FULL FATT SOUND AUDITIONS (AUGUST 2025)
Following on from our first concert in July 2025, we are now moving to a bigger rehearsal space and able to expand the size of the choir to take on new members.
Below is all the info you might need to know about the choir and how to apply.
The deadline to apply is 10am on Tuesday 12th August. Please note this will be the last opportunity to join the choir in 2025. We will do auditions again in 2026.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
This will be a two-stage application process so we can shortlist and select singers to form the initial choir.
STAGE ONE: an online application form, including sending a recording of you singing (the application form is at the bottom of this page).
STAGE TWO: shortlisted singers from STAGE ONE will be invited to attend an open rehearsal workshop with the choir where we will learn some music together.
After the group workshop we will make offers to singers to join the choir. If you have any questions please email hello@fattprojects.org
HOW DO I APPLY TO BE PART OF THE CHOIR?
There is an application form at the bottom of this page with some questions about you, your experience, and to help us get to know you a bit.
A copy of the application questions can be found here, please use the form below to submit your application.
As part of the application form you will be asked to share a recording of you singing a song of your choice. This does not need to be a professional recording, we are more than happy to get a voice recording or video taken on your phone. You should record yourself singing along to a backing track (live accompaniment is also fine if you happen to play an instrument), there are 1000s of backing tracks available for free on youtube.
WHAT SHOULD I SING FOR THE AUDITION?
Whatever you want, we want to hear what you sound like - so please pick a song you enjoy singing, and that you feel best showcases your voice. There isn’t a right song or right style of music. Although we are asking people not to sing ‘This Is Me’ from the Greatest Showman… the world has suffered enough.
INFO ABOUT THE CHOIR
WHAT IS THE FULL FATT SOUND:
The Full Fatt Sound is a semi-professional* queer choir specialising in performing contemporary and popular music. The aim of the choir is to bring together queer singers from across Birmingham to come together and make a beautiful collective sound, packed with sexy harmonies and good vibes.
This is not a ‘community choir’ (there are already great community choirs in Birmingham and we’re not trying to step on their toes). We recognise that for a lot of queer singers it’s rare to have a space to be together and make music, despite this being essential for our development and wellbeing. Lots of choral environments are very traditional, or are attached to religious practice which we know can be difficult for queer people to navigate.
We really want to emphasise the performance of choral music - we currently perform with live keys and a DJ and dancing - we’re bringing audiences together with a gig-like atmosphere - our aim is for the choir to perform at nightclubs & festivals as well as more traditional settings.
The music we perform is drawn on a wide range of genres from club-classics to folk, rock, R&B, jazz, soul, pop, and original compositions pulled together around a particular theme or idea. The music we choose to perform is shaped by the members of the choir, their interests, the sounds we make, and the various contexts we might perform in.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SEMI-PROFESSIONAL?
At them moment the choir is unpaid. Everyone involved is giving their time voluntarily to make it happen because they want to do it and want to be a part of it. However, we are aiming for a professional quality sound and performance.
Our intention is that we will work to a point where we are able to pay singers for gigs (eg. if we’re booked at festivals/events) - but we want to be upfront that it will take some time to get to that stage, so it’s an intention rather than a promise.
DO I NEED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL SINGER TO APPLY?
No, you don’t need to be a professional singer to be part of the choir (although you absolutely might be and some of our members are). We understand that people sing for lots of different reasons and everyone will be coming from different kinds of experience, so you don’t need any formal singing training or experience to be a part of the choir.
Here’s what you do need:
to be a confident singer, and comfortable singing in front of people. Ideally we want everyone to feel able to take on singing solo if desired.
to be able to sing to a good standard, have good musicality, and to feel comfortable singing a harmony line with others.
to be able to bring your personality to singing and feel comfortable performing in front of other people.
To identify as LGBTQ+ or consider yourself an active ally to our community.
Full Fatt Sound is probably not the place to try singing for the first time. We are ambitious with the music we perform and the sound we make together.
Please note you must be over the age of 18 to join the choir, there is no upper age limit.
WHAT KIND OF VOICES ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We don’t have a fixed idea of who can or should sing in a choir, we do lots of different styles of music and use different vocal sounds so we need a range of singing styles. Don’t worry that you sound too much like one thing or another, we want this choir to be a place where the unique qualities of your voice are celebrated.
The choir is split into four vocal parts - Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone. If you aren’t sure which voice part you sing, we can help you figure that out in rehearsal.
We particularly want to connect with singers who haven’t felt comfortable in other choral settings including trans, non-binary and/or gender non-conforming singers whose vocal ranges may not match traditionally gendered voice parts - we hope this will be a space where you are able to bring your full self to singing. Voice parts will be based on range only and are open to people of any gender to sing with the part they are most comfortable with.
DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ MUSIC?
No, you do not need to be able to read sheet music - although if you are able to read music this will be helpful. We provide everyone with sheet music and lyrics to follow, but we teach the parts by ear and repetition, we also provide recorded demo-vocal tracks with your specific harmony on to listen to and practice. No-one will be expected to sight-read.
WHAT IS THE REHEARSAL COMMITMENT?
We rehearse every Monday evening (apart from bank holidays) from 6:45-9:30pm at Birmingham REP Theatre, B1 2EP.
IS THERE A COST TO BEING IN THE CHOIR?
No, there isn’t a membership fee or a cost to being in the choir. However, as the choir is currently running without funding we will ask for people who are able to do so to contribute towards the costs of printing etc. (this is done on a pay what you can/solidarity basis).
IS THE REHEARSAL VENUE ACCESSIBLE?
The REP building has good accessibility, and step free access throughout. Our rehearsal space is on the 2nd floor, which is accessed via a lift. If you have any specific questions about access please email hello@fattprojects.org and we’ll get back to you asap.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
The choir currently has around 40 members, we are looking to take on around 4-6 people for each voice part bringing the total membership up to around 60 people.
WHAT IF I’M NOT SUCCESSFUL?
The choir is still very new and we hope it will continue to grow and change as it develops. We hope we’ll be able to offer lots of other opportunities for people to come together and sing as the choir develops. You can absolutely re-apply when we re-open auditions.
