Audition for The Masterwork Chorus

Now in its 69th 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 90-100 auditioned singers drawing from throughout northern New Jersey.

We welcome Dr. Martin Sedek, who is joining us as Masterwork’s fifth music director.  A conductor, singer, composer, and keyboardist, we are pleased that Dr. Sedek will be with us, and we look forward to his leadership, guidance, and new ideas.

Masterwork will begin rehearsing and preparing for its 2024-2025 season on September 4, 2024.  We look forward to a solid season 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 2023-2024 season comprised of:

  • A community Messiah Sing at Chatham Methodist Church in early December, which was filled to overflowing,
  • A Holiday Concert at Chatham Methodist Church in the following week. 
  • Performances of Handel’s Messiah in New Jersey (Randolph High School) and New York City (Carnegie Hall) on December 16th and 21st.
  • A Great Moments in Opera program at Chatham Methodist Church in March singing the best-known and most beloved choruses from favorite operas, and featuring operatic arias and duets performed by Masterwork singers 
  • A Decade of Choral Favorites concert in May at Chatham Methodist Church with selections from concerts during music director Chris Shepard’s tenure with Masterwork.  Chris has moved on to The Complete Bach, a wonderful new opportunity which necessitated his stepping away after the 2023-2024 season.

Masterwork’s 2024-2025 season will begin with a holiday concert in December featuring selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day, as well as traditional seasonal fare.  As always, we will present Handel’s Messiah in December, at the Dolan Center at St. Elizabeth University in Convent Station NJ, and in Carnegie Hall.  In March we will collaborate with the Montclair State University Jazz Band to present Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert.  And in May we will give an all-Beethoven concert, the Mass in C Major, and Christ on the Mount of Olives.

As we begin the 2024-2025 season, Masterwork is open to new singers in all voice parts. We are a welcoming group, and we strive to make new members feel at home among fellow singers who love to learn and perform the best of 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 may 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 7:30-10:00 at Chatham Methodist Church, 460 Main St. (Route 124), Chatham, NJ.  Rehearsals for the ’24-’25 season begin on Wednesday September 4th.
  • 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 Martin Sedek’s rehearsal style, and to get a feel for the group before committing to join the chorus.
  • Auditions with Dr. Sedek will be on Wednesday evening September 11 and 18, and at other times by appointment.  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 joining Masterwork, singers are part of a group with a long tradition that shares fellowship and common musical goals and standards.  They can look forward to an enjoyable and fulfilling musical experience. 

As with any organization, there are member responsibilities. Each new member receives a Chorus Member Handbook that describes expectations in detail.  Members should read and understand it 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.  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 joining the chorus and paying dues, members agree to devote time outside of rehearsals as necessary to learn the music.  This allows us 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 can be donated to Masterwork’s community outreach program, which makes them available to students or 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.