PNHS A Cappella Auditions 2025

welcome!

Thanks for checking out the PNHS A Cappella Auditions 2025 Information page! I can confidently speak for everyone involved in Plymouth North Vocal Music when I say that we are so excited that you're considering singing with one of our groups next year! Take a look through everything, sign up for an audition, and feel free to reach out with any questions that may come up.

We're looking forward to building on the momentum from this year, and now we just need you to be a part of it! I truly look forward to your audition, and ​can't wait to work with you next year!

-Mr. Grossman, Plymouth North High School Vocal Music Teacher

Important dates

Important Dates

Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3rd & June 4th -- First Round Auditions
PCIS STUDENTS -- There will be a bus from PCIS to PNHS on June 3rd. Students interested in taking this bus should talk to Mrs. Fuller by Wednesday, May 28th. PCIS students can audition on either day, this is just an opportunity for easy transportation)
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Wednesday, June 4th -- Callback List Posted
Monday June 9th, 4:00-7:30 -- Callbacks for Spectrum (4:00-6:00) and Northern Lights (5:30-7:30)
Monday June 9th -- 2025-2026 PNHS A Cappella Rosters posted

Audition process

1. Sign up for an audition -- Let us know that you're auditioning and be the first to know about any changes!​
2. First Round Audition -- Go through the First Round Audition process so we can hear where your voice is right now
​3. Callbacks -- Some students will be asked to learn parts to an arrangement at home and come to a callback audition to sing with others
4. Rosters are posted -- Find out what group you're going to sing with next year

First Round Audition
June 3rd or 4th (Your choice!)

Step 1 - Sign Up For An Audition

- Decide which day you'd like to audition (June 3rd or 4th) -- PCIS Students: If you need a ride to North, there will be a bus available for Tuesday, June 4th. If you plan to take this bus, please tell Mrs. Fuller by Wednesday, May 28th
- Sign up for an audition by filling out the Audition Sign-Up Form -- This will ensure that you get any information about auditions as we get closer!

Step 2 - Prepare Your Solo Audition

- Learn about each part of the Solo Audition by checking out each tab below.

1. Introduce yourself

Say hello! Tell us your name, what grade you are going into, and what you’re going to sing for your solo!

2. Solo songs

Perform a verse and chorus (about 45-60 seconds) from TWO songs, unaccompanied (Just your voice!)

• Your two songs should be contrasting in some way -- Fast/slow, different genres, different ranges, any differences like these will work!
• Feel free to sing your solos in a key that's different from the original. We want to hear where you sound best! If you know a specific note that you need to hear before starting, we can give you that!
• Students are encouraged to choose a song from a contemporary popular genre -- i.e. pop, rock, R&B, hip hop, etc. While all genres are permitted, students would be smart to audition on a song that a group might conceivably sing.

3. Part singing

1. Download the Part Singing Materials at home
2. Use learning tracks and sheet music to learn whichever voice part suits you best (your choice!), paying attention to phrasing, dynamics, and inflections of the voices in the demo.
3. In your audition, we'll play the "Performance" track out loud for your voice part while you sing along with it (your part will be missing from this track -- fill it in with your voice!)

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4. Vocal percussion

How the vocal percussion part of the audition will go:
- Choose a tempo to set the metronome at (Tip -- figure out a tempo that works for you while practicing at home!)
- Do a vocal percussion pattern for about 30 seconds. 

TIPS: 
- Search 'metronome' on Google (or just click on this link), and use the slider to choose a tempo that you can keep a steady beat to.
- This might be brand new for you, and that's okay! Do your best! We want to hear you keep a steady beat and take a chance!
- If you would like to learn some vocal percussion basics, check out these videos. Yes, I know they're super dated and lame, but they're REALLY helpful!)

5. sight singing

 - You'll be given 30 seconds to look at a short melody written down on a staff.
- After 30 seconds, you'll be asked to sing the melody to the best of your ability!

Sight singing or reading sheet music might be brand new to you and that's okay! Do your best! This is not a make-or-break thing

6. Scales

In your audition, you may be asked to sing along to some vocal exercises to hear how high and low your voice goes right now. This will have no effect on your audition score! It's just a convenient way to get a sense of way to get a sense of where your voice sits range-wise right now!
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Step 3 - Fill Out And Submit The Audition Form

- Go to www.tinyurl.com/pnhsaca2025form
- Fill out ALL of the requested information
- Check out the tabs below for info on a few important parts of the form!

Personal statement

Type a paragraph that explains why you want to be in an a cappella group. Your paragraph should address the following questions and should use correct spelling and grammar.

1. What elements (musical, social, or otherwise) need to be in place in order for a group to be successful?
2. How will you contribute to the group's success? What should we know about your qualifications as a candidate that we may not have observed in your audition?

