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Regional audition rules for singers have evolved in interesting ways. Until 1971, all singers at district auditions chose the first aria to perform and gave the judges a list of two additional arias; regional judges were given a list of four additional arias. After that year, singers gave judges at both the district and regional auditions a list of four additional arias they were prepared to sing. The singers were explicitly required to choose arias in more than one language and of contrasting styles.
Singers’ age requirements have also changed. At first they were set according to type of voice. In the following list, original age limits are given first, followed by the changes made in 1971: soprano, 17-28 (then 18-30); mezzo and contralto, 19-30 (then 20-30); tenor, 20-30 (not changed); baritone, 20-30 (then 20-32); bass, 20-33 (not changed in 1971). Another change was instituted at the 2003-2004 season: All singers must be between 20 and 30. That is, their birth date during 03-04 would have been between August 1, 1973 and July 31, 1983.
The nature of audience involvement has also evolved. Until the early 1970s, it appears from available documents that the audience was not allowed to applaud during the auditions. When the change in this policy was made, we can be sure that audiences everywhere greeted the announcement with enthusiastic applause. In some Districts, audiences have been known to vote for their favorite singer, and sometimes even a prize went along with that vote, but ultimately, the esteemed judges’ decisions prevailed as to which singers advanced to the Regional audition.
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