How do I register for auditions? Only current NATS teachers may register students. Teachers, please log in to your member account on www.nats.org to register students for the Auditions.
What is considered an Aria? An aria is a solo taken from an opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, operetta, or works titled “concert aria”. Oxford Online definitions will be used for the purposes of this audition. For example, Purcell’s selections from the semi--- operas and masques are considered songs. ORATORIO SELECTIONS MUST BE PERFORMED MEMORIZED.
What about the 24/26/28 Italian Art Songs and Arias? The repertoire found in the 24/26/28 Italian Art Songs and Arias collections may be counted as an aria or an art song in the high school and lower college classical categories. For the singers in the upper college categories and beyond, these pieces 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.
Do I have to memorize my songs? Yes! All repertoire, including oratorio, must be sung from memory.
What does "original language" mean? Selections should be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice.
What about transposition? All arias from opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, operetta, works titled “concert aria,” or music theater selections must be sung in the original key or standard published key. Musical theatre selections in college categories and older must be sung in the original or standard published key. High school singers and younger may use published transposed keys to accommodate voice change issues only. Any published transposition must retain the composer's intention and style of music, and preserve the character being portrayed in the story and lyrics.
What is considered "classical" repertoire? The word “classical” in this context refers to art songs and arias from the “classical” genre, not limited to the “Classical” period of Mozart and Haydn. In other words, no music theater, pop, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, etc. Published arrangements of folk songs, spirituals, and traditional hymn tunes in English are widely accepted as a part of the classical genre. Students in classical categories may present one selection of this type to fulfill the English art song requirement.
Can I make judicious cuts to my music? Piano introductions, piano interludes, piano music after the vocal solo is completed, and internal cuts of opera arias and music theater selections are allowed as in common performance practice. Cuts of verse or verses of selections are not allowed. In the case of strophic pieces, all verses should remain that are traditionally included.
What are the allowed Music Theater Selections? All repertoire must be from the score of a book show written or intended for a fully realized musical production. The production may be a musical (including film musicals), revue, or song cycle (MUTH). A fully realized production includes blocking/acting, dance, costumes, sets, pit orchestra or piano, lighting, sound, or a combination of the aforementioned elements. Revues should thread back to the original production. Various online resources are available to confirm whether a particular selection was written/intended for a fully realized musical production, and teachers are encouraged to consult these resources when selecting repertoire for the auditions. Singers should ensure that contrasting selections represent the spectrum of their vocal and dramatic abilities. This should be exhibited by selecting pieces of varying style periods (pop/rock, contemporary, Golden Age, operetta), composers, and employing a variety of vocalism (belt, mix, legit). (Singers may choose only one operetta aria as one of their selections.)
What if I am singing for Comments Only? Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. Repertoire requirements apply.
What happens on the day of the competition:
A schedule usually comes out about six days before the competition.
Please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled time. You may arrive sooner and warm-up in a practice room.
Check-in at the front desk.
Please arrive outside the stage entrance about 7 minutes before your scheduled time.
When your time has arrived, wait for the singer ahead of you to exit. Then go into the room/onstage.
Introduce yourself, your pianist, the name of your first piece (and title of larger work if it's musical theatre, opera, or oratorio).
After singing your first piece, an adjudicator will request the next piece. Please also introduce this piece.
If time allows, you will be asked to sing your third piece (or more for upper categories).
You may be interrupted in the middle of a song if time runs out.
After singing, you may wait around the building for results to be posted, or your teacher may contact you later with results.
The next time you see your teacher, you should be able to see your scores and comments from the adjudicators.
What is considered an Aria? An aria is a solo taken from an opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, operetta, or works titled “concert aria”. Oxford Online definitions will be used for the purposes of this audition. For example, Purcell’s selections from the semi--- operas and masques are considered songs. ORATORIO SELECTIONS MUST BE PERFORMED MEMORIZED.
What about the 24/26/28 Italian Art Songs and Arias? The repertoire found in the 24/26/28 Italian Art Songs and Arias collections may be counted as an aria or an art song in the high school and lower college classical categories. For the singers in the upper college categories and beyond, these pieces 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.
Do I have to memorize my songs? Yes! All repertoire, including oratorio, must be sung from memory.
What does "original language" mean? Selections should be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice.
What about transposition? All arias from opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, operetta, works titled “concert aria,” or music theater selections must be sung in the original key or standard published key. Musical theatre selections in college categories and older must be sung in the original or standard published key. High school singers and younger may use published transposed keys to accommodate voice change issues only. Any published transposition must retain the composer's intention and style of music, and preserve the character being portrayed in the story and lyrics.
What is considered "classical" repertoire? The word “classical” in this context refers to art songs and arias from the “classical” genre, not limited to the “Classical” period of Mozart and Haydn. In other words, no music theater, pop, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, etc. Published arrangements of folk songs, spirituals, and traditional hymn tunes in English are widely accepted as a part of the classical genre. Students in classical categories may present one selection of this type to fulfill the English art song requirement.
Can I make judicious cuts to my music? Piano introductions, piano interludes, piano music after the vocal solo is completed, and internal cuts of opera arias and music theater selections are allowed as in common performance practice. Cuts of verse or verses of selections are not allowed. In the case of strophic pieces, all verses should remain that are traditionally included.
What are the allowed Music Theater Selections? All repertoire must be from the score of a book show written or intended for a fully realized musical production. The production may be a musical (including film musicals), revue, or song cycle (MUTH). A fully realized production includes blocking/acting, dance, costumes, sets, pit orchestra or piano, lighting, sound, or a combination of the aforementioned elements. Revues should thread back to the original production. Various online resources are available to confirm whether a particular selection was written/intended for a fully realized musical production, and teachers are encouraged to consult these resources when selecting repertoire for the auditions. Singers should ensure that contrasting selections represent the spectrum of their vocal and dramatic abilities. This should be exhibited by selecting pieces of varying style periods (pop/rock, contemporary, Golden Age, operetta), composers, and employing a variety of vocalism (belt, mix, legit). (Singers may choose only one operetta aria as one of their selections.)
What if I am singing for Comments Only? Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. Repertoire requirements apply.
What happens on the day of the competition:
A schedule usually comes out about six days before the competition.
Please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled time. You may arrive sooner and warm-up in a practice room.
Check-in at the front desk.
Please arrive outside the stage entrance about 7 minutes before your scheduled time.
When your time has arrived, wait for the singer ahead of you to exit. Then go into the room/onstage.
Introduce yourself, your pianist, the name of your first piece (and title of larger work if it's musical theatre, opera, or oratorio).
After singing your first piece, an adjudicator will request the next piece. Please also introduce this piece.
If time allows, you will be asked to sing your third piece (or more for upper categories).
You may be interrupted in the middle of a song if time runs out.
After singing, you may wait around the building for results to be posted, or your teacher may contact you later with results.
The next time you see your teacher, you should be able to see your scores and comments from the adjudicators.