Play a role | Read with gusto
Choir | Ensemble | Soloists
Symphony | Chamber Group
Behind the Scenes, Stage, Lighting, Sound, Artists, Construction, Special Effects, etc.
Directors, Producers, Choreographers, Costumers, Props, Media, etc.
Welcome to Temple Hill Cultural Arts annual auditions. These auditions are to identify new performers, tech crew and production staff, and others interested in being part of our many performances on Temple Hill and in the local communities.
Each year, the TH Cultural Arts Committee sponsors and produces as many as 70 performances that include Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra concerts, oratorios like Lamb of God and The Garden, Temple Hill Choir concerts, dance concerts by the Behold Dance Collective, and performances during our Days of Christmas celebration.
The auditions for performers and interviews for tech crew or production staff candidates are an opportunity for you to share your talents with us and for us to identify opportunities in which you can share your talents with all who attend Temple Hill events. There are many ways to share those talents.
See the list and descriptions, below, as well as how to prepare for your audition or interview.
Please note that you do not have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in Temple Hill Cultural Arts events.
AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS: Now, by Appointment
On Temple Hill, we are blessed with one of the premiere performing arts facilities in the Bay Area and in the Church. The Auditorium seats 1,600 and features a 60-foot stage with full rigging, fly space, sound equipment, lighting, pipe organ, balcony and theatrical seating. We want to make full use of this amazing facility. So, we need many people to help with each production. Most are volunteers, although there is also a need to fill a few paid roles for highly technical and trained individuals. We need volunteers for producing, directing, set construction, set artist and painting, stage management, house management, lobby decorations, ushering, security, and even concessions management, rehearsal assistants, and urchin wranglers (children's choir directors and assistants).
For your INTERVIEW: Please bring a short resume of your experience in your areas of interest. List what groups, theaters, concerts, musicals, plays, or other events where you participated and what was your responsibility. Note that we are in special need of experienced producers, assistant directors, artists, set carpentry, special effects builders, social media management, house and lobby management, and marketing/advertising. For those wishing to be considered for one of the few paid tech positions on Temple Hill, please include a more thorough resume including volunteer and professional experience, college courses taken in theatrical technical areas of lighting, sound, rigging, production management, etc. Those with sufficient experience and availability will be referred to the Technical Management team.
The Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra has performed on Temple Hill for over 50 years. Conductor Jay Trottier is always looking for exceptional instrumentalists to fill vacancies when people move away or are otherwise no longer able to continue with the Symphony. In addition, there are oratorios, musicals, choir concerts, and small ensemble and solo opportunities for capable instrumentalists. Needs vary from production to production, but generally there is always a need for more string players, and frequently needs for low winds and brass, seasoned trumpet and trombone players, percussionists, and keyboard players. There are also some opportunities for saxophones, harp, guitar, organ, flute, clarinet, and oboe. And, every now and then even a banjo or a Jews harp is needed.
Each year the Temple Hill Choir performs concerts on Temple Hill and around the Bay Area. Now in its 23rd year, the Choir has been singing many of its best loved songs from over the years for Christmas concerts. We also perform at least one oratorio that requires a large choir and several soloists. The Lamb of God Easter oratorio is presented in April and features a 120-voice choir, 150-voice youth choir, and 13 soloists. Separate auditions for soloists for Lamb of God will be held on January 22 & 29, 2022. In addition, singers are needed for Days of Christmas events and for Scrooge! The Musical. See descriptions below.
Each year at Christmas time, the Oakland Temple Visitors’ Center hosts performances between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Concerts and musical firesides feature soloists and small ensembles in the Center Theater. These 40-minute concerts are our musical Christmas gifts to the community and include vocal soloists, trios and quartets, string quartets, school and other youth choirs, handbells, storytellers, and even Gospel choirs. The Temple Hill Choir also performs a night of concerts during Days of Christmas in this beautiful setting with the Christmas lights outside and the beautiful Oakland Temple next door.
There are two dance series that are performed on Temple Hill each year by the Behold Dance Collective: Behold the Gift at Christmas time and Tapestry in the Spring. In addition, dancers are featured in other special events, such as performances of Scrooge! The Musical alternating with The Magic of Christmas.
We are grateful beneficiaries of the Nutcracker, provided by Rachel's Ballet every Christmas. If you are an aspiring ballet dancer, please consider training at the award-winning Royal Academy of Dance registered ballet school of Rachel's Ballet in Dublin and Fremont. More at RachelsBallet.com.
It is exciting that once again we are presenting this fun family musical to kick off the Days of Christmas on Temple Hill. Five performances of Scrooge were performed in 2021. See the List of Casting Roles and Production Team here.
