Soprano 1, tenor, bass 1

Auditions for the Danish National Vocal Ensemble

The Danish National Vocal Ensemble (Chief Conductor Marcus Creed) is the full-time professional chamber choir of DR – Denmark’s national public-service broadcaster. We have three vacancies for full-time positions - first soprano, tenor and first bass - from January 2022 (exact starting-date by negotiation) and are looking for versatile professional singers with good vocal range, dynamic flexibility, and wide musical experience.

 

Auditions for selected applicants will take place Tuesday October 26 (Tenor) Wednesday October 27 (Bass) and Thursday October 28 (Soprano), 2021 at DR Byen (DR’s studios) in Copenhagen. Unfortunately DR is not able to pay travel expenses for those selected for audition.

 

Singers wishing to apply for the posts are asked in the first instance to submit a recent recording (CD / DVD / MP3) by Monday September 27, 2021. Non-Danish nationals are welcome to apply.

 

The auditions in Copenhagen will take place in two parts, morning and afternoon each day.

Part 1: solo audition (morning). You are asked to perform:

  • Your own choice of sacred aria (from a mass, cantata or oratorio), no less than 3’ duration, from the 18th or 19th centuries and performed in the original language. Please submit a copy of the vocal score with your application.
  • The first three verses of any Danish strophic song or hymn (performed in Danish), performed a cappella.
  • You are also asked to prepare (but may not be asked to perform) the following:

Soprano applicants:

Rejoice greatly (Handel: Messiah; 4/4 version, bars 1-36 only)

Aus liebe will mein Heiland sterben (J S Bach: Matthaüspassion, BWV 244)

Tenor applicants:

Deposuit potentes (J S Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243)

Sei getreu bis in den Tod (F Mendelssohn: Paulus, op 36; to be sung in German)

Bass applicants:

Fecit potentiam (CPE Bach: Magnificat, H. 772)

Et in Spiritum Sanctum (J S Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232)

  • Vocal exercises to demonstrate vocal range and flexibility (in collaboration with Marcus Creed)

 

After Round 1, selected applicants will be asked to remain for:

Part 2: ensemble audition (afternoon). Each applicant will join the members of the DR Vocal Ensemble and Marcus Creed to rehearse:

  • Anton Bruckner: Christus factus est
  • James MacMillan: Tenebrae Responsories (first movement, pages 1 –17)

(Scores for these extracts will be available to download after October 11, 2021 from www.foresyngning.dk)

You will also be asked to undertake a prima vista/sight-reading exercise.

 

Application forms can be completed online and the deadline for initial applications, including the recording, is no later than: 12.00 midday, Monday September 27, 2021

Recordings should be emailed to Choir Manager Peter Tönshoff at Peto@dr.dk or posted to him at

Emil Holms Kanal 20, opg 5-3, DK-0999, Copenhagen C, Denmark. Telephone: (+45) 28546377

 

The Danish National Vocal Ensemble is an 18-voice ensemble, and its current membership includes singers from Denmark, Sweden, Poland and South Korea. The advertised position is a permanent one (after a probationary period) and is a full-time position, with the choir in service 36 weeks per year. The remaining 16 weeks are paid leave and preparation time, and are announced no later than 30th September for the following calendar year. Salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with the union agreement between the Danish Musicians Association

 

and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR). Employment is subject to confirmation of residence and work permit in Denmark.  Successful applicants will need to live in Copenhagen or close by. The annual salary is approx. DKK 372,000 (approx. € 50000).

 

The DNVE’s repertoire is wide-ranging and embraces music from the Renaissance to the present day. The ensemble also joins regularly with the Danish National Concert Choir (56 professional singers, employed part-time) and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for performances of works from the symphonic choral repertoire. The DNVE works with a range of prominent Danish and international conductors, has an adventurous learning and outreach programme with young professional conductors, singers and composers as well as the Danish amateur choir community, and as part of its concert activity tours regularly, both throughout Denmark and abroad.

 

More about the work of the Danish National Vocal Ensemble can be found at: www.drvokalensemblet.dk    

 

Auditions will take place at DR Byen, Emil Holms Kanal 20, opg 5, DK-0999, Copenhagen C, Denmark.

For further information, please contact Choir Manager Peter Tönshoff at Peto@dr.dk or (+45) 28546377