The EMA Singers

A Joy-Centric Vocal Group

The EMA Singers is a joy-centric group with heart. We experience joy in our pursuit of high-level singing, collaboration, and camaraderie with one another, and we spread joy to our audiences with a wide variety of music and our fun-loving spirits and performance style.

Our History

The EMA Singers is sponsored by Expressions Music Academy and has existed since 2019. We are a semi-professional vocal group made up of faculty and staff from Expressions Music Academy as well as highly-qualified, auditioned members from around the Metro Detroit area. We typically have about 30-40 vocalists each season and enjoy collaborating with one another to select a wide variety of music. We perform live in multiple concerts around the Metro Detroit area every spring.

Our Director

Dr. Joe Bentley is the conductor and music director of EMA Singers. He is a retired professor of music from what is now Rochester Christian University, where he conducted the A Cappella Chorus for 34 years. He continues to direct The Choral Union of RCU, and is active as conductor of the Birmingham Musicale Choral Ensemble, and music director at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. He teaches voice and conducting to private students, and enjoys consulting with other choral and vocal organizations. He holds degrees from Harding University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Michigan State University. He is married to Dr. Vikki Bentley, who is the Dean of the School of Teacher Education at RCU. They enjoy being in the lives of their three children and four grandchildren.

What We Sing

We are known for the wide variety of songs we sing from pop to traditional to broadway to folk to contemporary choral. To see an example of our set lists from previous years, click HERE.

Enjoy our 2022 holiday recording!

Details & Logistics

Rehearsal Schedule & Locations

Rehearsals take place every other Tuesday from 10am-12:30pm, rotating between Novi and Royal Oak.

NOVI REHEARSAL:

Harmony Hall at 43340 West 10 Mile Rd in Novi

ROYAL OAK REHEARSAL:

Church of Christ Royal Oak at 115 S Campbell Rd in Royal Oak

Specific Dates for 2024-2025 Season

Our listening party will occur on Monday, August 5th from 10am-12:30pm in Novi. All members will be invited to submit song ideas ahead of time and then we will listen to excerpts and vote on our favorites over coffee, bagels, and donuts!

Our first rehearsal will take place on September 10th, 2024 in Novi. Rehearsals will continue to be held every other Tuesday through the beginning of June 2025.

We will have fun and productive (mandatory) rehearsal retreat days in Novi on Sunday, October 13th, 2024 from 1-8pm and Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 from 1-8pm.

Our final concert will take place on Sunday, June 8th (time/location TBA).

Concerts

We will perform 3-4 live concerts in the Metro Detroit area over the months of April-June 2024 concluding with our final concert on Sunday, June 8th. More specific concert dates will be announced this summer or fall.

Practice, Rehearsals, & Memorization

All members will be expected to attend rehearsals consistently, practice at home (using practice tracks we provide), and memorize certain songs as directed. Our rehearsals are a time for polishing music and enjoying our time together, not for teaching parts.

Compensation

All members are compensated $25 per rehearsal and $25 per performance. In order to receive compensation for each rehearsal, members must attend the rehearsal/performance and arrive within 10 minutes of the start time. In order to remain a paid member of the group, in addition to attending rehearsals consistently, members are also required to practice their assigned parts at home in preparation for rehearsals. Sheet music and practice tracks for each individual part are provided.

*Concert attire (t-shirt) as well as all sheet music, binder, practice tracks, and ChoirMate app fees are covered for all members.

Eligibility

Any singers who have had prior experience in a choral or vocal group and possess the ability to interact with and read standard sheet music are welcome to audition!

Check out a few of our live performances from 2024:

Check out our Facebook & Instagram pages here:

Schedule an Audition

Audition instructions

  • You will be asked to prepare a solo of your choosing. Plan to sing a cappella or with a track.

  • Plan to do some vocalizing with the director to determine placement and ear training.

  • Plan to complete a short sight-reading assessment.

  • The audition will include a short interview including a brief summary of your experiences as a vocalist. Please feel free to bring any questions about the group!

We very much appreciate your time and look forward to meeting you!