Location - Redmond: 

Redmond High School
17272 N.E. 104th Street
Redmond, Washington    98052

Driving directions:

From I-5 (either direction) - Take Exit 168(A/B) - Highway 520 East. Go east on Hwy 520  past Redmond Fall City Road, Hwy 520 becomes Avondale Road. Continue north to N.E. 104th Street.; turn left onto N.E. 104th Street, go west to the 172nd block.  School is on north side of street.  Choirs practice in the choir room.

From I-405 (either direction) - take Exit 14 - Highway 520 East. Go east on Hwy 520  past Redmond Fall City Road, Hwy 520 becomes Avondale Road. Continue north to N.E. 104th Street.; turn left onto N.E. 104th Street, go west to the 172nd block.  School is on north side of street.  Choirs practice in the choir room.

Location - South King: 

Messiah Lutheran Church
805 - 4th St. NE
Auburn, 98002

Driving directions:

From Hwy 18 (either direction) take the A Street SE exit; turn north on A Street SE; it continues north to become Auburn Ave SE; turn right on 4th Street NE and continue to corner of "H" and 4th. Church is directly across from Auburn High School.

Generic Directions: at the corner of "H" and 4th Street NE, directly across from Auburn High School. If you don't know where Auburn is, you can find it at the intersection of Highways 167 and 18.

Auditions/Interviews are held by appointment in March, June, September, November through early December each year. New members will start in September/early October, January and April. Contact our conductor Mr. Steve Stevens by phone at 425-486-1987 or by e-mail at info@columbiachoirs.com to schedule a visit or to audition.

Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm (Redmond)
Mondays, 7-8:30pm  (South King)

The International award-winning Columbia Vocal Ensemble (founded by Steve Stevens in 1989) is the premier, classically trained, community-based Youth Choir in the Seattle Metropolitan Area. This thirty-voiced, community-based mixed choir (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) has a membership spanning 9th grade through college. Singers are selected by audition from choir students recommended by choral conductors throughout the Seattle Metropolitan area. Once weekly rehearsals are held in Redmond, Washington State, just across beautiful Lake Washington from Seattle. The Ensemble is part of the family of international award-winning choirs called the Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle, U.S.A. (Boys Choir, Girls Choir, Youth Choir and Con Brio Women's Choir). These busy young people share a common passion: their intense love of singing a variety of music. Membership is open by audition to high school and college-aged musicians.

Concert Season

The Ensemble participates in the Columbia Choirs annual season of concerts; Simply Classics (October), YuleFest and "A Festival of Lessons & Carols" (December), SingFest (March) and the Spring Concert (June). Last season the Ensemble also presented a concert, "My Romance", of classical, pop and vocal jazz selections with choreography. In addition, the Ensemble collaborates regularly with adult community-based choirs and orchestras each season. Such collaborations have included Schubert's "Mass in G", Mozart's "Coronation Mass", Vivaldi's "Gloria", Brahms' "Four Songs for Women's Choir, Horn and Harp", Mozart's "Requiem", and Poulenc's "Gloria". The group also is represented on the eight compact discs produced by Columbia Choirs.

Concert Touring

The Ensemble's impressive record of International concert touring. The summer tours began in 1993 and take place after school is out every other year. The Ensemble has concertized in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Spain. In July, 2003 the Ensemble toured England and Wales for 10-12 days. They represented the United States at the prestigious "Interntational Musical Eisteddfod" in Llangollen, Wales, competing with choirs from around the world, and won the silver medal. The tours, fully chaperoned by adults, feature outstanding concert opportunities in a variety of performance venues (concert halls, churches and in international festivals). Outstanding educational sightseeing experiences pepper each day of the tours. Columbia Vocal Ensemble tours for fun and the extraordinary musical and educational experiences. We seek to intermittently compare ourselves with other choirs around the world to reconfirm the international quality of our work together. We believe international quality standards of training and performances will draw other high quality singers to the Ensemble. We believe setting high standards and helping our membership to meet those high musical standards will make the choir more exciting and fun.

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Columbia Vocal Ensemble...

