Competitions + Auditions

The National Association of Teachers of Singing celebrates the art of singing through a series of competitions and auditions designed to showcase the talented singers, performers and composers who are the rising stars in the profession. Events are held annually or biennially, some in conjunction with the NATS National Conference and others in conjunction with the NATS Summer or Winter Workshops.

NSA logo 2021 NMTC logo
NATSAA logo NATS Art Song Composition Award logo

 


NSA logo 2021

National Student Auditions

The annual National Student Auditions are an exciting experience where student singers perform and receive written feedback, along with national prize totals of more than $84,000 with additional awards presented at NSA region and chapter auditions!

The NSA includes solo vocal performance categories in Classical Music, Musical Theatre, Commercial Music, and American Negro Spirituals. Most NSA categories are open to children through adults 30 years old or younger, who study voice with a NATS member.

How It Works: In these auditions, which now include international students, the students of NATS members begin by entering one of the 15 region NSA events. A few regions, use chapter auditions to qualify students for their region’s NSA. The top five placing performers in each region’s eligible NSA categories are invited to enter the national preliminary level of auditions via video submissions. Students in NSA auditions receive direct feedback in the form of written comments from panels of experts. Fifteen singers in each of the 34 NSA categories plus the biennial Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition and in alternate years the 3 American Negro Spirituals Categories — ALL advance to the national semifinal auditions. The top three singers from each national semifinal category advance to national finals. The live national semifinal and final auditions will be held in conjunction with NATS 58th national conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28–July 2, 2024, with the live auditions held during or adjacent these dates.

National NSA Entry Fee: $75 per category of entry (nonrefundable)

  • Prizes: Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of the 35 categories total more than $84,000.
  • Competition Dates: Online national preliminary audition screening begins second Friday in April, with the national semifinals and finals scheduled in conjunction with the NATS national conference. 
  • Deadline to Enter National NSA: April 12, 2024 (entry by emailed invitation-only, following region auditions)

Application, repertoire information, and complete rules


National Musical Theatre Competition

The National Musical Theatre Competition is the first national competition for the musical theatre soloist.

NATS National Musical Theatre Competition logo newHow It Works: The National Musical Theatre Competition is seeking the best emerging musical theatre soloists, those who just need that one break to move their careers forward. To be eligible, applicants must be between ages 20-28 as of the application deadline date. Preliminary rounds of the competition are scheduled to take place in fall 2023 (application available mid-February 2023). Approximately 24 singers advance to the semifinal and final rounds in early January 2024 during the NATS 2024 winter workshop in New York City. The winner will then perform at the 58th NATS national conference to be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28 - July 2, 2024.

  • Entry Fee: $90 (or $75 for students of NATS members). APPLY NOW
  • Prizes: The winner is awarded more than $5,000 in prizes in addition to a concert at the next NATS National Conference; second prize is awarded more than $2,500; third prize is $1,000.
  • Competition Dates: 
    • PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
      Live rounds - TBA
      Online Auditions - Video submission deadline is October 15, 2023*
    • SEMIFINAL AND FINAL ROUNDS
      Early January 2024 in New York City as part of the 2024 NATS Winter Workshop. 
  • Deadline to Apply: September 15, 2023

*If you are planning to submit for the online round you must complete your application by the September 15, 2023 deadline date, but you will have approx. 30 days after the deadline date to upload your audition videos.

Application, repertoire information and complete rules


NATS Artist Awards

NATS Artist Awards logo newHow It Works: The NATSAA competition takes place every other year in conjunction with the NATS Winter Workshop and is open only to NATS members and students of NATS members. Preliminary competitions are held at the region level, with one winner emerging from each of the 15 NATS regions. The 15 semifinalists then gather in early January 2024 at the site of the NATS winter workshop in New York City for the final two rounds of the competition. The winner will then perform at the 58th NATS national conference to be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28 - July 2, 2024.

  • Entry Fee: $75  APPLY NOW
  • Prizes: Over $50,000 in cash and other prizes! The winner is awarded more than $13,000 in cash and prizes; the runner-up is awarded more than $6,000 in cash and prizes. Various other prizes and awards are given to participants in the competition. 
  • Competition Dates: Preliminary region rounds of the competition are scheduled for fall 2023 (application available fall 2022), with the national semifinals and finals scheduled for early January 2024 as part of the 2024 NATS winter workshop in New York City. 
  • Deadline to Apply: Sept. 11, 2023

Application, Repertoire Requirements, and Complete Rules

Region Audition Preliminary Dates/Locations (TBD) 


Art Song Composition Award

The Art Song Composition Award is an annual competition with the purpose of stimulating the creation of quality vocal literature through the cooperation of singer and composer.

How It Works: The competition is open to any composer whose submitted work meets the prescribed requirements and who pays the competition entry fee. The composer of the winning song cycle, group of songs, or extended single song will receive a cash award and a performance of the winning composition at the next scheduled NATS National Conference.
NATS Art Song Composition Award new

  • Entry Fee: Each entry is $30 for professionals; $15 for full-time students
  • Prizes: The winner is awarded $2,000 plus expenses to the NATS 58th National Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28 - July 2, 2024.
  • Competition Dates: Submission deadline for online applications is Dec. 1, 2023, with adjudication to take place in early 2024.
  • Deadline to Apply: December 1, 2023 

Application, requirements, and complete rules