So you’re interested in trying out for the Octet. That’s awesome – whether you’re a veteran with years of concert and choir experience, a shower singer, or just someone who thinks hanging out and laying down some sweet, sweet harmonies would be pretty chill, you should come give it a shot.* The only requirements are that you are a current Williams student and you’re a dude. The audition process happens every year during the first few weeks of the semester and is divided up into a few sections:
1. Check us out
If you’re a freshman, come meet us at the Purple Key Fair and see us perform a song at the student-group Jamboree, both of which will happen during the first couple of weeks of school and will be attended by you and your entry. If you’re an upperclassman, you probably have a decent sense of what the group is like. If not, ask around, check out the website, shout at one of us in the middle of a dining hall, or just send us an email. Basically figure out if this is something you might be into.
2. Sign up
There are a few ways to get an audition. If you make it to the Purple Key Fair, you’ll find us at a table with our master sign-up list, probably definitely with candy, ready to chat about whatever’s on your mind. Although there will be an Audition signup sheet at the fair, the sheet will go up on the wall of Paresky mailroom, where you’ll be able to sign up at your discretion any time over the next few days. If all else fails, you can shoot the business managers an email at williamsoctet@gmail.com.
3. Try out
Auditions are pretty short and very casual. We’ll walk you through some warm-ups and basic vocal exercises, you’ll sing us about a minute of whatever solo material you want, and then you’ll be done. All you need to bring is yourself, and a verse-and-chorus of any song of your choosing.
4. Come back for more
If we call you back, your name will be on a list posted in Paresky mailroom and you’ll have an email in your inbox the night after auditions end. The callback itself is still casual, but a little more in-depth than the audition, so we can get to know each other better, much like a second date, but with the guys.
5. Celebrate
On Saturday night, if you’ve made it into the group, we will find you wherever you are and we will sing to you. And then we will party until dawn.
*IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE:
This year, we will have a second round of auditions in February, 2021. Per college public health protocol and safety guidelines, the audition process will look/be different from the process outlined above. But the idea is still the same: check out our Albums, our YouTube channel, and our Instagram (@thewilliamsoctet).
More updates will follow on the specific audition logistics, but if you’re interested, reach out on Instagram or shoot our business managers an email at williamsoctet@gmail.com.
We understand it can be hard to get the feel of the College’s different a cappella groups when everything is virtual, but we hope you can get a feel for what the Octet is all about through our music, our social media, and our website. And even though we may not be able to meet in person for the next little while, know that it’ll make our eventual in-person group meetings that much more special. If a cappella sounds like something you want be a part of, or even if you’re not totally sure, but think Octet as a group sounds dope to you, come audition for us. We’d love to have you.