Vocal Juries and Midterms

All vocal performance majors and minors are required to perform a vocal jury at the end of each semester for which they are registered for required private lessons. Juried singers prepare three pieces based on the required repertoire list. Each singer will choose his or her first piece, and the voice faculty will choose a second and/or third piece. The voice faculty then gives written feedback and a grade for each selection based on the criteria below.

Jury Grading Criteria

• Preparation
• Intonation
• Posture
• Breathflow
• Rhythm
• Vowel definition
• Chiaroscuro
• Legato
• Musicianship
• Diction
• Interpretation/Style
• Stage Presence
• Communication

Midterms

Any voice student can participate in the vocal midterm performance day, which usually falls about one month prior to juries. Voice majors and minors are required to attend midterms during any semester they are registered for required credit. The midterm at Westminster is designed to give students the opportunity to perform their jury pieces from memory in front of their colleagues and to get constructive feedback on their work from the voice faculty before the graded jury performance. Students who perform on midterm day will offer a list of three pieces they have prepared, and the voice faculty will choose one of the songs from that list. Following each student's performance, the voice faculty will give immediate, verbal feedback on the performance, both positive and constructive, on things the singer did well and what he or she can improve upon during the final month of the semester. 

2012-13 Jury and Midterm Schedule

Fall Semester 2012

• Midterm Performance Day: Saturday, November 3, 11am - 2pm (with pizza at 2pm)
• Vocal Juries: Monday, December 10, 12pm - 5pm

Spring Semester 2013

• Midterm Performance Day: Saturday, March 9, 11am - 2pm (with pizza at 2pm)
• Vocal Juries: Saturday, April 13, 12pm - 5pm