Vocalists should come warmed up and prepared to sing a 2-minute selection that shows your range, diction, technique, tone, excellent pitch, and personality. Soloists interested in performing a solo concert at the Visitors’ Center for Days of Christmas should also bring a list of their probable repertoire for that concert and be prepared to sing one or more from the list. Instrumentalists should be prepared to play a 2-minute selection that shows their technical ability, tone, and range. In addition, they should be prepared to play at least 2 octave scales as fast and clean as you can in any key. Dancers & Choreographers, be prepared to show your technique, flexibility, range, and rhythm. In addition to your application, we invite you to submit a video to TempleHillProducer@gmail.com, including "DANCER VIDEO" in the subject line. Actors and Narrators should come prepared with a 2-minute scene or reading that shows your vocal range, diction, expression, characterization, and connection with an audience. Mimes, we don’t care about your diction and we will keep you in a special safe place, because of course, a mime is a terrible thing to waste. Just seeing if you were still reading!
Lamb of God has 13 vocal soloist roles, cello soloist, and 2 narrators, plus adult and youth choirs and orchestra. The style of this oratorio is more like Les Miserables than like a more traditional oratorio, such as Messiah or The Redeemer. The soloists, choir, and even the orchestra are part of the ensemble presentation. And every now and then, one or more will step out from the crowd and sing or play a role. The style of the vocal solos is lyrical and story-telling in nature as opposed to the more ornate aria style in a more traditional oratorio or opera. The choir plays the role of an unruly crowd at times and shines as a heavenly choir at other times. All vocal soloists are part of that crowd when they are not singing their solo parts. You can hear examples of the music for Lamb of God at SpireMusic.org.
Even within the orchestra there are a number of solos throughout the work that stand on their own or complement the soloists. All must play their role for the story to unfold.
We prefer that all soloists come to the initial auditions prepared with an audition song that is not from Lamb of God, but it is helpful if in a similar style and range as Lamb of God.
All who pre-register are assigned an “audition hour.” Please come prepared to audition during that hour. Those listed first should be there early to finish registration, do a range check, and any warming up needed. We take you in the order of registration for that hour. There are rooms with pianos available for warm-ups.
Vocal Soloists should come prepared to sing a song of their choice that demonstrates the range, vocally and emotionally, that fits the role for which they are interested. Again, a lyrical style is preferred to a more formal operatic style of soloist. Please keep vocal selections to 3 minutes or less. Soloists selected for callbacks will be provided with music from Lamb of God to learn and present at callbacks. Please note that for some roles, you must not just demonstrate your solo abilities, but also your ability to fit well as part of a duet or trio. This is especially true for the three apostles and for Martha and Mary.
Cello Soloists should come ready to present a lyrical work of not more than 3 minutes in length. The selection should show a range of emotions. Think of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, meeting Pilate, or suffering on the cross. How would you portray that?
Narrators are one man and one woman. Come prepared to do a dramatic reading of no more than 2 minutes. You should also prepare to present a meaningful scripture. Some of the narration is directly from or paraphrasing scripture. Movement is not required as narration will be delivered from a seated position for Lamb of God. The Narrators are telling the story and should be engaging. It is okay to share the feeling and meaning of the words through your presentation of the narration.
Choir Members
Choir member candidates will do a range check and will sing their part in a hymn with others. Choir members who have sung in prior years do not need to audition, but should bring the completed information sheet to the first choir rehearsal, which is scheduled for Sunday, February 12. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday nights from 6 – 8:30 in Oakland and in a South Bay location.
Vocal Soloist Roles Available
The oratorio features 13 vocal soloists. Some alternate soloists will also be selected for some of the major roles. Alternate soloists will sing one of the performances, and of course must be prepared to step in and sing any performance where the primary is not able.
The following vocal soloist roles are needed:
Women
Men
Expectations for Vocal Soloists
To present a performance this Easter that will deeply enrich all who listen or participate, the following are expected of all soloists:
Oakland Interstake Center: 4770 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
Contact: Alan Chipman, Director (408) 887-8428
Family members of cast members and other volunteers are needed for numerous production team roles, including stage crew, seamstresses, props, set artists, set construction, painters, ushers, concession helpers, rehearsal pianists, instrumentalists, rehearsal assistants, make-up artists, and lighting and sound technical assistants.
We are accepting Applications for the following shows and organizations:
AUDITION TIME AND DATES
SAT Jan 22 (9-10AM, 10-11AM, 11-12PM, 1-2PM, 2-3PM, 3-4PM)
SAT Jan 29 Callbacks as needed, by invitation only.
FOUR (4) LAMB OF GOD PERFORMANCES
FRI Apr 15 (7PM)
SAT Apr 16 (2PM & 7PM)
SUN Apr 17 (7PM)
4780 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California 94602, United States
Temple Hill Events
4780 Lincoln Ave — Oakland CA 94602
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