NEWCASTLE — St. Cecilia Chamber Choir is holding auditions for tenors and basses in preparation for its May 17 and 18 concerts. Sopranos and altos may join the waiting list. The concerts will feature Kodály "Missa Brevis," Britten "Rejoice in the Lamb," and a potpourri of other works, old and new. To schedule an audition, email audition@ceciliachoir.org.

Rehearsals resume on Jan. 15, and are Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at St. Andrew’s Church on Glidden Street in Newcastle.

St. Cecilia Chamber Choir is a fully-auditioned group of singers that includes talented youth and seasoned performers. 

"We perform the very finest challenging choral repertoire spanning the centuries from medieval to modern, under the direction of husband-and-wife team Linda Blanchard and Sean Fleming of Damariscotta," said a news release. "In the English choral tradition, we sing with a straight tone, enabling attention to fine-tuning rich harmonies. Much of our repertoire is a cappella, and we frequently are accompanied by a professional chamber orchestra. We present four concerts per year, typically in December and May.

"We’re a dedicated and friendly bunch, eager to welcome new members, and we especially encourage gifted students to audition. Rehearsals are high-energy and challenging," said the release.

“We work hard,” says Blanchard, “but we keep the rehearsals upbeat and fun. We provide practice materials to use at home, so singers can come to rehearsal feeling prepared and ready to go!”

Singers wishing to audition should have good vocal control, and sopranos and altos should be able to sing without vibrato. The ability to read music is preferred, but those who cannot read may participate by spending extra time learning the music at home with the aid of provided practice materials.

 For more information about the Choir, please visit facebook.com/stceciliachamberchoir and ceciliachoir.org.