A Better NSA Experience Starts Here
NSA 2026/2027 Season 
For generations, the National Student Auditions have inspired singers, challenged teachers, and served as one of NATS’ premier educational experiences. As our organization has grown, musical styles have expanded, and technology has transformed the audition process, it was time for our resources to evolve alongside them.
The NSA Refresh is designed with one goal in mind: to make every audition experience clearer, more consistent, and more accessible for everyone involved.
Behind the scenes, every regulation, rubric, and audition process was carefully reviewed. We simplified language, removed unnecessary complexity, reorganized information around the needs of our members, and created practical resources that help singers, teachers, adjudicators, and auditions teams understand expectations before the first note is sung.
The result is not a new National Student Auditions—it is a stronger one. The educational mission and integrity of NSA remain unchanged, while the experience becomes more transparent, more equitable, and easier to navigate at every level.
Clearer expectations. Better resources. Stronger auditions. The future of NSA begins now.
Revised Guidelines by Category
Review the latest NSA guidelines by category. Select a button below to access the revised guidelines.
 |
 |
 |
WEBINAR RECORDING: NATS Student Auditions - 2026/2027 Season Updates
All are invited to learn more - Teachers, Students, Parents, Audition Chairs, Adjudicators and more.
Questions: Email nsa@nats.org
The NATS OneAudition Initiative
The NATS OneAudition Initiative, launched in September 2026, seeks to create a more consistent, transparent, and sustainable audition experience for singers, teachers, adjudicators, and Auditions Chairs at every level of the organization. Whether participating in a Chapter, Region, or National Audition, NATS members should encounter a process that is recognizable in format, language, expectations, and adjudication practices while still allowing space for local traditions and regional identity.
OneAudition is focused on three primary goals:
- Creating clear and easily digestible regulations for all participants
- Establishing systems that promote fairness, consistency, and opportunities to resolve errors before they impact singer eligibility
- Supporting Auditions Chairs through practical resources and collaborative networks
By developing common frameworks, terminology, and procedures, OneAudition strengthens the integrity of NATS auditions while preserving the spirit of encouragement, collegiality, and singer-centered growth that has long defined the organization.
One Journey. One Process. One Standard of Excellence.
Chapter 
Region National
Every singer who enters a NATS Student Audition deserves the same opportunity to succeed. Regardless of where that journey begins—a Chapter, Region, or the National Student Auditions—the experience should be familiar, transparent, and built upon the same educational foundation.
The OneAudition Initiative is our commitment to making that vision a reality.
Why OneAudition?
For decades, NATS Student Auditions have transformed the lives of singers through meaningful feedback, artistic growth, and performance opportunities. As our organization has grown, so too has the need for greater consistency in how auditions are conducted and experienced.
OneAudition brings every level of NATS together through a shared process, common resources, and clear expectations. It ensures that singers, teachers, adjudicators, and auditions teams can approach every event with confidence, knowing the experience is grounded in the same principles of fairness, integrity, and educational excellence.
What does that mean?
It means that every singer should recognize the audition process no matter where they compete.
The opportunity to advance from a Preliminary Round to a Semifinal Round, from a Semifinal Round to a Quarterfinal Round, and from a Quarterfinal Round to a Final Round should follow the same essential process. The expectations, procedures, and educational philosophy should remain consistent so that advancement is determined by the singer’s artistry—not by differences in how an audition is administered.
OneAudition creates a common framework that supports every event while allowing chapters, districts, regions, and the National Student Auditions to celebrate their unique communities and traditions.
Why refresh NSA now?
The National Student Auditions are one of NATS’ signature educational programs. To continue serving singers and teachers well, the regulations, resources, and tools must evolve alongside our profession.
The NSA refresh simplifies regulations, removes unnecessary complexity, improves accessibility, strengthens educational resources, and creates greater transparency throughout the audition process. Rather than changing the purpose of NSA, this work strengthens it—making expectations easier to understand, training more effective, and participation more equitable for everyone.
Our Commitment
OneAudition is more than an initiative. It is a promise that every singer, every teacher, every adjudicator, and every volunteer can expect the same high-quality educational experience throughout the NATS audition journey.
