New Amsterdam Singers is an accomplished mid-size chorus that is well-known for adventurous programming that features premieres and commissions as well as traditional choral gems, and our upcoming season will be no exception.. And we have a great time singing together. You might, too! We rehearse from 7 to 9:45 PM on Tuesday nights at Broadway Presbyterian Church at 601 West 114th Street in Manhattan and perform at venues all around New York City. There are occasional openings in the chorus throughout the season.
Music Director Ben Arendsen invites singers with choral experience and sight-reading ability to audition. New Amsterdam Singers is well-known for adventurous programming that features premieres and commissions as well as traditional choral gems, and our upcoming season will be no exception. We begin in December with a concert that includes Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine and an excerpt from Hagen’s From the Sketchbooks of Leonardo DaVinci as well as works by contemporaries of DaVinci including Orlando di Lasso’s Super flumina Babylonis, Thomas Luis de Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium, works by Josquin and more. In March we’ll present music from Leipzig, the city where Bach spent most of his career, including Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude as well as works by Reger, Rheinberger, Schütz, Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel. Our May concert features explores the concept of freedom with pieces by Caroline Shaw, Karen Siegel, Jake Runestad and others.
The chorus remains committed to the safety of our singers, staff and audiences during these times, and we’ll maintain appropriate safety protocols throughout the season.
Official audition dates will be Tuesday, August 26 from 7-9PM, Tuesday September 2 from 6-7PM or by appointment if needed. To schedule an audition with Music Director Ben Arendsen, email musicdirector@nasingers.org.
Frequently Asked Questions about Auditioning
What happens at an audition?
Your audition will be private; one-on-one with Music Director Ben Arendsen. At your audition, Ben will have you sing some scales to test your vocal range, will play series of notes for you to sing back to him, to test your listening and pitch, and will ask you to sight-read some music. You will also sing one prepared piece of your own choosing.
Do I need to be able to sight-read?
It is expected that all members of New Amsterdam Singers have at least basic sight reading skills.
When are auditions held?
Most auditions take place in August, prior to the beginning of the new season. There are occasionally openings during the course of the year, however, so singers are encouraged to inquire about openings at other times of the year as well.
Do you have an opening in my voice part?
We have some openings in all voice parts each year, so singers are always encouraged to audition if interested.
Does it cost anything to join?
Full chorus dues are $255 for the year ($85 per concert cycle). New members sing their first NAS concert free of charge. Full-time students receive a $45 per concert ($135 annual) rate. Additional scholarships are available.
Can I hear a sample of New Amsterdam Singers in performance?
We’ve provided some excerpts of New Amsterdam Singers in performance here.
Interested in auditioning? Learn more about our 2025-26 season here.