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.
National Student Auditions
The annual National Student Auditions is an exciting experience where student singers perform and receive written feedback, along with national prize totals of more than $44,000 and additional awards presented at region and chapter auditions!
How It Works: In this national event, the top performers in each NATS region compete with other top artists from across the continent. Students of NATS members will begin by performing during their region auditions. The top five singers from each eligible region category advance to the national online preliminary round, where entrants submit videos of their performances for adjudication by a panel of international judges. Fourteen singers from each of the 18 categories (plus the Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition during conference years and the American Negro Spirituals Categories in non-conference years) advance to the national semifinal round. The top three singers from each category will be selected to compete in the final round. The national semifinal and final rounds will be held in conjunction with the 2023 NATS summer workshop.
- Entry Fee: $75 per category
- Prizes: Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will total at least $44,000.
- Competition Dates: Online national screening begins second Friday in April, with the national semifinals and finals scheduled in conjunction with the NATS summer workshop.
- Deadline to Apply: April 14, 2023 (applications 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.
- 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.
- PRELIMINARY
ROUNDS
- 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
- 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.
- 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, 2022, with adjudication to take place in early 2023.
- Deadline to Apply: December 1, 2022
Application, requirements, and complete rules