Auditions

The Emerald Isle
(Sir Arthur Sullivan’s last work)
May 2, 3, 9 & 10, 2025 at 7:30pm
May 4 & 11, 2025 at 2pm
at the Arden Gild Hall
Lead roles were cast during auditions in September, but we’d still welcome singers for the chorus (and some minor roles will be cast from the chorus).  Current Ardensingers chorus members are not required to audition but are asked to email us at ardensingers@gmail.com to confirm their intent to participate in the show.  Auditions for new chorus members will take place at an early rehearsal.

Rehearsal & Performance Schedule

Resources for Auditioners
The Emerald Isle (G&S Archive)
The Emerald Isle – Synopsis
Links to midi recordings (G&S Archive)
YouTube 1982 live concert performance (poor quality audio)

The Emerald Isle Vocal Score – Act 1
The Emerald Isle Vocal Score – Act 2

Listing of Audition Selections

To be added to one of our mailing lists, E-mail us at ardensingers@gmail.com, call John Trexler at (484) 319-2350, or fill out the form at the bottom of our home page.

Ardensingers Chorus and Orchestra
The Ardensingers perform two shows per year, one in the Fall (November/December) and one in the Spring (April). The Spring show is one of the standard works of Gilbert & Sullivan, and casting is by formal audition (September / October). There’s no set format for the Fall show, and shows have included G&S-related works, pantos, and variety shows.  Casting can be by committee or by formal audition. The Fall shows often have more roles, so there may be solo / ensemble performing opportunities for capable actors and singers who don’t get cast in the Spring show. The Ardensingers are actively seeking musically- and theatrically-inclined men and women, including students, as leads and for the Chorus. Prospective Ardensingers Chorus members will be asked to audition by performing a short piece of his or her choosing. At the present time, we’re accepting most singers who have prior choral experience. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 2 – 4:30PM and on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 10PM (with students excused early). Good attendance is a prerequisite for continued participation. We take a break for refreshments about half-way through rehearsal. All stage performers are required to become members of the Arden Club (annual cost of $25, less for seniors and students). The Ardensingers is one of a number of “gilds” that belong to the Arden Club, which is responsible for maintenance and operation of the Gild Hall, our performing venue.  The Ardensingers also take part in other activities during the year:

  • The Arden Fair is held every year on the Saturday before Labor Day. It’s the Club’s biggest fund raiser. The Ardensingers sponsor the Beer / Wine booth at the Fair, and we encourage all able-bodied members to help out at the booth, or in some other capacity, at the Fair.
  • The Ardensingers sponsor at least one of the Dinner Gild community dinners (Saturdays, from October to May). This involves planning a meal and cooking for ~100 diners.
  • The Arden Community Recreation Association(ACRA) sometimes asks for our help at their annual holiday party (2nd Sunday in December) or at their Summer day camp.
  • We’ve occasionally sung the Star-Spangled Banner at Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball games.

Vocal scores can be purchased at cost from the Ardensingers. For the standard G&S shows, we’ll typically use the Schirmer edition. Contact John Trexler, as directed below, to reserve a copy.you

In recent years we’ve been making rehearsal CDs (recordings of individual chorus voice parts) to help our Chorus members learn their music.

There may occasionally be openings for the Ardensingers Orchestra, which takes part in the Spring show, and occasionally the Fall show. Rehearsals are on alternate Saturday mornings from 9 – 11:30AM.

For additional information about joining the Chorus or Orchestra, or to be added to our auditions mailing list, please contact John Trexler at (484) 319-2350, or send an E-mail.