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STUDENT AUDITIONS

Current Audition Announcements:

Coming soon


 JUMP TO SECTION:
Fall Categories
Spring Categories
Audition Rules
Registration
Minor Chaperone Form
Blank Adjudication Forms
Special Awards
Audition Results
Questions?
Registration
What student information needs to be submitted by vocal instructors for NATS registration?
The pre-registration form (linked below) will help you gather all the student information required for you to complete their NATS registration.
Pre-Registration Form
Do parents need to accompany their child/youth to NATS auditions?
A designated adult chaperone (not the student's teacher) must accompany any student under age 18.  An adult must also sign the release form below for all students under age 18.  Please download the form and forward it to your teacher or directly to Jennifer D'Onofrio at [email protected].
Minor Chaperone Form
Who Can Audition?
Students who are currently studying with a NATS San Diego Chapter member in good standing (National and San Diego Chapter dues paid in full by registration) may participate in the Student Auditions.

NATS Cal-West Regional Auditions?
NATS San Diego auditions are not a prerequisite, nor a feeder audition to Cal-West Regional Auditions.  NATS Teachers may submit any singer directly to the Regional Auditions.  For more infomation:  https://calwestnats.org

What should I wear to auditions?
Professional attire is desired.  Note: attire is not scored.
How do I register my students for NATS auditions?
Instructions for logging into the new AuditionWare registration system:
1.  Log into www.nats.org
2.  Click on your name in the upper right hand corner to get to your member page.
3.  Scroll down and click on the green AuditionWare button.
4.  In AuditionWare, make sure San Diego Chapter is selected (upper left)
5. Then select the competition you want to register for: 2024 Fall Classical Auditions or 2025 Spring MT/CM Auditions
6.  Complete Registration and Pay Fees
See More Help with AuditionWare (manual)

More Help with AuditionWare (Manual)
Student Registration Fee:   $35 per category
NATS Staff Pianist Fee*:      $30 for 2-3 songs;  $40 for 4-5 songs

 
*You may bring your own pianist or communicate with a San Diego NATS staff accompanist in advance.  
Teacher Non-Attendance Fee:    $40**
**The Student Auditions are a collaborative event.  All teachers who submit students to the Student Auditions are expected to adjudicate or be a room monitor.  If a teacher is unable to attend, they must submit a $40 non-attendance fee.  
Special Awards
NATS San Diego offers varying prizes for regular category winners.  These may include recording studio time, music supply gift certificates, or cash awards. 

Additionally, the Special Awards are open to any participant as follows:


LIVING COMPOSERS AWARD
 Students who perform a work by a living composer are eligible for this monetary award.  
Click here for a list of Living Composers with links to their websites.
Please select “Living Composer Award” under Selection Type in AuditionWare to be considered for this award.

SPARROW AWARD
Made possible by a gift from the Tweed Family, this special award is open to singers in all divisions. Students wishing to be considered for this monetary award will include a sacred song selection as part of their required repertoire.
Click here for a list of Sacred Song Anthologies by voice type.

Please select “Sparrow Award Selection” under Selection Type in AuditionWare to be considered for this award.

HONORARIUM AWARDS
If you’d like to make a 1st or 2nd Place prize donation in memory of, or in honor of, someone you have cherished during your musical journey, please contact our us at: [email protected]
Audition Rules & Procedures
What is the scoring criteria used in NATS auditions?
NATS uses rubrics for the scoring of all categories.  Click here for the musical theater, classical, and commercial rubrics.
Become an Excellent Adjudicator:
Best Practices of NATS Adjudication
​
Sample Adjudication Comments (Classical)

