray's leadership a few seasons ago of Haydn's Creation was one of the highlights of my many years of orchestral playing. Here is wishing BHOS an incredible next 50!!"

Ann Marie Schwartz Director, Musicians Of Ma'alwyck

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