The class of 2007 brings a wealth of talents to Carleton and one need not look any further than the many student groups holding auditions fall term to find evidence of this.

Just as New Student Week is ending, a cappella groups like Exit 69, the Knights, Knightingales and the Accidentals, begin to hold auditions to find the best new first year voices. In the same week, the comedy groups Cujokra and the Lenny Dee Players audition for budding improvisational comedians. And finally, the Carleton Players, student directed one-acts, and the Experimental Theater Board hold auditions for fall performances, attracting new thespian Carls.

All in all, it can amount to a busy week for any first-year who wants to plunge into the performing arts on campus. Many first years, in fine Carleton fashion, audition for many groups to satisfy their many interests.

Derek Zimmerman, a first year from Lincoln, Neb., auditioned for both Exit 69 and "Tartuffe," a student-directed one-act play, finding a place in both groups. Asked why he chose to audition he responded, "I sang in high school and thought that Exit would be a lot of fun. With Tartuffe, someone on my floor was trying out, and I decided to follow her to auditions."

Carleton auditions, while stressful, are also fun and often students leave excited about the prospect of waiting to hear from a group. Mindy Garner, a first year from Sanborton, N.H., auditioned for the Knightingales and recalls her audition: "Auditions are never fun; they’re always a bit nerve wracking. But callbacks were great. We learned two parts of a song and basically sang with different members of the group so they could hear us blend." Now a new Knightingale, Mindy’s blend was on.

Fall is often the first time returning sophomore group members get to see auditions from the other side. "Improv comedy was always something I wanted to do, and I figured if I didn’t do it here, I never would," says Jean-Christophe Moran, a sophomore from Brattleboro, Vt., and a member of Cujokra. "I was excited for auditions this year, because I wanted to see what kind of hilarity the freshman class had in them and I was very impressed."

Most groups perform at the end of fall term, giving concerts and performances to well-attended audiences. For first year auditionees lucky enough to find a place in groups, fall term will be busy with learning new songs, skits and lines in preparation for their first big performances during tenth week.