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Audition for the Masterwork Chorus

Now in its 58th season, The Masterwork Chorus has a long history of performing music of all genres, sacred, secular, and everything in between.   Masterwork is a mixed chorus of 80-90 singers drawing from throughout northern New Jersey.  

The Masterwork Chorus will begin rehearsing and preparing for its winter-spring 2024 season in January 2024.  We look forward to a solid time of rehearsals and performances, which is what we most like to do – sing and learn together, and make beautiful music for the delight of our audiences.

Masterwork completed a successful fall-winter 2023 season comprised of:

  • A community Messiah sing at Chatham Methodist Church on December 3 which was filled to overflowing,
  • A Holiday Concert at Chatham Methodist in the afternoon of December 10, 
  • Performances of Handel’s Messiah in New Jersey (Randolph High School) and New York City (Carnegie Hall) on December 16 and 21

The winter-spring 2024 season will be:

  • An Opera Chorus program at Chatham Methodist Church on March 16 featuring the best-known and most beloved choruses from our favorite operas.
  • A retrospective concert on May 11 at Chatham Methodist featuring selections from each season during music director Chris Shepard’s tenure at Masterwork.  Chris is moving on to an exciting new opportunity after the 2023-2024 season.

Masterwork is open to new singers in all voice parts. We are a welcoming group, and we are happy to make new members feel at home among singers who love to learn and perform great choral music.

We encourage members to commit to Masterwork’s full season rather than for a particular concert(s).  We realize there are inevitable conflicts in personal schedules that preclude attending a rehearsal(s) or a concert, and we do our best to accommodate members’ needs. 

Contact Don MacGowan, Membership Chair, at membership@masterwork.org or call 973-479-4020 to discuss Masterwork in more detail and to let him know of your interest in the chorus.

Auditions and Rehearsals

Masterwork rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 at Chatham Methodist Church, 460 Main St. (Route 124), Chatham, NJ.  Rehearsals for the winter-spring 2024 season begin on Wednesday, January 2 and runs through to the May 11 concert.

We welcome singers in all voice parts, and in particular tenors and basses.

Prospective members are invited to attend a rehearsal to join in singing, to observe music director Chris Shepard’s rehearsal style, and get a feel for the group before making a commitment to become a Masterwork Chorus member.

Auditions with Chris Shepard will be on Wednesday evening January 10 and 17, and at other times by appointment.  During auditions, singers are asked to vocalize, do pitch- and rhythm-matching exercises, sight-read in a simple four-part piece, and optionally, sing a prepared selection.

Auditions for smaller, ensemble groups drawn from the chorus are announced each season and are held separately from auditions for the full chorus. 

Membership Guidelines

After auditioning and becoming members of The Masterwork Chorus, singers are joining a group with a long tradition that shares fellowship and common musical goals and standards, and can look forward to an enjoyable and fulfilling musical experience. As with any organization, however, there are member responsibilities. You will receive a Chorus Member Handbook that describes expectations in detail. We expect members to read it carefully and contact Masterwork’s Membership Chair, Don MacGowan at 973-479-4020 or membership@masterwork.org with any questions or concerns.

Member Handbook Highlights

  • Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-10:00 PM at the Chatham United Methodist Church, 460 Main St. (Rt. 124), Chatham, NJ. Additional rehearsals may be scheduled during concert weeks, and an occasional Saturday rehearsal or workshop may be scheduled as the need arises.
  • Attendance is taken at weekly rehearsals. Members who miss rehearsals may be asked to demonstrate knowledge of the music before being allowed to perform
  • Membership dues for the September-May season are $300.  Half-year dues for January-May are $150.  Dues are payable by check or credit card by the end of October or February.  If there is financial hardship, arrangements can be made with the Membership Chair.
  • As part of completing a registration form and paying dues, members agree to devote time outside of rehearsals as necessary to learn their music.  This makes it possible to spend rehearsal time focused on ensemble singing and interpretation of the music rather than note-by-note learning.
  • Each member is expected to sell at least two tickets to each concert.  Any purchased tickets that a member cannot use may be donated to Masterwork’s community outreach program, which makes them available to students and seniors at no charge.
  • Members are responsible for purchasing appropriate concert attire (dresses for women and tuxes for men) as described in the Member Handbook.  And members purchase their own music, which is made available at cost through Masterwork.