What part should I sing in a choir?

Question:I can sing 2 Bb's below middle C and 3 F's above middle C. I'm pretty comfortable with both. My lower range, however is much airier and maybe not quite as powerful. Both the high and low parts are really natural for me though. I've not had voice training yet, but I am starting lessons this semester in college. I've been in middle school and high school choir for fun and I sang alto some, 1st soprano some, and 2nd soprano some... I changed depending on what part was needed, but now I would like to develop the voice and part that my voice is meant for.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I can sing 2 Bb's below middle C and 3 F's above middle C. I'm pretty comfortable with both. My lower range, however is much airier and maybe not quite as powerful. Both the high and low parts are really natural for me though. I've not had voice training yet, but I am starting lessons this semester in college. I've been in middle school and high school choir for fun and I sang alto some, 1st soprano some, and 2nd soprano some... I changed depending on what part was needed, but now I would like to develop the voice and part that my voice is meant for.

since you mention that your lower voice is not as powerful as your upper voice, I'd put you in the soprano section. Most altos do not have the facility to reach the uppermost F, and if you feel that it is still a comfortable note then you are probably even a first soprano.
What depends more than range is how comfortable you feel, and where the passagio, or gear shift happens in your voice. Most women two shifts. From the lowest register to the middle usually happens at the Eb just above middle c, and the next shift from middle to high register aroung the F# or perhaps G at the top of the staff. If you notice a change in subjective quality( all of a sudden it feels lighter or thinner) then you have made the gear shift. Most of us in classical singing work on getting this to work smoothly so that the change is no longer audible.
Since you will be starting lessons, your new teacher should be able to answer this question a lot more accurately, since s/he will hear you live.
Best wishes and keep on singing

This is something you should ask you teacher. They can hear your voice and give you a better answer than we could.

First of all I have to say you are so so lucky!

You should talk to the choir director about this. Maybe there is a section of the choir that is weak where you could really help round out the group's sound. And when singing solo, listen to it in your mind first and take the range that is most complimentary to the music and lyrics. It's amazing how the perfect key and tone can make a song burn into the soul of the listener....Knock 'em dead!

Just hearing your explanation of your vocal range, I would put you in 2nd Soprano, or first Alto.

Soprano 2. But you do not want to strain your voice. My chior director told me what was best, so maybe to talk her/him.