I. PURPOSE OF THE AUDITIONS

A. To offer the students of NATS members:

1. Encouragement towards more diligent preparation of appropriate and distinguished repertoire;

2. An opportunity to perform under conditions designed ideally to combine the best elements of competitive and non-competitive performance;

3. A specific goal, stimulating the desire and incentive for vocal and musical self-improvement;

4. Opportunity to sing before qualified and impartial judges, and to receive careful and constructive criticism; and

5. Public recognition of musical talent and vocal achievement.

II. ORGANIZATION

A. Student auditions are an annual activity officially sponsored by the West Central Region of NATS, which includes the Districts of Colorado/Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska.

B. These auditions are under the direct supervision of the Regional Governor, assisted by the District Governors and the Student Auditions Chair.

C. Student auditions are NOT part of the NATS Artist Award Auditions (NATSAA).

D. Student auditions are divided into the following classifications:

1. High School Girls Grades 9*-12

2. High School Boys Grades 9*-12

(*Ninth Graders may sing for evaluation only.)

3. Lower College Women Currently in the 1^st or 2nd semester of voice study

4. Lower College Men Curently in the 1^st or 2^nd semester of voice study

5. Lower College Women Currently in the 3^rd or 4^th semester of voice study

6. Lower College Men Currently in the 3^rd or 4^th semester of voice study

7. Upper College Women Currently in the 5^th or 6^th semester of voice study

8. Upper College Men Currently in the 5^th 0R 6^th semester of voice study

9. Upper College Women Currently in the the 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, or 10th semester of voice study

10. Upper College Men Currently in the 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, or 10th semesters of voice study

11. Advanced College Women Beyond undergraduate, more than 10 semesters of voice. (Students only.)

12. Advanced College Men Beyond undergraduate, more than 10 semesters voice.

(Students only.)

14. Non-Traditional Students All levels. Competition level for students above the age limits of college divisions. (See III. below)

15. Lower College Music Theatre:
Men & Women Currently in the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4th semesters of voice.

16. Upper College Music Theatre:

Men & Women Currently in the 5^th, 6^th, 7,th, 8^th, 9^th or 10^th semesters of voice.

Note: Students who do not wish to compete for placement but would like to sing for evaluation will be placed within the appropriate classes throughout the competition. Please note on the application, "FOR EVALUATION ONLY". (Judging sheets will also be marked "for evaluation only".)

E. Clarification of above classifications: A student�s classification shall be determined by the amount of vocal study and not by present academic standing. The semester in which the student is enrolled will be counted in the total; summer semesters of study will NOT be counted. For those not attending but studying privately, two (2) semesters shall be accepted as equal to one year�s study. Should the student be affected by the age factor, (see III. below), then that student�s classification should be cleared with the student auditions chair.

III. AGE LIMITS

College: All college students (those studying 1-5 years beyond high school)

Lower College: through 22 years

Upper College: through 25 years

(Students exceeding these age limits should be in Classification 14.)

Advanced: College graduates, or more than 10 semesters of studty.

Advanced: through 28 years

(Students exceeding these age limits should be in Classification 14.)

Class 14: Lower age limit, 26 years; no upper age limit

Class 15: Undergraduate through 22 years.

Class 16: Undergraduate through 25 years.

IV. REPERTOIRE

ALL REPERTOIRE WILL BE PERFORMED FROM MEMORY

A. High School Division:

1. One Old English or Italian classic song.

2. Two additional songs selected at the discretion of the teacher.

(Note: All songs may be sung in English. Operatic arias by high school entrants are strongly discouraged.)

B. Lower & Upper College Divisions:

1. One aria (opera, oratorio, or cantata)sung in the original language or in English translation.

2. One Italian, French, German or Spanish Art Song sung in the original language.

3. One American, British, Canadian, Australian, Russian or Scandinavian Art Song sung in English.

C. Advanced Division

1. One Opera/Operetta Aria (original language or in English translation.)

2. One Oratorio or Cantata Aria.

3. One French Art Song

4. One German Art Song

5. One Italian or Spanish Art Song

6. One American British, Canadian, Australian, Russian or Scandinavian Art Song sung in English.

D. Class 14

Same as requirements for the College Divisions (see IV.B.)

E. Classes 15 & 16 (12 minute time limit; please make appropriate cuts.)

1. One Opera/Operetta Aria or Art Song in the original language. The Art Song may be an English or foreign language song of any period.

2. Two selections from musical theatre written between 1900 to the present day of contrasting styles. It is recommended that both traditional and contemporary repertoire be represented.

(Please refer any questions to Student Auditions Chair.)

V. CONDUCT OF AUDITIONS

A. The Student Auditions are NOT a contest, but rather a mutual effort to stimulate the highest degree of vocal artistry and technique, judging and being judged within a climate of genuine concern and encouragement.

B. Previous "1st Place" regional winners are ineligible to enter the category which they won, but must enter the next higher classification.

C. Accompanists are provided by entrants. Teachers may not accompany their own students. Because of tight scheduling, it is strongly suggested that no accompanist play for more than 12 singers.

D. Time limits for audition repertoire should total no more than eight (8) minutes for the High School division and 13 minutes for the College Division.

