Auditions for the Lincoln Boys Choir are held each spring. Boys invited to join are given provisional membership in the Concert Choir or Chorale. After three rehearsals in late spring, final selections are made and invitations are given to boys who show readiness through their musical ability and their demeanor. New members rehearse for the first time with their choir at a day-long workshop in August.

The criteria that will be used in the audition are:

• Singing of the song “America” (My Country Tis of Thee)
• Voice range: Elementary - approximately middle C to the E on the 4th space of treble staff, Middle school - approximately middle C to F on top line of treble staff
• Vocal quality (ability to sing in tune)
• Listening skills (ability to sing back patterns of notes)
• Pitch recall (ability to match a pitch of a note)
• Ability to sing in an unchanged boy’s voice

Regular rehearsals are Thursdays from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Temple, 332 South Centennial Mall. There may be occasional exceptions to this schedule, when the boys need extra time to prepare for a performance.

In 2006, the Lincoln Boys Choir required a registration fee of $100. This amount will likely increase as the organization grows and costs go up. Additional expenses of $200–$300 are required for uniforms, short-range travel, and occasional meals during activities. There will be additional travel costs for boys who participate in major trips. Families also incur the cost of tickets for some performances and fundraising events. The boys are given ample opportunities to raise funds to offset the additional expenses (but not the registration fee). LBC’s fundraising programs encourage the boys to support their own involvement in the Choir. Some of our most successful fundraisers have included car washes and sales of candles, flower bulbs, and gift cards.

The Lincoln Boys Choir makes every effort to ensure that lack of funds does not keep any interested boy from participating in the Choir. It manages a fund designed to provide confidential assistance to families that cannot afford expenses associated with membership. Interested persons are encouraged to contact the treasurer of the Board of Directors to apply for financial assistance. Guidelines can be found here, and an application form can be found here.