The Boston Symphony Orchestra invites singers to audition for the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Applications for the 2026-2027 season are now open, and in-person auditions will take place on Tuesday, September 15 and Tuesday, September 22.

What is the Tanglewood Festival Chorus?

The Tanglewood Festival Chorus (TFC), the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is one of the nation’s leading symphonic choral ensembles. Its more than 200 accomplished volunteer singers bring exceptional artistry, musicianship, and dedication to the choral-orchestral masterworks. The TFC appears both independently and with the BSO and Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and on prominent stages across the nation.

The TFC offers singers the opportunity to perform a broad range of choral-orchestral repertoire at the highest artistic level. The chorus appears at Symphony Hall, the Tanglewood Music Festival, and on stages across the nation, working with many of the world’s leading conductors and soloists. Members also receive individual vocal coaching to strengthen their technique and support their vocal development. Beyond the music, the TFC is a vibrant and welcoming community with an active social life.

Upcoming concert highlights this year with the BSO will include Haydn's Creation, Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame, Mahler's 3rd Symphony, Saariaho’s Oltra Mar, as well as Osvaldo Golijov's Creation, a world premiere and BSO Commission.

Auditions:

We hold auditions for all voice parts a few times per season. If you cannot make the current round of auditions, please email tfc@bso.org to be notified of the next round. Please visit our website here for more information.

Audition timeline:

Applications will be reviewed and singers invited for an in-person audition as applications are received. Singers are encouraged to apply before the deadline.

• Friday, August 28, 2026: Applications Open
• Monday, September 14 at 11:59pm: Deadline to submit the online application form
• Tuesday, September 15 & Tuesday, September 22: In-person audition at Symphony Hall (candidates selected need only attend one date)

In-Person Audition:

Candidates selected for an in-person audition will be notified following submission to confirm an audition time at Symphony Hall. Please note that filling out this application form does not guarantee an in-person audition, as there is a limited number of audition slots.

The in-person audition will last approximately 6 minutes and consist of:

1. Solo selection: Prepare a solo of your choice, no longer than three minutes, that showcases your vocal ability and range. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring a double-sided, printed copy of the score in a binder for the accompanist. The score must be in the key in which you intend to perform the selection.
2. Brahms excerpt: Prepare measures 1–84 of Johannes Brahms’ Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen.
3. Nunes Garcia excerpt: Prepare measures 1–24 of José Maurício Nunes Garcia’s Kyrie from Requiem in D minor.
4. Rhythm exercise: Prepare the provided rhythm exercise. You may either speak or clap the rhythm.
5. Chromatic scale: Sing a chromatic scale ascending from do to sol and descending from sol to do, using any syllable of your choice.
6. Diction evaluation: Be prepared to read the provided diction evaluation texts.

Qualifications:

The TFC brings together adult singers who share a commitment to choral music at the highest artistic level. Members must be at least 18 years old.

All members have previous choral experience, and many have extensive vocal or musical training. Prospective singers should demonstrate strong musicianship, including a sound understanding of musical principles, confidence reading music, and meaningful performance experience. The TFC welcomes both accomplished choristers and singers with exceptional potential; because the ensemble performs on professional stages, it is not intended for beginners.

Rehearsal Schedule:

Rehearsal schedules are carefully designed around the artistic and musical demands of each program. You can find more information about our rehearsal and performance schedule and participation requirements in our FAQ section here: https://www.bso.org/tfc

How To Sign Up:

Please submit the online application form by the deadline on Monday, September 14. Applications will be reviewed, and singers invited for an in-person audition as applications are received. Singers are encouraged to apply before the deadline.