Auditions

2025-2026 Audition Information

We are thrilled that you want to be a part of the Westwood HS Choir Department.  

You may enter the choir program by simply enrolling. All students interested in singing are welcome in the Westwood Choirs with or without an audition; however, any student without an evaluation will be placed in a non-varsity ensemble. Auditions are mandatory for Varsity ensembles.

Auditions are not designed to exclude students, but to place them in the appropriate developmental ensemble so that we can best encourage your continued musical development, while also managing the high level of expectation required in our Varsity ensembles.

We have several ensembles designed to fit the needs of all students interested in singing. It is important to have a clear understanding of the events that are required for inclusion in our upper division choirs – choirs are not organized by your level of seniority, but are designed as ability based. Not all seniors are placed in Chamber, our top ensemble, as the expectations and required events are crucial to the success of the ensemble.

Audition Process

The evaluation process consists of several steps:

  • Musical Artistry Assessment
  • Student Data Form
  • Sight Reading Assessment

Prepare Audition materials to the best of your ability. Schedule an audition with one of the directors, which will happen during your choir class (preferred), FLEX, or after school

Musical Artistry Assessment

Using the resources below, practice singing Homeland.
Homeland is the song we sing at graduation with the orchestra, and uses the primary musical theme from Holst’s Jupiter, which is the melody of the Westwood HS Alma Mater.

  • Sheet Music – beginning through measure 37
  • Practice Track – singing starts at 0:29
  • Audition Background Track – *use this in your audition video*
  • Record yourself singing your voice part OR the melody in a video.
  • You will upload the video using the STUDENT DATA FORM, which is in the next step, below.

Student Data Form

Complete the online audition form – this helps us understand you a bit more.

  • Once we have this, we can schedule your sight reading assessment.

Sight Reading Assessment

There will be multiple sight reading levels to choose from – beginner to advanced. A director will assist during your audition if necessary. We want to see what knowledge you have! 

At Westwood, we use sight-reading preparation materials that increases in difficulty as you progress in the program, which is called our Level Up system. Links to the full explanation of this system are available [at this link].

  • Start at the highest level sight-reading required for the ensemble you would like to be considered for:
    • Varsity (Chamber/Innova) – expect level 4 of the Westwood HS Level Up Process [link]
    • Cantare/Bellator – expect Level 2 of the Westwood HS Level Up Process [link]
  • A director will play the tonic triad (do-mi-sol-mi-do-sol-do) and then start a 30 second timer.
  • You will have 30 seconds to practice the sight reading during this time.
  • At the conclusion of 30 seconds you will be asked to stop and the tonic triad will be played again. 
  • You will then sing the line.