Do you have an audition coming up? Selecting the right song to show off your abilities is key. Here, Hayward, CA teacher Molly R. shares her top picks for audition songs for altos…
Altos are just fabulous! Your easy low notes and rich tone make so many great types of music suitable to you: jazz, pop, classical, and so on.
Are you an alto looking for audition songs? You’re in luck! We’ve gathered some of the best songs to show off your range and vocal abilities. From classical pieces to contemporary hits, we have something for everyone.
Keep reading to find out more!
What Are Good Songs to Audition With?
Some of the best alto audition songs are:
- “Stormy Weather”
- “River of No Return”
- “Constant Craving”
- “I Feel the Earth Move”
- “If He Really Knew Me”
- “I’ve Got the Sun in the Morning”
- “It’s a Perfect Relationship”
- “The Party Goes With You”
- “A Change in Me”
- “Once Upon a Dream”
Give them a try today – and if you can’t decide which one of these songs fits your voice best (or if you aren’t even totally sure that you’re an alto), be sure to hire a voice teacher to help you out. Curious about what singing lessons are like? Just check out the video below:
https://takelessons.com/blog/learn-to-sing-online-z02
What Songs Should Altos Sing?
So, what do you pick as an audition piece to best show off that special voice type of yours? Here are a few suggestions in various genres that may suit you! (Keep scrolling beyond the video below for even more recommendations.)
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Good Audition Songs for Altos
Here are some top audition songs for altos to start you on your search:
“Stormy Weather” — here’s a classic torch song with lots of emotion and a truly gorgeous vocal line, making it the perfect audition song for an alto interested in jazz. It was written by Harold Arlen, who composed the music for “Wizard of Oz”. There are many fantastic renditions out there, but Lena Horne’s is one of the best:
“River of No Return” — this is a song from the Marilyn Monroe movie of the same name. This is a lovely song that is rarely performed because it sits very, VERY low — perfect for true alto voices!
- “Nobody’s Chasing Me” – from “Out of This World”
- “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm” – from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
- “Disneyland” – from “Smile”
- “Plant You Now, Dig You Later” – from “Pal Joey”
- “You’d Better Love Me” – from “High Spirits”
- “The Colors of My Life” – from “Barnum”
Alto Pop Songs for Auditions
Love pop? Here are some of the best alto pop songs.
“Constant Craving” — who doesn’t love this song? It’s an interesting hybrid of jazz and pop. k.d. lang’s flawless performance definitely inspires. This song can go anywhere — an audition for a band, a cabaret show… you name it!
“I Feel the Earth Move” from Carole King’s album “Tapestry” was made for pop/rock altos. All of her songs on this album are excellent, but this is one of the uptempo songs for some contrast. Not only is this a great audition song for bands, talent shows, and open mics, but it also works for musical theatre, since there is now a Broadway show (“Beautiful”) that features all Carole King songs!
- “At Last” – Etta James
- “Back to Black” – Amy Winehouse
- “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
- “Believe” – Cher
- “Chain of Fools” – Aretha Franklin
- “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac
- “Feeling Good” – Nina Simone
Musical Theater Audition Songs for Altos
Auditioning for a role in musical theater – or just want to impress with your awesome range? Here are some great musical theater audition songs for altos.
“If He Really Knew Me” — this is a very moving ballad from “They’re Playing Our Song” by Marvin Hamlisch. It’s perfect for musical theatre altos who consider themselves more pop-ish, rather than brassy belters. The other plus to this song is that audition panels usually love hearing it, since it’s far from overdone!
“I’ve Got The Sun in the Morning” — this older show tune from Irving Berlin’s beloved “Annie Get Your Gun” is uptempo and just plain fun! A wide variety of lower-voiced ladies have performed this (including Doris Day and Reba McEntire!), but here is the original performer, the great belter Ethel Merman:
- “Happily Ever After” – from “Once Upon a Mattress” (or really anything from this musical, since the leading lady is an alto!)
Here are a few more of the top audition songs for altos auditioning for musical theater roles:
- “It’s a Perfect Relationship” – from “Bells Are Ringing”
- “The Party Goes With You” – from “35mm”
- “Cabaret” – from “Cabaret”
- “The Winner Takes it All” – from “Mamma Mia!”
- “If I Met Myself Again” – from “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”
- You Learn to Live Without” – from “If/Then”
- “Times Are Hard for Dreamers” – from “Amelie”
- “In My Own Little Corner” – from “Cinderella”
- “Ireland” – from “Legally Blonde”
- “When You’re Good Mama” – from Chicago
- “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” – from “Grease”
- “A Trip to the Library” – from “She Loves Me”
- “If I Had a Fine White Horse” – from The Secret Garden
Classical Audition Songs for Altos
Sometimes, nothing but the classics will do. Here’s our favorite classical audition song for altos:
“Stride la vampa” — this is only for mature altos who have studied and performed for many years! Verdi is definitely meant for the professionals. This very dramatic operatic aria from “Il Trovatore” will show off your trill, your low chest notes, and your acting chops as well. Here is the great Marilyn Horne, who happens to have ALL of that and then some!
Disney Audition Songs for Altos
Love Disney? Consider these easy audition songs for altos:
- “A Change in Me” – from “Beauty and the Beast”
- “Once Upon a Dream” – from “Sleeping Beauty”
- “Remember Me” – from “Coco”
- “He’s a Tramp” – from “Lady and the Tramp”
- “I Can Go the Distance” – from “Hercules”
- “Poor Unfortunate Souls” – from “The Little Mermaid”
- “Will the Sun Ever Shine Again?” – from “Home on the Range”
Easy Audition Songs for Altos
And finally, if you’re looking for audition songs that won’t take a year and a day to prepare, here are some easy picks that you’ll be belting in no time:
- “No Scrubs” – TLC
- “Believe” – Cher
- “Someone Like You” – Adele
- “Mamma Mia” – Abba
- “Gimme One Reason” – Tracy Chapman
- “Raise Your Glass” – Pink
- “My Favorite Mistake” – Sheryl Crow
What Should You Not Sing at an Audition?
When you’re searching for the best audition songs for altos, you might be worried about which songs are definitely not a good fit.
Although you can sing any song that you enjoy singing and that fits your voice naturally (more on this below), you should try to avoid singing songs that are overly popular. You risk blending into the crowd too much and there’s a good chance that the judges have heard far too many renditions of that song already – meaning you might leave a bad impression by singing it yet again. Ideally, you should try to find a song that fits the type of role you’re auditioning for. In other words, don’t sing a pop song at a musical theater audition. Make sure the song you’ve selected fits into the time range specified by the judges – don’t sing something that’s going to take five minutes, as you’ll likely get cut off before you’re done (or disqualified).
How Do You Find Songs for Auditions?
To find good alto songs for auditions, consider choosing songs that you enjoy and that are relatively easy for you to sing. While there’s definitely a time and place to challenge yourself, an audition is not the best pick!
Of course, the best resource for repertoire is your voice teacher! He or she really knows your voice and abilities, and can work with you in finding the perfect audition songs for altos to best show you off, musically, vocally, and dramatically. Part of the fun of being a singer is discovering the repertoire that speaks to you, and there are many qualified voice teachers out there who would love to help you with that — especially you wonderful, rare altos!
Altos, we hope you’ve enjoyed these tips for auditioning songs. Remember to always be yourself and let your unique voice shine through. Be confident in your abilities and pick pieces that show off your range and strengths as an alto. Just think of the amazing things you will achieve with these tips under your belt!
The dazzling doesn’t stop here! Click here for even more songs to sing.
Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013. Learn more about Molly here!
Photo by Will Murphy
Suzy S.