Audition for the TMChoir

Sing with the TMChoir

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir invites experienced amateur choristers, aged 17 and up, with a passion for great choral music to join Canada’s premier symphonic choir.

Next Auditions: January 2024

Join the TMChoir and sing with Artistic Director, Jean-Sébastien Vallée in an exciting 2023/24 season which will include a series of TMChoir-produced concerts and guest appearances with the TSO.

The 130-voice TMChoir is looking to expand its community. To add your voice to the ensemble, you must have musical and singing experience. Prior choral experience is highly recommended. Details about expectations and how to audition, and a link to the audition application form are below.

Meet some of our choristers and discover the many different ways our choristers found choral music and the TMChoir.

Annual auditions are regularly held in the spring and early September.

Auditions for professional choristers for our TMSingers are complete for the 2023/24 season.

A row of male choristers are singing during rehearsal. They are all holding music.
A row of female choristers are singing during rehearsal. We see them from the side. They are all in casual dress.
Three female choristers are singing during a rehearsal. We see them from the side. They are holding black music folders.
A group of choristers are singing during rehearsal. They stand in rows with women in front of the men. They are all holding music.

What is the commitment expected from choristers?

Choristers must be willing and able to commit to an exciting schedule of rehearsals and performances (approx. 200 hours in total from September to June). Regular rehearsals are held on Monday nights from 7:00-9:30 pm at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Yonge & St. Clair). Additional rehearsals are held preceding each performance. TMChoir choristers pay an annual membership fee, a one-time music deposit, and must purchase their own concert attire.

To apply:

  • Complete and submit the online application form.  Someone from the TMChoir office will contact you.
  • Prepare a solo musical selection of your own choosing to sing at your audition. A piano accompanist will be provided – please bring an extra copy of your score. 
  • Prepare the assigned musical excerpts – these will be provided to you once an audition has been booked.
  • During the audition you will be asked to sing a series of simple vocal exercises to determine your range and overall musical ability.
  • The audition will also include a simple sight-singing exercise.

For a rhythm example, look at The Offertorium from Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

For a sight-singing example, look at Gently, Lord, O Gently Lead Us by Nathaniel Dett.

Contact the Director of Artistic Operations by email at operations@tmchoir.org if you have additional questions.

Please note that not everyone who applies will be granted an audition.

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir aims to provide a creatively fulfilling, safe and healthy environment that is inclusive of people who identify as various races, genders, abilities, and sexual orientations. We aim to ensure positive and respectful relationships that are demonstrated by welcome, friendship and support among our members for everyone involved in our organization.  The TMC’s Creating a Safe Creative Space initiative, Policy on Harassment and Workplace Violence, and the Chorister Guidelines together outline Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s collective values and the expectations about how we will treat each other and those who interact with us. For more information, go to https://www.tmchoir.org/creating-a-safe-creative-space/.

Enjoy a video of the TMChoir in performance: an excerpt from Brahms’ Zigeunerlieder.