COC Chorus audition time again

In my inbox this morning was the annual COC Chorus audition notification. The details are:

The Canadian Opera Company will hold chorus auditions in Toronto for the 2010/2011 season at the end of January 2010. Singers who are interested in auditioning should send a recent photograph and résumé to:

Chorus Auditions
Canadian Opera Company
227 Front Street East
TORONTO, ON
M5A 1E8
or by fax (416) 363-2660
or by e-mail to kareno@coc.ca

Each candidate should be prepared to sing two operatic arias in contrasting styles; at least one of the arias should be in Italian. An accompanist will be provided.
The candidate should demonstrate secure musicianship and an aptitude for operatic performance. Please note that applicants for the Chorus must be legally eligible to work for the Canadian Opera Company.
All members of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus are members of Canadian Actors' Equity Association.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: December 31, 2009

Make me wonder what happened to the cast of thousands from War and Peace from two years ago. I'm generally a bit wary of chorus contracts if only because of the Equity implications (covered in this post,) and the fact that the money from one show can be tough to turn down but that there's no guarantee of being re-hired the following season, (to be fair, there never is in this busniess!) but the COC can be a good one if only because the money from that one contract can supplant a whole lot of days waiting tables or what have you, and it's a great organization at the top level of opera in this country. I say go for it!