• is recognized and respected for its exceptionally beautiful choral sound and its creative programming.
• is committed to the improvement of its members and provides them with the tools, leadership and opportunities to improve their musical and singing skills
• is fun and provides a forum for the social and musical interaction of its members
• commissions new works and performs a variety of the best in choral literature
• performs in different venues selected specifically to enhance its choral sound
• seeks collaboration with other community and professional musical organizations in the region, nationally and world-wide.
• encourages all other musical groups with which it comes in contact around the world.
• Prospective Member Auditions are intended to screen candidates for membership, ensuring that new members will enhance the Ensemble's musical progress.

Audition Process

• To qualify: you must have singing experience in Junior High, High School or above and have ability to read music or ability to learn music quickly with willingness to learn music between rehearsals
• Attend rehearsal: the candidate participates in rehearsal as a singer among our members; demonstrates ability to carry a tune, using a pure tone and good intonation. If that qualification is met
• Audition: the candidate will be invited to make an audition appointment given a piece of music (perhaps a simple hymn or other song designated by the leadership team) and requested to choose a harmony part. Regardless, the prospective member will sing that part in a small group (them singing the assigned voice part against one or two other different parts).
• Probation: One or two months (determined by the conductor on an individual basis) Each new member will be evaluated by the conductor and the leadership and will be on probation. The conductor, assisted by the leadership, will determine future membership status at the end of the two month period.

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Membership Standards: We know there will be varying levels of singing ability and musical experience within the choir and believe this is a good thing. We are determined to offer our members the guidance and tools they need to personally raise standards of performance. We know as the standards outlined are met the Ensemble will maintain its current, high international quality.

Membership Requirements:

• It is a requirement that you remain active in your school Performing Arts program or forfeit your membership in the Ensemble. The Ensemble is a resource to help you become a better singer/leader for the school music programs which have served your musical interests so well over the years. Your school choir/band/orchestra needs your leadership. When there is a conflict in performances, the school music performances take precedence over Ensemble performances.
• Commitment to the entire choir season (September through June, or for balance of the season whenever you join); to faithfully attend rehearsals, retreats and performances. NOTE: Participation in the summer tours is optional, but highly encouraged.
  Faithful attendance at all rehearsals (6-7:30pm Tuesdays), concert series and performances (scheduled with as much advance notice as possible). NOTE: We take the same holidays and time off that the Northshore and Lake Washington School districts do (e.g. Thanksgiving, Holiday Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, etc.)
• Parents of the member will assume full responsibility to remain current or help their singer remain current on the monthly tuition fee. Be aware that...
• Financial assistance is available for tuition, uniforms, retreats and tours through a written application filled out by the singer's parent/guardians. Our intent is to make it possible for every qualified singer to participate regardless of monetary status.
• Accept the leadership of the conductor, accompanist and leadership team.
• Learn music by the time designated. Take advantage of the tools we offer to ensure success. Request extra help if you need it.
• Be part of the solution to any problems seen within the choir. Mention possible solutions when bringing up problems. Try to get help solving problems/frustrations long before problems become critical.
• Purchase required performance uniform and keep it in performance ready condition.

Section Leaders may be designated by the conductor. These leaders will be selected for their outstanding singing and positive leadership ability.

• lead by example; learn music quickly so as to provide inspirational leadership to the section
• gauge the section’s progress on each piece of music and, if necessary, designate certain singers for individual help on vocal production.
• inform and consult with the conductor on the above,
• plan and lead the weekly section rehearsals and any extra sessions necessary to ensure the section’s success.

Repertoire Passing. It is fun to show your peers how you are progressing on your music. as all gain the confidence necessary to maintain high standards of performance. It is will be done to gauge progress on learning the repertoire and to inspire confidence in our singers. The stronger and more confident the small ensembles within the choir, the stronger the Ensemble will be in performance. It is done in rehearsal where there is usually lots of applause and celebration of each other's efforts.

Repertoire Passing Requirements

• Timeline for repertoire passing. We will provide written notice of deadlines by which you are required to demonstrate how well you know a song using your music.
• Study tapes/CDs will be made for those who request them. It is expected that members will rehearse between rehearsals to prepare for the repertoire passing deadlines.
• Repertoire Passing will be done in double trios (two people per part). Each double trio will sing the assigned song for Con Brio within the regular rehearsals on designated dates (published in advance). Music may be used. No criticism or other comments will be made publicly (in front of the membership). Each section leader will make note of how their section did in this process to plan future section rehearsals.

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