History/qualifications

If you HAVE had Mr. Grossman as a teacher before, you don't need to do anything

If you have NOT had Mr. Grossman as a teacher, indicate the name of a music teacher who can evaluate your past performance for the History/Qualifications portion of the rubric

weekly schedule

Make sure to list any weekly conflicts that you know will be in place for the year, along with any sports/activities that you plan on participating in next year.

Step 4 - Come To North and Do Your Audition!

Callbacks
Monday, June 9th at PNHS
Spectrum - 4:00-6:00
Northern Lights - 5:30-7:30

- A callback list for Northern Lights and Spectrum will be posted by Wednesday, June 4th by 11:59pm
- If you aren't on the call back list, that does not mean that you will not be in a group!
- Students called back will be sent a segment of an arrangement to learn, and will be told what voice parts to learn.
- Students called back may be asked to learn multiple voice parts so that we can best hear where their voice fits!
- Students will rehearse the arrangement together together, and then be called up in different combinations with 1 or 2 people per part to sing through the arrangement excerpt.
- Dinner will be provided for all students called back, between 5:30 and 6:00

 Rosters
Posted Monday, June 9th by 11:59pm

- Rosters for the 2025-2026 PNHS A Cappella Groups will be posted on Monday, June 9th on pnhs-sings.com
- Students will be emailed with the attendance policy and contract that night
-Read the attendance policy and contract carefully, sign with a parent/guardian, and submit a photo of the signature page by Wednesday, June 11th to accept your spot in a group! ​

PNHS A Cappella Frequently Asked Questions

What a cappella ensembles are offered at north?

Plymouth North currently offers four different after school contemporary a cappella ensembles. Northern Lights is a mixed (male and female) group, Spectrum and Girl Treble are female-presenting, and Menergy is male-presenting. The ensembles perform songs from a variety of genres using only their voices to mimic instrument sounds and create new sounds.

what is the time commitment like?

Northern Lights - Rehearsals Monday and Wednesday nights from 5:30‑7:30 at PNHS
Spectrum - Rehearsals Monday and Wednesday nights from 4:00-6:00 at PNHS
Girl Treble - Rehearsals Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 and Thursday afternoons from 2:15-3:45 at PNHS
Menergy - Rehearsals Thursday afternoons from 2:15-3:45 at PNHS

Aside from regular rehearsals, groups may perform at events in school (assemblies, pep rally, etc.), winter and spring a cappella concerts, opportunities inside and outside of the community, as well as competitions in the area. Members are required to be in attendance at each rehearsal and performance. While it is a significant time commitment, by all accounts, it is a rewarding experience, and you get as much out of it as you are willing to put in. 
Ensembles frequently have commitments which take place on Friday nights or Saturdays. Being a member of any a cappella group will force you to get your time management skills in order and keep a detailed planner.

i play/want to play a sport -- can i still sing in an a cappella ensemble?

While it would be great if this were a simple answer, it depends entirely on the sport. Different sports practice at different times, and different sports have different game schedules. Contact your coach and see how the two conflict. Usually, we can make this work! PNHS A Cappella Groups have had students that are also involved in softball, soccer, track, cross country, hockey, swim, and more. Ideally, any overlap time between rehearsal and practice would be split between the sport and the group.

Is it possible to sing in multiple a cappella ensembles?

This is something we look at on a case by case and year by year basis, depending on numbers. There is a place on the audition form to express your interest in this.

what happens after rosters are posted?

Auditioners will be sent 'contracts' to be signed by the student and a parent/guardian by Wednesday, June 11th. This is how you will accept your spot in the ensemble. We will also have a 'Group Meeting' for each group at PNHS. Students are encouraged to join in person, but there will also be a Google Meet link for each one for any remote students.

Can I get feedback on my audition?

Yes! Feel free to see Mr. Grossman and ask for some feedback on things that you can focus on in your singing to help prepare you for further auditions! We have great opportunities to participate in vocal ensembles at PNHS, which are great ways to help improve ensemble singing skills! There is so much offered in music at North—get involved!

How are the auditions scored?

Each audition will be seen and scored by Mr. Grossman, Ms. McBride and two other experienced members of the a cappella and music education communities. You can find the Audition Rubric below. The scores from each solo song will be averaged together. (Yes, this says 2022. It's the same for 2025!)

I have more questions!

Great! Email Mr. Grossman at [email protected]

Audition Resources & Helpful Links

Audition demo video

Coming Soon!

google drive resource folder link (Part singing, vocal percussion)

Google Drive with Part Singing Tracks/Sheet Music, Scale Guides, and Vocal Percussion Tutorial Link

Audition form Link

2025 PNHS A Cappella Audition Form Link