Houston Symphony Chorus

The Houston Symphony Chorus is one of Houston’s oldest and most distinguished musical organizations. Founded in 1946 as the Houston Chorale, it became the Houston Symphony Chorale in 1968, and the Houston Symphony Chorus in 1986.

• The Chorus has enjoyed the leadership of nine directors: Alfred Urbach (1946–1986), A. Clyde Roller (1967–1968), Wayne Bedford (1968–1969), Don Strong (1969–1977), Virginia Babikian (1977–1986), Charles Hausmann (1986–2014), Betsy Cook Weber (2014–2022), Allen Hightower (2022–2023), and Anthony Maglione (2025-). Because of Dr. Hausmann’s extraordinarily long service, he was named Director Emeritus upon his retirement.

Over the years, the Chorus has sung with dozens of the world’s most notable conductors, including Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Steven Reineke, Michael Krajewski, Robert Shaw, André Previn, Leopold Stokowski, Christoph Eschenbach, Sir John Barbirolli, Ferenc Fricsay, Lawrence Foster, and Hans Graf among others.

In addition to performances in Jones Hall, the Symphony’s home venue, the Chorus has delighted audiences in concert halls throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico.

Recent reactions to its performances include:

“…beautifully balanced, modulated sound that seamlessly blended with the orchestra.”
—Review of A German Requiem, Houston Chronicle, May 8, 2018

“… the chorus was magnificent.”
—Review of Stabat Mater, Houston Chronicle, September 27, 2018

The Chorus consists entirely of volunteer singers who have considerable musical skill, vocal talent, and choral experience. They audition for placement each year. At the time of their audition, singers indicate in which series they are interested in participating. They are placed based on their audition scores.

For audition information, please visit the Chorus Audition Information section.

The Houston Symphony Chorus will audition the following singers for the 2025-26 season:

• All current chorus members wishing to return
• Any singer that did not participate in the 24-25 season and wishes to return
• New singers who would like to be considered for the 2025-26 season

Availability and Season Calendar

The season and interest availability form is coming soon!

The 2025-26 season calendar is coming soon!

When and where are the auditions?

The auditions will be held May 12th through 15th at Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Ave., 77007. If you wish to schedule an audition after this time frame, please contact the chorus manager directly at chorus@houstonsymphony.org.

Expectations and Procedures

All singers who wish to be considered for the season will participate in a four-part audition: 

1. Vocalization to demonstrate the range, quality, and flexibility of the voice 
2. A vocalise sung in Italian to demonstrate intonation, accuracy of singing in a language
3. Choral Selection
   • Messiah chorus (sung by singers who would like to be considered for placement in Messiah)  
   • Hymn 511 (for singers who do not wish to be considered for placement in Messiah) 
4. Sight-Reading (a cappella).

Audition Material Specifications

Vocalise

You’ll sing Vaccai #5 in your desired key. Please click the blue link above the recording to view and download the score.
Vaccai V High G

Vaccai V Med F

Vaccai V Low Eflat

Messiah Chorus

Choose one from the following:
His Yoke is Easy

Let Us Break Their Bonds

All We Like Sheep, stopping at measure 76 (before the Adagio)

Hymn 511 (in lieu of a Messiah chorus)

You’ll sing Verse 1: melody and Verse 2: alto, tenor, or bass line (sopranos and altos will all sing the alto line).

Hymn 511

Sight-Reading

This will be equivalent to Level 6 of “Sight-Reading Factory.”

FAQs

How should I prepare for the sight-reading portion of the audition?

The HSC sight-reading melodies are generated from Sight-Reading Factory, level 6. Email the Chorus Manager to obtain access to Sight-Reading Factory to practice at chorus@houstonsymphony.org.

Will I sing with live piano or tracks?

If you have any questions/difficulties with the audition process, please email at chorus@houstonsymphony.org.

Julia C. Hall, Assistant Director

Julia C. Hall is the retired chair of the vocal music department at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. In addition to her duties as the primary HSPVA voice instructor, she conducted the Concert Singers, Chorale, and HSPVA Madrigal Singers. Before returning to her high school alma mater 12 years ago, Julia taught at Lamar High School, Episcopal High School, and Memorial Middle School. She conducted invited choirs twice at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention: in 2011, with the Memorial Advanced Treble Choir and in 2017, with the HSPVA Treble Chorus.

Julia earned her Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude, from the University of St. Thomas where she studied voice with Diane Tobola, and her Master of Music, choral conducting, from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies.

In addition to her many years as a Houston Symphony Chorus soprano, she has sung with the Houston Chamber Choir and Houston Masterworks Chorus. A life-long Episcopalian, she served on the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Music Commission for many years.

Dr. Anthony J. Maglione, Chorus Director

Conductor, Composer, Producer Anthony J. Maglione is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston and Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus. He joins the Moores School of Music faculty from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where he was the Director of Choral Studies and held the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music. Choirs under his direction have appeared at state, regional, and national conventions, released internationally-distributed commercial recordings, and have twice been named “Runner Up” for the American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. A frequent collaborator, he has prepared choirs for performances with the American Spiritual Ensemble, Boston Camerata, The Canadian Brass, Joyce DiDonato, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, The King’s Singers, Kings Return, and the Mark Morris Dance Group.

An often-performed and commissioned composer with a growing national reputation, Maglione’s music has appeared at state, regional, and national-level conventions, on TV, in video games, and has been recorded on Albany Records, Centaur Records, GIA Choral Works, and Gothic Records. Several of his choral works are published on James Jordan’s “Evoking Sound” choral series through GIA Publications as well as “The Amanda Quist Signature Choral Series” on Gentry Publications. In 2018, Maglione’s cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra, The Wedding of Solomon, premiered at the American Guild of Organists National Convention. The Miami University Men’s Glee Club premiered Maglione’s On Life at the 2019 National ACDA Conference. In early 2020, Verdigris Ensemble premiered his extended dramatic work Dust Bowl as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Elevator Project in Dallas, Texas. Dust Bowl was recently revised and performed again in 2024 at the Wyly Theatre in Dallas through funding in-part from the National Endowment of the Arts. From 2023 to 2025, Maglione served as Composer-In-Residence with Te Deum, a professional choir based in Kansas City.

As a producer, Maglione lends his ears to recording projects around the country and recently received national attention through his production work with Sam Brukhman and Verdigris Ensemble on Betty’s Notebook  by composer Nicholas Reeves. This ground-breaking, programmable art music is the first of its kind and the first to be sold using blockchain technology.

As a tenor, Maglione has appeared with renowned organizations such as Artefact Ensemble, Cappella Romana, Kansas City Baroque Consortium, Kantorei KC, The Same Stream, The St. Tikhon Choir, Sunflower Baroque, and Spire Chamber Ensemble.

A sought-after clinician and frequent guest conductor, Maglione teaches workshops and has conducted All-State and honor choirs in California, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jennifer Romig Interim Chorus Librarian

Since the Chorus Endowment was established in 1997, all proceeds have helped enrich the choral experience at the Houston Symphony. With your generous support, the Chorus Endowment has helped fund exciting new commissions, underwriting workshops and free community performances.

Please join us in giving to the Chorus Endowment. Here is how you can donate:

• Give online now: Use this link to donate online and be sure to designate “Chorus Endowment” from the list of supported programs.

Active Houston Symphony Chorus members, click below to access the chorus portal:

Chorus Portal