Audition Rules:
  1. View the NATS Terminology document (pages 2-5) for terminology definitions.
  2. Repertoire should not have been used in previous Student Auditions.
  3. A student's category will be determined by their age at the beginning of the audition cycle, September 1. 
  4. All repertoire must be performed from memory with the exception of Oratorio, Mass, Requiem, and Cantata Arias. Singers may hold music scores for these types of arias as is traditional performance practice.
  5. All minors (under age 18) who attend live auditions must be accompanied by a chaperone. That chaperone cannot be their teacher, and must be approved by a parent or legal guardian.
  6. Singing for comments - we encourage students of all ages and levels who may not be interested in or ready for competition to sing for comments alone.
  7. Commercial Music Category: Only the clean, radio version of commercial songs will be acceptable in auditions and winner's concerts for all age group categories. 
  8. Commercial Music Category:  Any accompaniment tracks used at NATS events must have no backing vocals. 
  9. Lyrical content of songs must be developmentally age appropriate and should not include coarse language.  Children should not sing songs that include overt references to sex, alcohol, or drugs.
  10. Accompaniment for in person auditions (Musical Theatre and Classical Categories): Students may provide their own accompanist or select to hire an official NATS Collaborative Pianist for the day of the audition . 
    Select the official NATS Collaborative Pianist when registering with AuditionWare.  Fee includes a brief rehearsal on the day of the audition and the 6-15 minute audition.  Additional rehearsals before the audition day may be requested pending pianist availability, at the rate of $25/half hour.
  11. Students may enter classical, musical theatre and/or CCM divisions and must pay application fees for each division entered.
  12. Only original music or approved copies are allowed, in accordance with the NATS Copyright Policy.
  13. If a student has been studying with a sponsoring teacher fewer than eight months, acknowledgment must be made of the former teacher both on the application and in any public announcements. 

ADJUDICATION, AWARDS & NOTIFICATION 
  1. The Auditions Chair and Committee will fairly enforce the rules and regulations in order to fulfill the Mission of the Student Auditions. The Auditions Chair shall be the final authority regarding the rules and regulations.
  2. Contestants will be assigned a number and their names will not be known to the judges.
  3. If any division has less than five entries the division will be combined with its counter-category.
  4. We encourage students of all ages and levels who may not be interested in or ready for competition to sing for comments alone.
  5. If there is a suspected rules or guidelines violation, one Adjudicator will notify the Auditions Chair who will make a ruling on the matter. The decision of the Auditions Chair is final.
  6. All singers will participate in the Preliminary Round, and the top three singers with a score above 90 from each category will place.  Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.  Awards will be given at the discretion of the judges. The awards are primarily intended to be recognition of the singers’ achievement. The judges reserve the right to award no winners if there are an insufficient number of entries in any given division.
  7. Honors Concert at the end of the day will feature 1st Place winners presenting one song.
  8. Judges will provide written evaluations of each performer. These evaluations are quite useful to the student and teacher.
  9. Award Certificates and winner’s checks will be mailed to teachers after the event.
  10. NOTIFICATIONS
    1. Names of winners will be published online at the NATS San Diego website.
    2. Written critiques by the judges will be mailed to the teacher. 
Please direct any questions to Jennifer D'Onofrio, Student Auditions Chair:  [email protected]

Student Audition Categories &
Repertoire Requirements

SPRING SEMESTER

CHILDREN - SPRING SEMESTER

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CATEGORY:     Children's Musical Theatre - SPRING   [MT 1]
AGE RANGE:            Below 6th grade, maximum age 11
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:          TWO, CONTRASTING, AGE APPROPRIATE music theater selections from musicals
(including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles, or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:            6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


CATEGORY:     Children's Commercial Music - SPRING   [CM 1]
AGE RANGE:            Below 6th grade, maximum age 11
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:           TWO contrasting age-appropriate selections performed in a Commercial Music style(s).  Tracks must not include backing vocals. A microphone will be provided. Only the clean, radio version is acceptable, and coarse language is not permitted.

TIME LIMIT:            6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

YOUTH - SPRING SEMESTER

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CATEGORY:     Youth Musical Theater - SPRING   [MT 2]
AGE RANGE:            Grades 6th, 7th, 8th; Maximum age 14
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:          TWO, CONTRASTING, AGE APPROPRIATE music theatre selections from musicals (including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:            6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

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CATEGORY:     Youth Commercial Music - SPRING   [CM 2]
AGE RANGE:            Grades 6th, 7th, 8th; Maximum age 14
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:         TWO contrasting age-appropriate selections performed in a Commercial Music style(s).  Tracks must not include backing vocals. A microphone will be provided. Only the clean, radio version is acceptable, and coarse language is not permitted.
TIME LIMIT:           6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.



