AfterGlow Chorus

Harmony with Meaning

AfterGlow Chorus is an advanced, auditioned chamber choir of over 40 highly-skilled, experienced singers based in Oakland, CA in the San Francisco East Bay. AfterGlow's mission is to perform powerful choral works of all genres with the highest level of musicianship and emotional impact.

AfterGlow Chorus is currently scheduling auditions for our Summer '25 concert program called "Healing & Heart" in honor of patients and caregivers (especially their families and friends). This special concert is meant to provide emotional comfort, solace, and healing for not only patients but also their loving caregivers.  We will also be honoring the late, great Bill Withers who passed away five years ago in 2020.

As we always do, we will be singing uplifting and powerful music from many different genres (e.g., classical, R&B, pop, etc.)​ As we always do, we will be singing uplifting and powerful music from many different genres (e.g., classical, R&B, Gospel, pop, etc.)  Here are just a few of the many wonderful pieces across many musical genres we will be performing (subject to change):

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• "Lux Aeterna" by Michael John Trotta

• "Dies Irae" by Michael John Trotta

• "Set Me As a Seal Upon Your Heart" by René Clausen

• "Hold On" arranged by Moses Hogan

• "Abide With Me" arranged by Moses Hogan

• "Pie Jesu" by Gabriel Fauré arranged by Barnaby Smith (Voces8)

• "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers

• "Just the Two of Us" by Bill Withers

• "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5

• "How I Got Over" by Aretha Franklin

• "I Love the Lord" by Richard Smallwood

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Here is a YouTube Playlist of these pieces.​

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Unlike most other choirs, AfterGlow rehearses in intensive, 4-week periods right before each concert. Sheet music is distributed one month before the first rehearsal so that singers learn, study, and practice their parts on their own.

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Rehearsals are very fast-paced due to the compressed schedule and high-caliber level of singers. Regular rehearsals are held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland in the popular Uptown neighborhood in Oakland. The rehearsal location is very easily accessible by mass transit (e.g., BART). Many singers also carpool with each other. Free parking is also readily available.

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Here is the accelerated rehearsal schedule (In order to create a cohesive choral sound in a very short period of time, all rehearsal & concert dates are mandatory):​​​

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• Rehearsal #1: Monday 7/14 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #2: Wednesday 7/16 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #3: Monday 7/21 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #4: Wednesday 7/23 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #5: Monday 7/28 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #6: Wednesday 7/30 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #7: Monday 8/4 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Rehearsal #8: Wednesday 8/6 from 7 pm - 9:30 pm

• Saturday 8/9 from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm DRESS REHEARSAL @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church Oakland

• Sunday 8/10 CONCERT #1 (Call Time 1:30 pm for 4 pm concert @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church Oakland)

• Saturday 8/16 (evening): CONCERT #2 (Call Time 5:30 pm for 8 pm concert @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church Oakland)

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The audition itself is simple and straightforward. You will be asked to sing any a cappella song of your choosing that you have prepared.  There will also be some vocalizing and sight singing.

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Unlike many other choirs, there are no fees or tuition to sing in the chorus in order to be as economically inclusive as possible for a variety of singers.