The ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir is excited to audition and welcome new members. The chorus is open to all who sing in the SA (Soprano/Alto) range; women (cis and trans), non-binary singers, and trans men irrespective of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Auditions September 9 & 10, 2023
Center City, Philadelphia

Audition Application

Auditions are at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St. Philadelphia. Entry is on Sansom St. near the corner of S. Van Pelt St. New members accepted into the chorus will need to attend New Member Orientation on the first day of rehearsal, September 12 at 5:45 PM. Rehearsal will start at 7:00 PM. Singers are expected to commit for the entire upcoming season.

Audition times:

Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday, September 10, 2023, from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

You will be notified of your audition results at the end of the weekend.

Things to know about ANNA

ANNA is a community of women, transgender, and non-binary singers who strive for musical excellence, celebrate diversity, and support audiences, neighbors, and one another in their struggles for justice and equity. We give several concerts yearly and perform at community and special events.

We are a community that cares about one another. We are diverse in age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, race, and culture. Folks join to meet people and make new friends, to sing and support each other, creating a better world for us all to live in. We work hard to create space for conversation and opinion and work together to create an environment where all voices are heard.

ANNA’s repertoire is wide and varied. The combination of quality content and high musical and artistic standards makes singing in ANNA a rich experience for singers and a rewarding one for audiences. You can hear us sing on ANNA’s YouTube channel.

  • What kind of experience do I need?
    • You don’t need formal training, but we seek people with good voices and musical skills. However, previous choral experience or group singing is preferred. You have to be able to match pitch, blend with other voices, and have critical listening skills. Rehearsals move quickly! Being able to read music is a definite advantage. If you don’t read music well, you must have the aural skills and work ethic to learn music by rote in rehearsal or with practice files. You need to be able to learn lyrics in other languages and memorize music for performances in a timely fashion. We are looking for people willing to commit to rehearsals regularly and on time, who will put in the time necessary to learn their music, and who want to spend a lot of time with some fabulous people dedicated to making a better world singing about social justice!
  • Tell me about the audition process.
    • Your total audition time will be approximately 20 minutes. You’ll first talk with a few folks from the choir. If you have questions, you’ll be able to ask them then. You’ll then sing some scales to determine your range, and you’ll sing up to a minute of a song you’ve prepared. The song should be something you know well, are comfortable with, and can present confidently. While the song can be presented as a cappella, we suggest you choose a song with an accompaniment.  You can accompany yourself, use an instrumental track, or we can play it for you (please provide an extra copy of the music for our accompanist).
  • What is the time commitment?
    • ANNA rehearses every Monday night, 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM, at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St. Sectionals are held once a month. We have two all-day retreats a year, in fall and spring. Extra rehearsals are always scheduled for a concert weekend. Additional rehearsals are scheduled as needed.
  • Is there an absentee policy?
    • Yes! Singers cannot miss more than three rehearsals during the Fall semester and four rehearsals during the Spring semester. Attending sectionals is expected.
  • What are the costs of joining?
    • Dues help to pay for the work of the choir. They can be paid all at once, per semester, or monthly and are based on a sliding scale. This money goes toward purchasing and licensing sheet music, rehearsal space, staff, and venue rental. There are other minimal costs for costuming, parking, etc. More information about dues will be available at your audition. We ask members to help us with our fundraising events during the year and to help sell tickets for our concerts. Lastly, we belong to two organizations that hold festivals every four years. GALA Festival and Sister Singers Network Festival. This summer is the GALA Festival in Minneapolis, MN. It is expected to cost approximately $1,000.00 per person, and we will be holding fundraising events to help support members who need it.
  • What happens if I am not accepted?
    • Please do not be discouraged! While we would love to accept everyone, it is not possible. You are always welcome to audition again in the future. Members have auditioned more than once before joining ANNA. You may also consider joining ANNA as a non-singing volunteer to help to do the choir’s work: working the front of the house or on the stage crew at concerts, helping with admin work, and other tasks that help the choir run. We are a volunteer-driven organization and welcome new members who wish to contribute time to our organization. Our Member Committee will happily put you in touch with the appropriate people depending on your particular interests.
  • Anything else?
    • Try to warm up before you get here! We are beyond excited to meet you! Good luck, and see you in September!
Audition Application