Cleveland Pops Chorus

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra Chorus debuted at Severance Music Center on Friday, November 2, 2012, in a concert of music by legendary songwriting teams in a performance titled “The Songwriting Giants of Broadway.” Donald Rosenberg, Cleveland Plain Dealer critic, in attendance at the debut concert, wrote, “The chorus will appear regularly with the orchestra, and for this Pops audiences can be truly grateful.”

The chorus meets every Monday evening at Cleveland State University. Originally created to partner with Carl Topilow and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, the chorus has performed not only the greatest of Broadway, but also significant choral and orchestral literature. In addition to performing regularly with the Pops Orchestra, the chorus has also performed with the Cleveland Winds, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the West Shore Chorale, and Andrea Bocelli and the Pops Orchestra at Rocket Mortgage Field House. This diverse group of individuals from across the Cleveland area shares one commonality: they all love to sing and share the joy of singing with others. Our membership includes a youth minister, lawyer, businessmen and women, teachers and professors, and many fine music professionals and Cleveland area stage performers.

If you are interested in the chorus, auditions for next year will take place in Summer 2027 at Cleveland State University. Please see below for the application.

Director, Bill Zurkey

William G. Zurkey

William G. Zurkey is beginning his fifteenth season as the director of the Cleveland Pops Chorus. In addition to his work with the Pops Chorus, he is an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Cleveland State University School of Music.

A past president of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, Mr. Zurkey was inducted into the 2018 NFHS National High School Hall of Fame and was named Bowling Green State University 2013 College of Musical Arts Distinguished Graduate and the 2013 Regional Mr. Holland’s Opus Award. Under his direction, the Avon Lake High School Chorale performed at nine OMEA state conventions and district and regional conventions of MKMEA and ACDA.

Mr. Zurkey has also directed choirs at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music Outreach Program and as an adjunct faculty member in Music Education at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.

Audition Information

The Cleveland Pops Chorus with Director William Zurkey will be holding auditions for new members for the upcoming 2026-2027 concert season.

Auditions will be held one day only – Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in room G-17 of the Cleveland State University Music Building (downtown campus).

The Cleveland Pops Chorus is a membership organization that performs with Carl Topilow and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at numerous concerts and events throughout the orchestra’s concert season. Most performances will take place at Severance Hall and Playhouse Square Center. The chorus rehearses on most Monday evenings from September through May.

Singers (ages 18 and up) wishing to audition must have previous choral experience and demonstrate good tone quality and sight-reading skills. Applicants will be asked to prepare a solo that best demonstrates their vocal abilities.

Sheet music should be brought to the audition. A piano will be available. Auditioning with accompaniment is preferred, but no accompanist will be provided. Use of a prerecorded accompaniment is also acceptable, but playback equipment (portable speaker, etc.) must be provided by the applicant.

Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please email: auditions@clevelandpops.com

To apply, you must fill out this form below or download an audition form and attach it to your email.

Chorus Auditions

Date
How did you hear about this audition?
Name
(as you would like it to appear in a program)
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone
Email
Occupation
Voice Part*
- Soparano
- 2nd Soprano
- Alto
- Tenor
- Bass
- Baritone
Choral Experience*
Please include name and place of chorus as well as how many years you were a part of it.
Vocal Training*
Please include the name of your instructor and years and frequency of sessions.
Interested in a solo role?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please tell about your solo experience
Please include your work performed as a soloist stating when and where

Audio Samples