Auditions

Want to be a Nassoon?

The Nassoons are a group of friends at Princeton University who like to hang out and love to sing. Being in the Nassoons is a substantial time commitment, but be prepared for the ride of your life. For many of our members, being a Nassoon has given them some of their most memorable experiences in college, so don't miss your chance to be a part of this amazing group.

Our day-to-day activities include rehearsals a few nights a week, performing around campus and on the road, and just hanging out. Some of the greatest times we have had together are on our three to four tours that we have a year to places all around the country and the world. In the past couple years, tours have taken us to South Korea, Munich, London, and Singapore, to name a few places. And this year, we’re off to Japan! 

As the oldest a cappella ensemble on campus, the Nassoons boast a rich history with a vast amount of diverse repertoire and a dedication to being at the forefront of shaping music at Princeton. One of the delights of being a Nassoon is that you immediately become an integral part of shaping an inclusive community now and for future generations of singers and students.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we will once again be hosting in-person auditions for members of the classes of 2026 and 2027 this fall on Tuesday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

We are now entering our third year of having removed our “all-male” language that has been in place since our founding in 1941, and hold auditions for low-voice (TTBB*) singers of all identities. We are committed to selecting members based on their voice, passions, and willingness to contribute to a warm, supportive, inclusive environment where all members can thrive.

*TTBB stands for Tenor I, Tenor II, Baritone, and Bass— though we’re all somewhere in between most of the time. If you can sing at least as low as an octave below middle C—a D3, for those keeping track at home— your vocal range is a good match for our repertoire. If you’re unsure, we’d encourage an audition anyway— we’d love to meet you!

Where are auditions?

100 1901 Hall, also known as the Nassoon room. Go into entryway 1, head down the stairs, follow the hallway, and make a right.

The Nassoons will hold auditions for the classes of 2027 and 2028 THIS SEPTEMBER.

stay tuned for more information!

If you still need convincing, check out our top 5 reasons to be a Nassoon.

What happens in the audition?

1. Introduction: We want your audition to be as fun and easy as possible. To give you some time to get comfortable, we start off by taking a moment to sit down, read your audition card, and try to get to know you a little better.

2. Scales: We'll begin by guiding you through some scales to get you warmed up and to test out your range (ideally, you may want to sing a bit on your own prior to the audition to warm up your voice).

3. Pitch Matching: Then we'll move on to some pitch-matching exercises in which Tim, our Music Director, will play several series of three notes on the piano and you'll sing them back to the group. 

3. Swells: For this part, we'll pick a few notes in your range, and for each note, you will start out soft, slowly get louder until you reach full power, and then get soft again. We'll usually choose one swell each from the bottom, middle, and top of your range. 

4. Sight-reading (optional): Next, there is an optional sight-reading sample. If you decide to try the sight-reading, this part can only help your audition; nothing you do will hurt your chances. If you'd rather not, don't worry; many past and present members of the group have declined this option. 

5. Your solo: This brings us to your solo. This is your best opportunity to show the group what you can do, so try to pick a song that you enjoy singing and that shows off your voice; the song can be from any genre. You can bring words or sheet music if you need them. 

6. Blend: Finally, we'll test out how you blend with the group. We'll stand in a circle with you and sing through a short excerpt of a song three times in four-part harmony. You'll be standing next to someone singing the part we'd like to hear you sing. By the third run-through, we'll ask you to try to bring out your part so we can listen to how your voice fits with those in the group.
 

Where is the Nassoon Room?

The Nassoon room is a very special place for all of us. Not only do we rehearse here, but it's also an exhibition of signs from around the world and a place for us to just hang out. Come see our room at our open house and come back for an audition! We are located at 100 1901 Hall, in the basement of Entryway 1. Can't wait to see you there!