Canary PAU Choir II exam-day guide
Canary PAU Choir II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same identity document you registered with. Exact accepted forms (passport, national ID, etc.) and whether a copy is allowed must be confirmed with the provider; do not assume a photocopy will be accepted.
Admission confirmation / registration slip
Carry the confirmation email or ticket the provider issued, printed or on your phone as instructed. Confirm with the provider whether printed copies are mandatory.
Your own water bottle
Singers dehydrate quickly. Check with the provider whether bottles are permitted in the warm-up room and audition room; some venues restrict containers near instruments or scores.
Prepared audition repertoire, memorised
Know your pieces from memory if memory is required. Confirm with the provider which items (set piece, own-choice piece, sight-reading, aural tests) are actually assessed and in what order.
Printed copies of your scores for the panel
Many choral auditions ask for one copy per adjudicator. Confirm with the provider how many copies and whether photocopies are acceptable under copyright rules.
Warm-up plan written on a small card
Note your vocal warm-up sequence and starting pitches so you do not have to think under pressure. Keep it short and physical: lip trills, humming, gentle range extension.
Starting pitch reference
If you are allowed a pitch source (tuning fork, phone app, pitch pipe), confirm with the provider whether devices are permitted in the holding room and whether phones must be switched off in the audition room.
Simple, comfortable clothing and flat shoes
Wear something that lets you breathe and stand well. Avoid tight collars and new shoes. Confirm with the provider whether any uniform or dress code applies.
Arrival time and travel plan
Aim to arrive with buffer for registration and warm-up. Confirm with the provider the reporting time, which is usually earlier than your slot, and the venue entrance actually in use.
Emergency contact and provider phone number saved
Save the provider's contact number and the venue address offline in case of transport problems. Confirm with the provider whom to call if you are delayed.
Any access or medical needs already notified
If you need extra time, a quiet space, or other adjustments, confirm with the provider that your request was received and what evidence they require. Do not leave this to the day.
Food and a light snack
Eat something normal and familiar a couple of hours before singing; avoid heavy meals immediately before. Confirm with the provider whether food is allowed in waiting areas.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate information: reporting time, venue, repertoire requirements, and what is provided versus what you bring. Confirm with the provider any point that is unclear rather than guessing. Do a full run-through of your programme once, standing, in the clothes you plan to wear, and note where you run out of breath or lose pitch.
Check your scores: correct keys, clean copies for the panel, any cuts marked. Then stop heavy practice. In the final days, sing lightly and focus on sleep, hydration, and avoiding shouting or smoky environments.
Do a technical tidy-up only: slow warm-ups, gentle range work, diction of the text. Do not try to rebuild technique now. Record one run-through and listen once, noting two or three things to keep in mind, not a long list.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, scores, water, warm-up card, pitch reference if allowed. Lay out clothes. Check travel times and any planned engineering works. Confirm with the provider the reporting time and entrance if you have not already. Go to bed at a normal hour; late cramming harms more than it helps.
Eat a normal breakfast you are used to, hydrate steadily, and avoid dairy-heavy or very spicy food if it affects your throat. Leave earlier than you think necessary. On arrival, register, find the holding area, and start a short, gentle warm-up about 20 to 30 minutes before your slot rather than singing hard in the corridor.
Introduce yourself clearly, state the titles of your pieces, and take the starting pitch calmly. Breathe before you begin. If you make a mistake, keep going; the panel is assessing overall musicality, intonation, and potential. Follow the panel's instructions for sight-reading or aural tests, and ask politely if an instruction is unclear. Thank the panel and leave promptly.
Note down what you were asked and how it felt while it is fresh, in case you want to reflect or reapply. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released; do not expect feedback on the day unless the provider states it is offered.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document you registered with and present it at registration if asked. Accepted forms and whether digital ID is allowed must be confirmed with the provider; if you cannot produce acceptable ID you may not be admitted.
Arrive by the reporting time given. Late arrival may mean you are heard at the panel's discretion or not at all; confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed and call the contact number as soon as you know.
Follow the panel's instructions on what to perform and in what order. Do not add extra items or restart pieces unless invited; if you are stopped partway through, that is normal and not a judgement on your singing.
Phones and other devices must be silent and out of sight in the audition room unless the provider explicitly permits a pitch source. Confirm with the provider what is allowed before the day.
Breaks and waiting arrangements vary by venue. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the holding area, whether a warm-up room is available, and how long you may be waiting.
Scoring and adjudication criteria, pass marks, and whether results are ranked or graded are set by the provider and are not something you can negotiate on the day. Confirm with the provider in advance how results are reported and when.
Any access adjustments must be requested and agreed before the exam day. Confirm with the provider what evidence is needed and what will be put in place; requests raised on the day may not be possible to accommodate.
Behave courteously to stewards, accompanists, and other candidates. Do not discuss or compare repertoire with other candidates in the holding area in a way that disturbs them, and keep noise down near audition rooms.