Be a Mastersinger

Sing With Us

If you miss singing in a men's chorus - or you've never experienced it and want to, we'd love to hear from you. Here's what joining Mastersingers looks like.

What We're
Looking For

Men who can read music, learn parts independently, and blend with an ensemble. Most of our members sang in college glee clubs or community choruses. Some have continued singing regularly, others took years off and are coming back to it.

If you're wondering whether you're ready: if you can hold your part in a challenging piece, you'll fit right in. And we'll help you get there.

The Mastersingers USA get ready to go on stage.
First tenors listening to the conductor.
Making it happen

The Commitment

01

Preparation

You'll learn the music in the months leading up to the retreat. We give you everything you need: practice tracks, sheet music, recordings of past performances. Virtual or local rehearsals may also be available.

02

Annual Retreats

One weekend per year - Thursday evening through Saturday night. Three days of rehearsals and a final performance. The location rotates among US cities. This year it's Boston, June 18-20.

03

International Tours

Every 2-3 years, the annual retreat becomes a 10 day international tour - performances in major cathedrals and historic venues across the world. The tour is optional, but most members make it a priority.

A Weekend in Song and Brotherhood

Thu

Introductions and rehearsals

Singers arrive from across the country. Old friends reconnect, new members are introduced. We have our first readthrough, get a sense of our sound and we follow it with an afterglow.

Fri

Into the details

Friday is the long day: morning and afternoon rehearsals with Kerry, broken up by lunch together. This is where the music gets shaped - dynamics, diction, the difficult passages that finally click.

Sat

Polish, concert, banquet

Another full morning of rehearsal, then a final polish session at the performance venue before the concert. We've performed in churches, concert halls, and cathedrals — always with an audience that didn't expect to hear something quite that good. Afterward, a reception and banquet to close out the weekend. It's the hardest night to leave.

A choir rehearsal or performance indoors with multiple seated singers holding sheet music, a conductor directing from front, large windows, and red curtains.
A group of men and women singing in a choir, standing on a stage and holding sheet music, with a green curtain backdrop.
A man in a white shirt and striped tie adjusting his glasses inside a church, with others seated on benches in the background.

Support for New Members

Once you're accepted, we assign you a buddy-an experienced member who'll check in, answer questions, and meet you at the retreat. Nobody expects you to figure this out alone.

Your buddy will help you navigate practice materials, connect you with other members in your area, and make sure you know where to be and what to bring.

Mastersingers at a choral festival

The Kind of Music We Sing

The repertoire spans five centuries - from Renaissance Masses to American spirituals to contemporary works by living composers. It's demanding, varied, and deeply rewarding to sing.

We don't program for easy audience appeal. We program music that challenges singers and honors the choral tradition. Pieces carry over year to year, so you're constantly refining your interpretation rather than starting over.

If you've sung this kind of music before, you'll recognize the repertoire. If you haven't, you're in for a treat.

Sacred

Mass
Bedard
Ave Maria
Bruckner
Crucifixus
Lotti
O Vos Omnes
Victoria
All that Hath Life
Clausen

Spirituals

Ain't-a That Good News
arr. Dawson
Soon Ah Will Be Done
arr. Dawson

Folksongs & Contemporary

Choose Something Like A Star
Thompson
Irish Blessing
Brennan
Yearly Dues $100
Membership in the organization
Annual Retreats ~ $300
Meals, venues, music, banquet
European Tours ~ $4,000
Optional, but most members prioritize it

What It Costs

Scholarships Available

We don’t want costs to keep anyone from participating. Scholarships are available to offset costs in whole or in part, particularly for new or younger singers.

Mastersingers USA Concert Attire

Concert Attire

Navy Blazer • White Dress Shirt • Charcoal Dress Pants • Black Dress Shoes
We’ll provide the signature red-striped Mastersingers USA tie

The Audition

Once you express interest, someone will talk through your background and answer questions. If it seems like a good fit, Kerry will arrange a brief audition (usually virtual).

He's listening for musicianship, tone, and whether you can hold a part. It's straightforward and supportive. You'll know where you stand.

Let’s start the conversation

Tell us a little about yourself and we'll be in touch within a couple days. No commitment, no pressure - just a conversation about whether Mastersingers is a good fit.