Frequently Asked Questions

​WHAT TO WEAR AND BRING?
Dress comfortably in casual clothes that support movement! Our hall can be warm anytime of year, so it’s a good idea to dress in layers so you are comfortable. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes if you plan on standing on the risers with us! We have scent-sensitive individuals in our chorus so please avoid using perfumes, strong detergents or scented hairspray and similar products. Please bring a water bottle with you as well!

WHERE TO GO
We rehearse at the Freemasons Hall in downtown Edmonton. The building has paid parking lots directly beside it and across the street, and there is free street parking after 6pm. Once at the hall, enter through the front door, straight up the stairs and straight into the large hall space. We have a greeting table inside the door where you can check in. The hall does offer a ramp at the back door, making our rehearsal space wheelchair accessible. (Please let us know if you require wheelchair access so we can give you specific directions to the ramp and ensure we have someone to greet you there and help you if needed!).

SAY HELLO
Be sure to RSVP to let us know you're coming, so a member of our team will greet you when you arrive. We'll answer any questions you may have and guide you through your visit.

GUEST MUSIC
We'll loan you a Guest Music binder for you to reference during rehearsals.

DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ MUSIC?

Music reading skills are useful; however, it is not a requirement to be able to read music to join the group. We learn from audio learning tracks, but we do encourage members to learn the basics of music reading. All members are provided with copies of the music sheets for the songs they are learning.

DOES ALBERTA NORTHERN LIGHTS CHORUS WELCOME BEGINNERS?

Having some experience with music or singing is very helpful; however, we have a number of members who joined as beginners and are vital members of the group. You will be guided and supported as you learn!

IS IT FOR ME?

We have members from all walks of life and in all stages of their lives. We have had high school students, new moms, and women in their 70's, and everything between successfully sing with us! As long as you love singing, enjoy a challenge, can commit to (most) Tuesday night rehearsals, are willing to learn and want to be part of a high-performance team, Alberta Northern Lights Chorus is for you!

WARM UPS
We begin every rehearsal with a physical warmup, which is usually a fun and simple dance led by one of our members, including some gentle stretching to energize and physically prepare our bodies for singing and alignment. It's a great way to shake off the day, stretch out tired muscles and prepare for excellent posture on the risers. After physical warm ups our focus shifts to guided vocal warm ups.
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VOCAL ASSESSMENT / VOICE PLACEMENT
At some point in your first few visits with us, you will be invited to participate in an informal, private vocal assessment to help you identify which part may be the best fit with your range. There are four parts in our chorus: bass, baritone, lead, and tenor. It’s best to do this on your first night with us if you are willing, but it’s not mandatory.
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PARTICIPATE IN REHEARSAL
We invite you to participate as a guest at your comfort level. However, in our opinion, the best way to experience our music and culture is by jumping right in! Once you have been voice placed, you'll be placed on the risers near a helper who sings the same vocal part. We welcome you to listen for all of the parts while on the risers (it sounds different on the risers than it does as an audience member!) and you are also encouraged to try singing with us too! Your helper will assist you, and don’t worry about getting it perfect.
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ENJOY A SHORT PERFORMANCE
​If you visit during an Open House, we'll likely invite you to sit as an audience member as well, so that our singers may perform a few of our favorite numbers for you to enjoy. This is a great way to get a sense of our overall sound and how music and movement work together.

PATHWAY TO MEMBERSHIP
​Ready to take the next steps? We're here to help every step of the way! If this is something you’re interested in, our year-round soft audition process allows you to move at your own pace and includes lots of opportunities for help! We will share more about this in the coming weeks with you.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
​The Alberta Northern Lights Chorus believes that every voice matters. We welcome singers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from varied religions. We have a great group of very friendly and welcoming women that celebrate everyone for who they are.

WHAT AM I SAYING YES TO?
​Membership in the Alberta Northern Lights Chorus involves growth as a singer, performer, competitor and more. We are so excited to welcome you to our community, where you’ll quickly learn it is SO much more than just singing!

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

We would love to support you! Email us at abnlcmembership@gmail.com if your question isn’t answered above!
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