Voice Teachers
Voice teachers play an essential role in guiding students through the NATS Student Auditions experience. From choosing appropriate repertoire and determining the correct category to completing registration and helping a singer understand feedback, the teacher provides continuity throughout the audition process.
Before entering a student, take time to review the current NSA requirements for the category and genre, confirm the singer’s eligibility, and make sure both you and your student understand the deadlines and expectations for the audition.
Entering Your Students
Only the student’s voice teacher may enter that student in an NSA audition. The entering teacher must be a NATS Professional, Emeritus, or Emerging Professional member in good standing. Pre-Professional and Affiliate members may not enter singers.
The student must currently study with the entering teacher as their Primary or Concurrent Voice Teacher. If a singer studies with more than one teacher, communicate with one another before registration and accurately identify the other teachers involved in the singer’s study. Transparency and respect for the singer’s choice of teachers are important throughout NSA.
When determining eligibility, remember:
- The singer’s age and level of study are determined as of September 1 of the current audition season.
- Carefully review the age, voice type, length-of-study, and other requirements for the selected category.
- A singer may participate in multiple eligible genres or categories but may be entered in only one Region’s NSA per genre during an audition cycle.
- Your NATS Region is determined by the address associated with your NATS membership.
- Teachers who belong to multiple Chapters or Regions should pay particular attention to where each student is being entered
 RepertoireThoughtful, contrasting repertoire to demonstrate a range of vocal, musical, and artistic skills. |
 Special AwardsLearn about the Ginsburg Prize and the Roberta Stephen Award. |
 Find the Student CategoryThis is the first item on your checklist as the voice teacher. |
Revised Guidelines by Category / Music Genre
Review the latest NSA guidelines by category. Select a button below to access the revised guidelines.
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Teacher Watch-Outs
A few responsibilities are especially important for teachers to remember:
- Coordinate before registering.
- If your student works with another voice teacher, communicate before entering the singer and make sure everyone understands who will complete the registration.
- Meet the deadlines. Required forms, repertoire information, videos, and other materials must be submitted by published deadlines.
- Missing a required document can affect a singer’s eligibility.
- Protect minor students’ information. Do not enter a minor singer’s personal telephone number or email address. Required contact information for minors must belong to the parent or guardian.
- Know the repertoire rules. Teachers are responsible for helping students select repertoire that satisfies the requirements of the category and complies with copyright law.
- Teachers may not appear in video submissions, and identifying information about the teacher, school, Chapter, Region, or location should not be revealed when anonymity is required.
- Be prepared to adjudicate. NATS teachers who enter students may be asked to serve as adjudicators or assist in another capacity during an NSA event.
- Support students who advance.
- If your singer moves forward to the National Student Auditions, you will continue to help the student and their parent or guardian understand deadlines, required forms, repertoire requirements, and the next steps in the process.
Before you click Register, take a final look at the singer’s category, eligibility, repertoire, teacher designation, contact information, and deadlines. A few minutes spent reviewing the requirements before registration can prevent problems later in the audition process.
To learn more about the Rule of 90 and Ineligible to Advance (ITA) please visit the Fine Print webpage.