 HIGH  SCHOOL - SPRING SEMESTER*

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CATEGORY:     High School Commercial Music - SPRING   [CM 3]
AGE RANGE:            14-19​, enrolled in high school
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:           THREE contrasting full songs performed in a CM style(s):  At least 1 ballad and 1 up tempo. Only 1 song may be an original song, instead of a cover. Only 1 song may be self-accompanied on an acoustic instrument, instead of performing with an instrumental track or one live collaborative acoustic instrumentalist.  Tracks must not include backing vocals. A microphone will be provided. Only the clean, radio version is acceptable, and coarse language is not permitted.
TIME LIMIT:            8 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


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CATEGORY:     High School Musical Theatre (Treble) - SPRING   [MT 3]
                           High School Musical Theatre (TBB) - SPRING   [MT 4]

AGE RANGE:             14-19​, enrolled in high school
YEARS OF STUDY:   No limit
REPERTOIRE:            THREE, CONTRASTING music theater selections from musicals (including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:              8 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.



 College / Independent Studio - Spring Semester*

* College and Independent Studio singers ages 19 and up who are no longer in high school may enroll in the Adult Commercial Music category.
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CATEGORY:              LOWER College/Independent Studio Music Theater Treble -SPRING [MT 5];
                                   LOWER College/Independent Studio Music Theater TBB - SPRING [MT 6]  
            
AGE RANGE:             18-22​
YEARS OF STUDY:   0 - 2 years post- high school
REPERTOIRE:           ​Three, contrasting music theater selections from musicals (including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:              10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

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CATEGORY:           UPPER College/Independent Studio Music Theater Treble -SPRING [MT 7];
                                    UPPER College/Independent Studio Music Theater TBB -SPRING [MT 8]
AGE RANGE:             20-25
YEARS OF STUDY:   3 - 5 years post- high school
REPERTOIRE:            Four contrasting music theater selections from musicals (including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:              12 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


AVOCATIONAL ADULT* - SPRING SEMESTER

*Adults include avocational musicians only, i.e. those neither pursuing nor holding a degree in music, and not working as professional musicians.
*Lower, Upper, and Advanced college and independent studio singers (post-high school) will enter as Adults for the Commerical Music category.

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CATEGORY:             Adult Commercial Music - SPRING [CM 11]
AGE RANGE:                18+ (post high school)
YEARS OF STUDY:      No limit
REPERTOIRE:               THREE contrasting full songs performed in a CM style(s): At least 1 ballad and 1 up tempo. Only 1 song may be an original song, instead of a cover. Only 1 song may be self-accompanied on an acoustic instrument, instead of performing with an instrumental track or one live collaborative acoustic instrumentalist.
TIME LIMIT:                10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

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CATEGORY:              Adult Musical Theatre Treble  - SPRING [MT 11]
                                       
Adult Musical Theatre TBB  - SPRING [MT 12]
AGE RANGE:                 18+
YEARS OF STUDY:       No limit
REPERTOIRE:               Three contrasting music theater selections from musical (including film musicals), revues, operettas, music theatre song cycles or music theatre song literature. Only one selection may be chosen from operetta or music theatre song literature.
TIME LIMIT:                 10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


Student Audition Categories &
Repertoire Requirements

FALL SEMESTER

CHILDREN - FALL SEMESTER
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CATEGORY:     Children's Classical Music - FALL   [CL 1]
AGE RANGE:            Below 6th grade, maximum age 11
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:           TWO, CONTRASTING, AGE APPROPRIATE selections from classical repertoire (folk song or art song), at least one song will be in English.
TIME LIMIT:             6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


YOUTH - FALL SEMESTER
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CATEGORY:     Youth Classical Music - FALL   [Y 2]
AGE RANGE:            Grades 6th, 7th, 8th; Maximum age 14
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:          TWO, CONTRASTING, AGE APPROPRIATE selections from classical repertoire, at least one of which must be in English.
TIME LIMIT:            6 minute limit, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


 HIGH  SCHOOL - FALL SEMESTER
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CATEGORY:     High School Classical (Treble) - FALL   [CL 3]
                           High School Classical (TBB) - FALL   [CL 4]

AGE RANGE:            14-19, enrolled in high school
YEARS OF STUDY:  No limit
REPERTOIRE:           THREE, CONTRASTING selections from classical repertoire.  One English art song (with English as the original language).  Two additional art songs or arias.  At least one song must be in a foreign language.    (Repertoire found in the Italian Art Songs collections may be counted as aria or as art song.)

