Information for Singers

Many singers ask: “How can I sing with Sound of Ages?”

We believe in transparent, proactive, cheerful communication, so here is the scoop:

  1. Sound of Ages is a professional vocal ensemble located in the Wasatch Front region of Utah. Professional means that all services (rehearsals, performances, recording sessions) are paid. Although none of our singers, which include singers on the national pro choral circuit, do just Sound of Ages as a full-time job, we strive to offer the best pay in Utah, and to work as team players and good neighbors in the broader choral/music scene to improve pay and opportunity for all ensembles and singers.

  2. Sound of Ages embraces a specific philosophy, which attracts great people. As you can see, we are driven by core beliefs regarding the beauty, power, and importance of the human voice. Rallying around these big ideas are people who are egoless, enthusiastic, and insanely but cheerfully committed to excellence (not to mention open to experimentation), all in pursuit of the sound.

  3. Sound of Ages creates a distinctive consort-based ensemble sound, that we call the sound. That’s the beautiful thing that we all love. It isn’t about the repertoire, though we love the rep. It isn’t about the people, though we love everyone. It’s always about the sound.

  4. Sound of Ages consists of three nested circles: Consort, Ensemble, Roster.

    • The Sound of Ages Consort (frequently referred to simply as Sound of Ages) is a core group of five singers who accept yearlong renewable contracts. Consort singers commit to 15-20+ concerts, educational events, and recording sessions per year, giving advanced preference to scheduling Sound of Ages gigs. Because the personnel of the Consort changes slowly, Consort members are often “the face” of Sound of Ages in promotional photos, videos, etc. There is no audition process for the Consort, and members are chosen by Kameron to create and refine the sound.

    • The Sound of Ages Ensemble (also frequently referred to simply as Sound of Ages) includes the Consort plus additional singers drawn from the Roster. The Consort acts as “stylistic sourdough starter” to help the Ensemble achieve the sound. Ensemble singers are offered project-based contracts with as much advance notice as possible. The Ensemble performs and records 2-4 times per year and the personnel (both which and how many singers) varies based on the repertoire, the project, always in service of the sound.

    • The Sound of Ages Roster. The Roster is the list of all singers who have completed the onboarding steps outlined below. Being on the roster makes you eligible to be called for Ensemble gigs. Not every Roster singer is called for every gig. Why? The answer is always the sound. Because the repertoire and personnel vary from project to project, the right combination of voices depends on the timbres required to produce the sound. We try to maintain a Roster that is big enough to cover the practical, logistical needs of Ensemble programming, but not so big that Roster singers don’t get gigs at a reasonable frequency.

  5. If you’d like to join the Sound of Ages Roster, complete the following onboarding steps in order:

    • Come to Sound of Ages concerts—as in plural concerts. Listen to the sound. Notice the personality and philosophy of the group. If the timbre of your instrument might be right for the sound and you might be the type of person outlined above, then please come introduce yourself and say so. (If you don’t live in the area, you can introduce yourself online—but keep in mind we do very limited and selective fly-in work.)

    • Then, after you’ve introduced yourself, request a link to submit audition materials. You should send a phone-quality video of yourself singing your part(s) to Byrd’s “Ave Verum Corpus,” starting with giving yourself a pitch reference from an A440 tuning fork. What are we listening for? Just the natural color of your voice. After having come to concerts, you’ll know what we sound like, so you’ll know how to sing.

    • Then, based on the current size of the Roster and whether the timbre of your instrument matches the sound, we may invite you to sing with us for one or more rehearsals. If, after singing together, we sense the right fit of A) timbre, observe the right level of B) sight-reading ability, and get a sense that you’re the kind of C) polished, egoless, enthusiastic person who loves excellence, we’ll add you to the Roster. If you aren’t invited to sing in rehearsals after submitting audition materials or if you aren’t added to the Roster, we are usually happy to explain why, time and logistics permitting.

  6. Are there other ways to get involved with Sound of Ages, like besides singing? Absolutely. We are always recruiting hosts for in-home concerts, volunteers, and a variety of collaborators. If that sounds like you, please let us know.

Thanks for your interest!

—Sound of Ages