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Houston Symphony Chorus

The Houston Symphony Chorus is the official choral unit of the Houston Symphony and consists of highly skilled and talented volunteer singers. Over the years, members of this historic ensemble have learned and performed the world’s great choral-orchestral masterworks under the batons of Juraj Valčuha, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, Robert Shaw, and Helmut Rilling, among many others.

In addition, the Chorus enjoys participating in the Houston Symphony’s popular programming under the batons of conductors such as Steven Reineke and Michael Krajewski. Recently, the ensemble sang the closing subscription concerts with the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic.

For questions about the Houston Symphony Chorus, send us an email.

Trinity Lutheran

Special thanks to Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church for providing the Houston Symphony Chorus with rehearsal space.

Upcoming Chorus Concerts

Chorus Audition Information

The Houston Symphony Chorus will audition the following singers for the 2026-27 season:

  • All current chorus members wishing to return
  • Any singer who did not participate in the 25-26 season and wishes to return
  • New singers who would like to be considered for the 2026-27 season

Continue for full audition details or download the document below:

Audition Details

When and where are the auditions?

The audition for singers who are interested in performing in one or more series will be held at Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Ave., 77007 from May 21st 2026 - May 23rd 2026. If you successfully auditioned in December 2025, that score may be used in lieu of the May audition for the 2026-27 season.

Expectations and Procedures

All singers who wish to earn placement in the chorus will participate in a five-part audition:

  1. Vocalization to demonstrate the range, quality, and flexibility of the voice
  2. A vocalise sung in Italian to demonstrate intonation, accuracy of singing in a language (with track)
  3. An intonation exercise to demonstrate your ability to sing in-tune intervals
  4. Choral Selection
    • "For unto us a Child is Born" from Messiah (to be considered for placement in Messiah)
    • Hymn 511 (for those who do not wish to be considered for placement in Messiah)
  5. Sight-Reading (a cappella)

Sign Up

A singer can sign up for an audition using either the following link or QR code.

Audition Signup

Audition Material Specifications

Vocalise

Perform Vaccai #5 in Italian in your desired key. Please click the button above the recording to view and download the score.
Vaccai V High G

Vaccai V Med F

Vaccai V Low Eflat

 

Intonation Exercise

Perform an intonation assessment based on your ability to sing intervals to the audio track below. Please click the button above the recording to view and download the assignment instructions and sheet music.
Intonation Assessment

 

Choral Selection

    • "For unto us a Child is Born" from Messiah
      • Sopranos/Basses will sing from the beginning to letter D. Altos and Tenors will sing from letter D to letter F.

For unto us a Child is Born
Sopranos/Basses (beginning to letter D)

Altos/Tenors (letter D to letter F)

 

 

Sight-Reading

This will be equivalent to Level 6 of “Sight-Reading Factory.”

Will I sing with live piano or tracks?

  • Vocalizing will be led from the piano.
  • The Vaccai vocalise will be sung to the practice tracks.
  • The intonation exercise will be sung to the practice track.
  • Messiah chorus will be sung to the practice tracks.
  • Hymn 511 will be led from the piano.

Musical Leadership

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Anthony J. Maglione

Director, Houston Symphony Chorus

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Julia Hall

Assistant Director, Houston Symphony Chorus

Chorus Endowment

Since the Chorus Endowment was established in 1997, all proceeds have helped enrich the choral experience at the Houston Symphony. With your generous support, the Chorus Endowment has helped fund exciting new commissions, underwriting workshops and free community performances.

Chorus Portal

For current Houston Symphony Chorus members, use the Chorus Portal link to log in and access chorus resources.