Audition Notice for Apollo’s Fire Musettes

For sopranos/trebles age 10-17

Apollo’s Fire announces auditions for treble ensemble singers for the December concerts of the acclaimed Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain – An Irish-Appalachian Celebration.

This popular program created by Jeannette Sorrell in 2017 features the cast of the original “Sugarloaf Mountain” program (now a best-selling CD) alongside an expanded company to include fiddlers, dancers, Apollo’s Singers, and the Musettes. The show begins in Old Ireland on Christmas Eve and makes the voyage (as many did!) to the Appalachian Mountains for Christmas Day. The project includes local Cleveland concerts as well as a performance at the Met Museum in NYC. 10 Musettes will be selected to perform in NYC with the cast!

The director of the Musettes is Apollo’s Fire’s Artist-in-Residence for Outreach Performances, AMANDA POWELL. Amanda is a respected voice teacher and frequent soloist with Apollo’s Fire and is known for her command of both early music and folk styles. Performances will be conducted by Jeannette Sorrell.

Please scroll down for the rehearsal and performance schedule. (Note, ensemble singers will be permitted to miss one of the 5 concerts.)


Audition Materials

Singers will be asked to perform What Child is This [download PDF] OR Here we Come A-Wassailing [download PDF], as well as a second Christmas Carol or song of their choice. (examples include a folk song, art song or hymn) At the audition, singers will also be asked to vocalize.

Audition Times & Location

Saturday, July 7, 10am-1pm OR Tuesday, July 31, 6-8pm
Disciples Christian Church
3663 Mayfield Road
Cleveland Heights, 44121

Audition Sign Up

CLICK HERE to sign up online.

For information & questions, or if you are interested in auditioning for the Musettes but neither of these dates work for you, please email Amanda Powell.


Tentative Performance Schedule*

Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain

Friday, December 7, 8:00pm
Saturday, December 8, 3:00pm (tbc)
Saturday, December 8, 8:00pm
Sunday, December 9, 4:00pm
Monday, December 10, 7:30pm
Friday, December 14, 8:00pm
Sunday, December 16, 2:00pm

*Musettes can rotate out of one performance


About the MUSETTES ENSEMBLE of Apollo’s Fire

The Apollo’s Musettes Ensemble consists of exceptionally talented young singers, generally age 10-18, who are chosen through competitive audition for their clear, pure voices and outstanding musicianship. The ensemble performs with the professional musicians of Apollo’s Fire under the direction of Jeannette Sorrell, in repertoire where children’s voices are historically appropriate.

The ensemble was founded in 2005, and since then has performed in over 35 concerts with Apollo’s Fire, including performances of Praetorius’ Christmas Vespers, Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. The Musettes appear on Apollo’s Fire’s acclaimed CD recording of the Christmas Vespers by Michael Praetorius, and have been heard across the country on national radio broadcasts of that program.

“What the Experience Meant to Me” – Quotes from former Musettes of AF

“The opportunity to work with a world-class conductor before you are out of high school, or in your early years of college, is amazing. To have the real-life experience of working with professional musicians is fantastic. It helps keep the rest of life in context.” – Augusta McKay Lodge

“I first got to sing with Apollo’s Fire when I was 16, and the experience opened up new horizons for me. It inspired me to pursue a career in music.” – Madeline Healey

“Singing this beautiful baroque music with a small, intimate orchestra is a transformational and spiritual experience for me.” – Allison (“Allie”) Miller


About APOLLO’S FIRE & JEANNETTE SORRELL

“The U.S.A.’s hottest band” – Classical Music Magazine, UK

Apollo’s Fire is internationally recognized as one of the leading period-instrument orchestras in North America and Europe. The ensemble has been met with standing ovations in such venues as the BBC Proms, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Royal Theatre of Madrid, the Library of Congress, the Tanglewood Music Festival, and Cleveland’s Severance Hall. Their CD recordings on British label AVIE have won critical acclaim from on both sides of the Atlantic. Jeannette Sorrell is one of today’s leading early music conductors. Her guest conducting engagements include the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the Pittsburgh Symphony, St Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The winner of two international harpsichord competitions, she is the recipient of awards from the American Musicological Society, the National Endowment for the Arts, and an honorary doctorate from Case Western University. Passionate about educating the next generation of musicians, she has led many baroque projects for CIM and Oberlin Conservatory.[divider]

“The U.S.A.’s hottest baroque band.” –CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)

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