Oh say, can you sing?

If you know the nationalanthem, you’re in luck — you can sing it for the Michigan State UniversityChoral Union auditions.

The MSU Choral Union,made up of MSU students and local community members, holds auditions at 6 p.m.Wednesday to add more singers to the group. Auditions take place in Room 155 ofthe Communication Arts and Sciences Building on the MSU campus.

“I don’t have a setnumber. I think you know we typically take as many people who are interestedand have the interest to do it,” said David Rayl, director of choral programsat MSU. “It’s really an interview/audition. It’s not a highly select group. (Theaudition) is really for people to understand what the commitment is.”

The Union has between125-130 members a semester; when it combines with other groups from the Collegeof Music for performances, the number increases to over 200.

Auditioning singerswill be expected to perform the first verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Raylsaid he thinks the piece is a good selection because most people know the song,and its wide range of intervals makes it a challenging piece.

The auditions start witha general information session, and individual auditions will be held immediatelyafter. Those who audition will know immediately followingtheir tryout if they have been selected for the Union. All those who are selected for theUnion will be expected to stay for the rehearsal immediately following theauditions.

“I think people whoare going to enjoy it will probably have sung in a choir before,” Raylsaid. “Sometimes we get people whohaven’t sung in 20 or 30 years, since they were in high school.

“Previous choralsinging is desirable but not essential. We’ve had good members who have neversung in a choir before and who wanted to do it.”

Members of the Unionpay a $45 per semester registration fee and pay for their own musical scores.

MSU Choral Union’s 2011-2012season includes performances of Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the LansingSymphony Orchestra, the Beethoven Ninth Symphony with the MSU SymphonyOrchestra, the Faure Requiem and the MSU College of Music’s Home for theHolidays Concert.