Auditions

The Way Auditions Work

Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester. Look for posters and attend our information session and yard jam to get a better idea of the audition process.

Auditions begin with the preliminary round. You will have a few different days to choose from, and they take fifteen to twenty minutes at most. We will run you through some scales and a few pitch matching exercises to get an idea of your vocal range. Then, we ask you to sing a prepared short solo, verse and chorus. The important part of this is to express yourself; don't choose something that strains your voice, or your range. We've had everything from Italian arias to folk classics to "Happy Birthday." Don't stress out about this!

After the preliminary round, there are two to three callback rounds, where you get to learn parts of LowKeys' arrangements, and sing with the LowKeys. We may also ask you to sing another prepared solo to demonstrate your personal style. Despite the fact that these are auditions, it's also time to get to know you, and for you to get to know us and the way we work.

At the end, decisions are highly dependent on what voice parts the group needs for the present semester. So if for some reason you don't make it once, definitely come back and try again! We have members who auditioned a few times before making it, and this is the same for every a cappella group. So please feel free to approach any of us, and say hi!

What makes a LowKey?

We know that Harvard is full of many different groups, catering to several different musical tastes and styles of working. Here's a short summary of what makes us different:

Since the LowKeys are a younger group, we are very enthused about all of the amazing things that we get to do, and since we are not set in our ways, we constantly evolve, in terms of our music choices, and our stage presence. We really enjoy trying new things, and being experimental. The LowKeys are also a very tight knit group, and despite the large time commitment, we end up spending lots of time together outside of the group, and develop some of our closest relationships with fellow members. This does not mean that we are a clique: part of what is fun about the Harvard community is that we get to share our experiences with several other groups. Also, many members of the group have other commitments, like sports, theater, or community service projects, and this is definitely not a problem. Musically, we are an eclectic group, and like almost every genre, and really enjoy experimenting with music that isn't traditional or "popular." Most importantly, this is a group of people that love to sing, and enjoy being around others that share that passion. If that sounds like you, definitely come see us!