TIME LIMIT:             8 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


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 College/Independent Studio-FALL Semester
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CATEGORY:      LOWER College/Independent Studio Classical Treble -FALL [CL 5];
                            LOWER College/Independent Studio Classical TBB -FALL [CL 6]

AGE RANGE:              18-22​
YEARS OF STUDY:    0-2 years post- high school
REPERTOIRE:             Three, contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One aria or art song. One art song in English (original language). One foreign language art song.  (Repertoire found in the Italian Art Songs collections may be counted as aria or as art song.)
TIME LIMIT:               10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

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CATEGORY:       UPPER College/Independent Studio Classical Treble -FALL [CL 7];
                             UPPER College/Independent Studio Classical TBB -FALL [CL 8]

AGE RANGE:               20-25​
YEARS OF STUDY:     3-5 years post- high school
REPERTOIRE:              Four contrasting selections from classical repertoire.  One aria. One art song in English (original language). One foreign language art song. One additional selection. At least three languages must be represented. Repertoire found in the Italian Art Songs collections may count as an art song only, regardless of origin. Any repertoire found outside of these collections will be considered only as the composer intended, as an art song or aria.
TIME LIMIT:                12 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.

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CATEGORY:       ADVANCED College/Independent Studio Classical Treble -FALL [CL 9];
                             ADVANCED College/Independent Studio Classical TBB -FALL [CL 10]

AGE RANGE:               22-30​
YEARS OF STUDY:     4+ years post- high school
REPERTOIRE:             Five contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One operatic aria. One oratorio/cantata aria. One foreign language art song. One art song in English (original language). One additional selection from the classical repertoire. At least three languages must be represented.  Repertoire found in the Italian Art Songs collections may count as an art song only, regardless of origin. Any repertoire found outside of these collections will be considered only as the composer intended, as an art song or aria.
TIME LIMIT:                15 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


AVOCATIONAL ADULT* - FALL SEMESTER

*This category is designated for avocational musicians, i.e. those neither pursuing nor holding a degree in music, and not working as professional musicians.
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CATEGORY:              Adult Classical Treble  - FALL [CL 11]
                                       
Adult Classical TBB  - FALL [CL 12]
AGE RANGE:                 18+
YEARS OF STUDY:       No limit
REPERTOIRE:               Three contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One art song in English (original language). One art song in a foreign language. One additional art song or aria.
TIME LIMIT:                 10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


NON-TRADITIONAL ADULT* - FALL SEMESTER

* This category is dedicated for those currently pursuing or already holding degrees in music and whose age or level of study falls outside the limits of the other categories.
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CATEGORY:              Adult M Treble - FALL [CL 13]         Adult Classical TBB - FALL [CL 14]
AGE RANGE:                   18+
YEARS OF STUDY:         No limit
REPERTOIRE:                 Three contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One art song in English (original language). One art song in a foreign language. One additional art song or aria.
TIME LIMIT:                    10 minutes, commencing when the singer announces the first selection.


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  • Home
  • Member Services
    • Executive Board
    • Join Our Chapter >
      • Chapter By-Laws
      • Code of Ethics
      • Membership Directory
    • Mentorship
  • Student Auditions
  • Resources
    • Adjudication Forms
    • AuditionNow "How To"
    • Living Composer Resources
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    • Recent Audition Results
    • Vocal Music in San Diego >
      • San Diego Area Universities
      • Opera & Musical Theatre Companies
      • Choral Groups
      • FInd a Teacher
    • SDSU Parking Info
    • Mira Costa Oceanside Campus Parking
    • Event Archives
  • Contact
    • Suggestions
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  • NATS Newsletter