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Auditions for the 2025 Fall Season are now open! Register by submitting this form. 

Fall 2025 Audition Information Packet

Opera is for everyone! Don’t let the audition process discourage you from joining POCO — every singer who auditions will be assigned to a piece. We welcome all voice types and all levels of experience.

Auditions for the Princeton Opera Company are held during the first week and a half of each semester, coinciding with the start of classes. While general membership in The Company is open year-round for all Princeton undergraduate and graduate students, Company members must audition if they would like to perform in formal concerts, which include the season’s scenes concert, collaboration with Sinfonia, and any opera or operetta productions. Please carefully and thoroughly review the audition guidelines for Fall 2025.

Guidelines

  • You are auditioning for participation in the following formal concerts:
    • December 2025 Opera Scenes Concert
    • February 2026 A Night at the Opera with Sinfonia Concert
    • May 2026 The Student Prince Concert*
  • You are not auditioning for any specific role, aria, or piece of music.
  • Your audition will cover you for both the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters; you do not need to re-audition in the spring.
  • By auditioning, you are guaranteed a piece assignment for the 2025-2026 performance season (at minimum, a choral or ensemble role).
  • If you are unable to attend your scheduled audition, you will be allowed to reschedule once.
  • If you are unable to sign up due to conflicts, please reach out to Gabrielle Liberman (gl1569@princeton.edu) before September 10th.


Audition Materials

Please prepare the following:

  • Submit the Fall 2025 Audition Registration Form with all of the required fields filled out.
  • One (1) aria OR art song from any era in any language of your choice
    • Selections from musicals are permitted, but please avoid choosing a pop song.
  • Bring a printed copy of your sheet music
  • Be ready to perform either a cappella or bring a backing track (we will provide a speaker and do a quick volume check before you begin)
  • Have a valid appointment for your audition time in the spreadsheet
  • [OPTIONAL] You may prepare a short verbal introduction of your opera experience

Audition Process

  • The audition will not be blind, which means we will observe your performance.
  • The audition will be recorded (for reference only).
  • David Kellet, POCO’s faculty advisor, may be present during your audition.
  • You will be asked to complete the following components:
    • Introduce yourself with your name, the name of the piece, and the composer
    • Sing your prepared piece in its entirety, with or without accompaniment
    • A series of call-and-response for ear training (we will play 4-5 notes on the piano and see if you can sing them back)
    • Sight-sing a short excerpt.

After your audition, you will be notified of your piece and group assignment(s), which you may agree to. By agreeing to your assignments, you will ensure your commitment to learning your music in a timely fashion.

FAQ’s

  • Do I need to audition to be a part of POCO?
    • Of course not! Membership in POCO is open year-round, and benefits include access to all events, including informal performances, masterclasses, company meetings, etc. Auditions are only required to participate in concerts as a singer.
  • I want to perform “x” aria at our concert.
    • Formal concert repertoire is assigned by the board and faculty, so you may not be able to perform your preferred aria. However, you can showcase it at informal events such as our Evening of Arias performance or at student group collaborations throughout the year.
  • I am a returning member/I am an upperclassman/David knows me already. Do I need to audition?
    • No, auditions are not required for you, but are still highly encouraged. Gabrielle and Yehyun will be auditioning to practice performing their pieces!
  • I am a first-year/new to opera. How many scenes should I sign up for?
    • First off, WELCOME! Please audition 🙂 However, when you fill out our form, please do not overcommit and sign up for more scenes than you can handle. For instance, if you want to be in 3 but aren’t sure about your schedule/time commitment, fill in 2.
  • I am an instrumentalist/pianist/accompanist. Do I need to audition?
    • No. All accompanists are not required to audition, but are subject to a casual screening. Please refer to the Accompanist Information Packet.
  • Do I need to have sung opera before?
    • No. Many of our members are new to opera when they join POCO. If you have a background in choir, musical theater, or solo singing, that’s more than enough!
  • Do I need to sing in a foreign language?
    • Not necessarily. You are welcome to audition in English. In the audition form, you can specify which languages you are comfortable singing in.
  • What if I don’t have a piece prepared?
    • We strongly encourage bringing a prepared piece, but if you are stuck, please reach out to the board (Gabrielle or Yehyun), and we can help suggest options.
  • How long should my audition piece be?
    • 2+ minutes with a maximum of 6 minutes.
  • What if I’m not comfortable sight-singing?
    • Don’t worry — the sight-singing is just to give us a sense of your musical background and won’t affect whether you are cast. Your sight-singing will only serve as a reference for us in terms of pacing in the future.
  • Can I be cast in multiple scenes or groups?
    • Yes. Please specify how many you would like to be in on the form.
  • Can I perform in POCO if I’m also in another ensemble (like Glee Club or a cappella)?
    • Yes! However, please be mindful to prioritize POCO when you agree to your piece assignments. Both Gabrielle and Yehyun are in Glee/Chamber choir and either a cappella or orchestral ensembles!

By participating in the POCO Fall 2025 Audition, you agree to the following:

  • The Board of the Princeton Opera Company reserves the right to record your audition for piece assignment purposes. The only person outside the board who may view your audition recording is David Kellett, POCO’s faculty advisor.
  • The Board reserves the right to determine which scenes and roles and how many groups you are assigned to. We will do our best to accommodate your preferences for voice type and number of scenes.

This organization is open to all Princeton University students interested in supporting our organization’s mission, regardless of identity, such as race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, or other protected characteristics.