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Student singing solo during winter choral concert

Black Music Ensemble

Auditions are Open to the NYU Community

Should I Join an Ensemble?

Neisa, a student from the Silver School of Social Work, grew up singing in gospel choirs. She didn't want to lose that part of her life when she left home so decided to join the Black Music Ensemble at NYU Steinhardt. Neisa describes her ensemble peers as chill, fun and open. "It's a great atmosphere to be a part of." Her advice for those thinking about auditioning is to go for it. 

Black Music Ensemble is a chorus of treble voices (sopranos and altos) that performs music of the African & African-American sacred and secular traditions. BME exclusively performs music by Black and Brown composers, is LGBTQIA+ affirming, and is gender inclusive of all singers. Conducted by Eric Williamson

Who Can Register

Sopranos and altos from all corners of the NYU community (students, faculty, and staff) by audition. Choral Ensembles are courses taken for credit; students must register for them. Please refer to the course catalog for more information regarding registration for these courses: MPAVP-UE 1181.006 and MPAVP-GE 2181.006.

Audition Information

Auditions for the Spring 2026 semester will be held on Tuesday, January 20; Wednesday, January 21; and Thursday, January 22 starting at 7:00 pm.

To request an audition, please fill out this FORM no later than Monday, January 19, 2026.

The audition will consist of:

  1. A vocal solo, chosen by you. Please limit it to no more than 2 minutes in length. (See below for important considerations regarding song selection.)
  2. Sight singing.
  3. Pitch matching and vocal range exercises.

The only thing you need to bring to your audition is a score for the pianist.

When choosing an audition song, consider the following:

  • Select a song that allows you to demonstrate solid, vibrant, and healthy vocalism.
  • Select a song that emphasizes your vocal gifts and your ability to communicate through singing.
  • The song can be in any style or genre.
  • The song can be in any language.
  • The song is expected to be performed with piano accompaniment; a pianist is provided for the audition.
  • Please bring a score for the pianist -- a photocopy is fine.
  • While not required, it is recommended you sing your 2-minute song excerpt from memory.
  • It is best not to confuse the adjudicator with your song choice. For example, it can be confusing if you indicate that you normally sing Soprano 1 in choir but then perform a song in a range, style, and/or vocalism that doesn’t reflect that.

Course Meeting Time

Weekly rehearsals are scheduled for 7:10-9:10 pm on Wednesdays beginning on January 28, 2026.    

Performances 

NYU Chorale will perform in a Choral Arts concert in May 2026.

Contact Information

Eric Williamson, Conductor of Black Music Ensemble.