Upcoming auditions will identify vocalists for the Madison Sixth-Grade Honor Chorus, which will premiere at the Madison City Arts Festival on May 2.

Columbia Elementary School will host auditions on Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music teachers Dani Breitbarth, Kristina Newsome, Audra Loftin and Traci Stewart are coordinators.

“We organized this effort to allow students an extra level of music instruction they may not receive during a normal school day,” Breitbarth said. Students who aren’t in chorus also can participate.

For years, Newsome has lobbied for this event. “I’m so exited that our students have such a great musical opportunity,” she said. Newsome acknowledged support from elementary instruction coordinator Judy Warmath.

“Sixth-graders are upperclassmen of the elementary schools. It’s very fitting for them to have an event that will display talents they have developed over the years — a farewell performance, in essence,” Newsome said.

Judges will ask auditionees to sing C major scale in solfege syllables (do, re, mi and so on) and portions of the three memorized pieces. Each audition will last about five minutes.

For the first time, the honor choir will allow students to experience the audition process, sing with high-performing peers from other schools and prepare for middle school chorus, Loftin said.

“We’ve tried to create a well-balanced concert with songs from a musical, an African octavo and more classical types of music,” Breitbarth said. “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Hava Nashira” are example charts. Arrangements will use two-part harmony.

Bob Jones Choral Director Randall Fields will direct the Madison Sixth-Grade Honor Chorus. Rehearsals will be held after school at Columbia in April, along with a half-day field trip to rehearse in Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones on May 1.

The annual Madison City Arts Festival showcases students’ work in vocal and instrumental music, drama, broadcasting, fashion design and visual art and is presented in and adjacent to Zompa Auditorium.

Students can register for auditions at signupgenius.com/go/60B084FAAA72EA64-madison.