2026 Prairie Fire Choir auditions are now open! To start the audition process, please fill out this form.
The online application window will be open from January 5 through 23, with in-person callbacks on February 12. Please see the FAQs below, and contact us with any questions. We can’t wait to meet you!
2026 Prairie Fire Choir Audition FAQs:
Thank you for your interest in auditioning with Prairie Fire Choir (PFC)! PFC has a two-part audition process:
PART 1: Fill out our virtual application (approx. 15 minutes), including a recording of you singing (approx. 1 minute).
PART 2: An invite-only callback that includes a brief “get to know you” interview and a live singing audition. Don’t stress on this. It’s fun and we are super nice!
Who can join the choir?Membership is open to any woman (cis and trans) and non-binary folks who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women and whose voices fall within these ranges. We seek to emphasize work in our repertoire that supports equity and empowerment.
What’s included in the virtual application? We ask basic information like your preferred pronouns, if you have choir and/or musical experience (it’s ok if you don’t!), what committees you’d be interested in joining (we are a DIY choir!), your special talents and skills, and any dimensions of difference you’d like to share (e.g. race/ethnicity, gender expression, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, etc.). We also ask for a 1-2 minute video or voice memo of you singing. The application is open from January 5 – January 23, 2026.
What happens after I submit the virtual application? Members of the Prairie Fire Choir Audition Committee will evaluate the applications and video/audio clips. Then we’ll ask selected persons via email to attend our in-person callback auditions, which are Thursday, February 12 from 6:30 – 8 pm (you may arrive anytime within that timeframe; plan to spend around 30-45 minutes with us).
When will applicants find out if they’ve been selected to attend the in-person callback audition?We will email applicants by Sunday, February 1 if they have been selected for the in-person callback audition.
What happens at the callback audition?The in-person callback audition has three steps:
- A brief get-to-know-you session with a current PFC member, where we review choir basics and you can ask any questions you might have.
- Sing “Floodplain Ballad” in trios/solo (you will receive sheet music and a practice track in your callback email invitation)
- Vocal range testing
What is vocal range testing?Vocal range testing is a way to find out how high and low a person can sing comfortably. It helps identify the full span of notes your voice can reach, from the lowest to the highest. We’ll play a note on the piano, and you try to match it with your voice. You keep going lower and lower, then higher and higher, until you can’t sing the note clearly anymore.
When and where is the callback audition? Callback auditions are Thursday February 12 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. You may arrive anytime within that timeframe; plan to spend around 30-45 minutes with us. Auditions are held at the Center for Performing Arts (where we also rehearse), at 3754 Pleasant Avenue.
Please note: Although the address is on Pleasant Ave, please enter at the ADA compliant main entrance on 38th Street. (View a map and the Center for Performing Arts’ transportation and accessibility information here)
What if I can’t make the callback audition? Unfortunately, if you can’t make the in-person audition, we cannot accommodate another time. We hope you stay tuned for next year’s audition opportunities.
What parts do you need to fill? We have the largest need for Soprano I & II and Tenor II voices. However, our choir has six parts and we are auditioning for all six—Soprano I & II, Alto I & II, and Tenor I & II.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted to PFC?You will receive an email from auditions@prairiefireladychoir.org (still working on taking the “lady” out of that email address!) within 2-3 days of callbacks with the results of your acceptance status.
Do I have to know how to read music? No! You don’t need to be able to read music, but you do need to be able to listen to yourself and those around you. We sing a capella and memorize our music, so it’s important that you have a strong ear and can hold your part. We provide practice tracks and sheet music to help members learn songs and rehearse once a week.
What do choir members commit to? When you join the choir, you’re joining a community. We are a “self-run” choir, which requires all of us to take on responsibilities outside of showing up for rehearsals and performances. Members are also required to attend at least 50% of rehearsals.
All choir members contribute as they are able to the governance, leadership, and musical magic-making of this choir. There are various committees that lead efforts in marketing, booking gigs, planning rehearsals, social justice and inclusion efforts, and more. Your participation in one of these committees will be a welcome and looked-for contribution as part of your membership in the choir. And it’s fun!
Wait, what is it like to rehearse without a director? Unlike most traditional choirs, we do not have a director. This can be very different for people who have a traditional choral background. We don’t have a “leader” or director in the traditional sense, but rather we share leadership responsibilities.
Our rehearsals are led by choir members from our rehearsal committee. At each rehearsal, active participation from all members is welcomed and encouraged to share ideas for dynamics, arrangement, phrasing or other performance techniques. Our rehearsals are in a laid-back and supportive environment, but we don’t sacrifice choral rigor or our rock ‘n roll attitude!
When and where do you rehearse? We rehearse every Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Center for the Performing Arts in Minneapolis. Our season runs from approximately March to November each year, concluding with a season finale performance.
The first new-member rehearsal is February 26. The season kick-off (AKA all-choir meeting) is March 5. All-choir rehearsals start March 12.
Where do you perform? We perform at a variety of venues and settings in the Twin Cities—including parks, theaters, clubs, bars, and other social institutions. Most of our performances are off-book, so memorization of your part in each song will be a priority.
Who chooses the music? The whole choir! We vote on the new season’s repertoire from an existing library of songs we’ve learned in prior years. At the end of each season, we add 3 or 4 new songs to the repertoire through a “Song Pitch” process for the following year.
Who makes decisions? A core group of members are voted on each year by the choir to participate on a board of directors known as the Red Hot Coals. These members dedicate additional time to the operational needs of the choir and serve as a central communications team and choral think tank.
What does the choir believe in? We value fairness, justice, equity, respect, openness, inclusivity and authenticity. We amplify causes including but not limited to social justice, women’s rights, racial justice, environmental justice, and LGBTQ rights.
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