E. Three rounds will be conducted within each classification: Preliminary, semi-final, and final. If, in the judges� opinion, no one merits advancement, none will be advanced. In the case of insufficient numbers in the Category, the Semi-Final Round may be omitted by the Auditions Chair.

F. The following are the rating levels for all singers during the preliminary rounds:

90 and above is exceptional (for level of class)

85-89 is very good.

80-84 is average.

70-79 is below average.

G. Preliminary Round:


1. High School & Lower College divisions: Two (2) pieces will be sung. The singer begins with a song of his/her choice, to be followed by one selected by the judges.

2. Upper College divisions: All three (3) pieces will be sung. The singer�s choice will be followed by an order chosen by the judges.

3. Advanced division: Three (3) of Six (6) pieces will be sung. The singer�s choice will be followed by two (2) selections chosen by the judges.

4. Class 14 & 15: Same as the Lower College division.

5. Class 16: All three (3) pieces will be sung. The singer�s choice will be followed by an order chosen by the judges.

(Maximum singing time will be 12 minutes.)

VI. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

A. Any students currently studying on a regular basis with an active member of NATS and who meets all other requirements herein is eligible. The student and teacher must reside within the West Central Region at the time of the regional auditions.

B. A teacher may enter a student who has studied with him/her for less than the prescribed time, provided the name of the former teacher is listed on the entry blank and both are NATS members.

NATS Code of Ethics: It is unethical to claim as a pupil one having studied less than eight (8) months with the teacher, except where there has been no previous training.

C. A teacher shall be considered "in good standing" whose dues are current, who can supply a cancelled check or statement for the National Office authenticating membership and have all prior convention fees paid. Applications of new members who wish to enter students in the auditions must be complete and filed with the National Office by October 1.

D. A fee of twelve ($12.00) dollars must accompany each entry.

Checks or money orders should be made out to NATS Student Auditions. There will be no refunds. There is NO LIMIT on number of entrants.

E. Each student will be assigned a number on the official schedule for the auditions. This number will serve as the student�s I.D., admitting him/her to all sessions of the NATS Conference, except the official business meeting and noon buffet, for which a special charge will asked.

F. Each singer will prepare three (3) copies of a repertoire list to be presented to the judges at the time of the audition. The list should contain titles, composers, and the student�s audition number only.

G. Please use the Entry Blank supplied by the Student Auditions Chairman to photocopy duplicates for your students. Return the Entry Blanks, with the appropriate checks, to the Student Auditions Chairman.

H. Semi-Final Round:

1. Two grades of 90 or above, or an average of 90 or above in the preliminary round, will advance a singer to the semi-finals.

2. Each student will sing ONE selection of his/her choice.

3. There are no rating-sheet commentaries for this round. A weighted scoring system is utilized for tabulation of finals contestants.

4. The judges are not to confer until after their rating sheets are handed in.

5. In the event of a very large number of semi-finalists, singers may asked to limit their performance time.

I. Final Round:

1. High School and College Classifications 1-8:

a. High School Finals will be Friday afternoon.

b. Classifications 3-8, and possibly 14 will be early Saturday afternoon.

c. Each student will sing ONE selection of his/her choice.

d. The Auditions Chairman will announce the time and location as indicated in the convention program.

e. Each judge will rank the finalists from 1 (best) to 5. Judges will not confer and the results will be tabulated by the Auditions Office.

f. All students will report to the place designated and wait for the announcement of the winners.

g. Certificates and prizes for the high school winners will be awarded immediately after the finals on Friday.

h. Certificates and prizes for all other winners will be awarded on Saturday at the conclusion of all finals.

2. Senior Advanced Classifications 9-16:

a. These finalists will perform late Saturday afternoon.
b. The finalists will sing ONE selection of their choice.

c. The order of performance will be determined prior to the final Round.

d. Judges will not confer.

e. Certificates and prizes will be awarded as soon as tabulations are completed at the end of the evening.

In order to comply with NATS national policy for student auditions, and to be in compliance with copyright law, accompanists must play from the original score and not from photocopies. An occasional photocopies page may be used to avoid a difficult page turn, but the original score must be used, rather than a complete photocopy. Of course, the previous exception applies: if a work is out of print, a photocopy may be used with permission of the publisher or copyright owner. A copy of this permission should be present at the time of the audition.

VII. JUDGES

A. Due to the number of entries, ALL TEACHERS WHO ENTER STUDENTS MUST JUDGE AT LEAST ONE SESSION. If, for professional reasons, a teacher cannot attend the conference, he/she may petition to the Auditions Chair in writing for a waiver of this regulation, who will be responsible for judgments in such matters. If the instructor is excused and sends a student, he/she will be responsible to register for the convention. Failure to do so will result in the instructor being classified as "not in good standing".

B. Teachers will not judge categories in which they have an entry, unless emergencies require their services in classifications where they have only one (1) or two (2) students entered. The Auditions Chair will also avoid having teachers judge students from their own school if possible.

C. Utilizing the Teacher�s List of Entrants form, provided by the Auditions Chair, please send your affirmation of willingness to judge to the Student Auditions Chair at the time of submitting student entries, along with indications of your judging preference.

Revised April 2003