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CL Audition Terminology:
Aria: An aria is a solo from an opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, zarzuela, operetta, or works titled “concert aria.” Oxford Online definitions will be used for the purposes of NATS student auditions. For example, Purcell’s selections from the semi-operas and masques are considered songs. 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 classical categories. For the singers in the upper and advanced categories, these pieces may ONLY count as an art song, regardless of origin. Any repertoire found outside of these collections will be considered only as the composer intended as an art song OR aria. Memorization: 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. Original Languages: All selections should be sung in original language or in translation, if warranted by common performance practice. Transposition: Transpositions are permitted. Singers are expected to retain the composer's intended style of music and to convey the essence of the character portrayed in the larger work. Performances not fulfilling these requirements may result in lower scores from adjudicators. Art Song in English: English must be the original language of the art song. Repertoire/Categories: 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. No musical theatre, pop, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, etc. may be entered in the Classical Category. 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. Judicious Cuts: Judicious cuts in piano introductions, piano interludes, piano music after the vocal solo is completed as well as internal cuts of opera arias are allowed as is 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. Comments Only: Any registered student may elect to sing for comments only and participate exclusively in a preliminary audition. Adjudicators will not score auditions entered for comments only. Double-Dipping: Singers entering more than one NSA category (Classical, Commercial Music, Musical Theatre, and/or Spirituals) are allowed to enter the same selection in more than one category provided the repertoire requirements of each category are met. Teachers and students are reminded that the standards in each genre category are different. A successful audition in one category will not necessarily produce success in a second category— unless altered to address the different standards of performance. Standards are defined in each NSA adjudication rubric. In exception, the Spiritual Categories and CL Categories are adjudicated by the same rubric of classical performance standards. If a singer advances in NATS Auditions (chapter, regional, national rounds) in more than one category, they may not sing the same selection in multiple final auditions. Please see the NSA FAQ for additional information. |
CM Audition Terminology:
Accompaniment Options: Singers may perform with any or any combination of the following accompaniment options: a pre-recorded instrumental track without backing vocals, a live collaborative instrumentalist, or in a limited capacity (see CM categories of entry in Appendix A), accompany themselves on an acoustic instrument. Arrangements: Original or published arrangements of musical theatre selections are accepted in CM categories in NATS Student Auditions, ONLY when performed in a distinct commercial music style different from the musical or subsequent revival of the musical in which the song originated. Commercial Music: Each CM audition may include one or more commercial music style(s). Commercial music includes all genres of vocal music performed by recording artists, not included in the classical and musical theatre NATS Student Auditions categories. Commercial music includes bluegrass, blues, contemporary Christian, country, folk, gospel, jazz, pop, rap, rock, rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and all ethnic music, etc. Cover Song: A cover song is a selection performed by someone other than the composer or original recording artist. Performing a cover does not imply an imitation of the original recording artist. Diva Microphone: A smaller microphone worn on the singer’s head. Microphone Technique Auditions are to be performed with amplification. In live auditions, all singers are required to use the amplification equipment provided. In video auditions, the use of a microphone off-camera or on-camera (on a stationary stand, diva microphone, and/or handheld microphone) is an artistic choice influencing interpretation. When using a microphone, the singer needs to make intentional choices of the microphone’s placement (whether handheld, using a stationary mic stand, or diva microphone). When choosing to use a handheld microphone, the singer will make intentional choices in the distance of the microphone from their mouth to create stylized effects. Rhythmic Groove: An organic embodiment of the beat that goes beyond specific notation or time signature, often referred to as the rhythmic feel of a song. Vocal Stylisms: In Commercial Music’s genre-specific elements of vocal interpretation, vocal stylisms are often not notated in the music. Appropriate ONSETS vary among fry, slide, yodel, growl, breathy, cry, creak, flip, scream, etc. Appropriate RELEASES vary among abrupt glottal stops, breathy, fall-off, fall-up, shadow vowels, fry, creaky, gaspy, etc. Appropriate NUANCES/EMBELLISHMENTS vary among riffs/runs, licks, flips, pitch slides, pop-appoggiatura, yodel/register shifts, pitch bends/scoops, etc. Visit NSA Resources on NATS.org to hear specific audio examples. Memorization: All selections must be performed from memory including self-accompaniments played. Comments Only: Any registered student may elect to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition. The judges will not score auditions entered for comments only. Off-Camera: Not visible on video, placed beyond the edge of the camera’s frame. Full Song: An entire song. No internal cuts of vocals; intros and outros may be abbreviated to accommodate audition’s time limits; instrumental breaks as well as repeat and fade tags may be cut, abbreviated, or kept to accommodate the audition's time limits. Authentic Performance: A genuine tone unique to each singer for the purpose of sincere communication with no elements of vocal impersonation. |
MT Audition Terminology:
Musical Theatre Selections: Repertoire is selected from musicals including film musicals, revues, operettas, musical theatre song cycles, and stand-alone musical theatre songs. Only one of the required selections may be an operetta aria or a stand-alone musical theatre song. Musical Theatre Styles: The singer is expected to select musical theatre songs from varied styles of music including bluegrass, blues, calypso, country, electro-pop, folk, gospel, jazz, legit, operetta, pop, pop-opera, rap, rhythm and blues (R&B), rock, soul, etc. The selected repertoire will engage the singer’s ability to access a variety of vocal colors to communicate character and story (see musical theatre rubric). The audition will showcase the full spectrum of each singer’s vocal and dramatic abilities. Transpositions: Transpositions are permitted, but singers are expected to retain the composer's intended style of music and to convey the essence of the character portrayed in the larger work. Judicious Cuts: As found in common professional performance practice, Judicious cuts in piano introductions, piano interludes, piano music after the vocal solo is completed, and dance breaks in musical theatre selections are allowed. In the case of numerous verses, some verses may be cut. Original Languages: Selections must be sung in the original language or in translation as warranted by common professional performance practice. Memorization: All selections must be performed from memory. Comments Only: Any registered student may elect to sing for comments only and participate exclusively in a preliminary audition. Adjudicators will not score auditions entered for comments only. Double-Dipping: Singers entering an MT category plus CL and/or CM categories are allowed to enter the same selection in more than one category provided the repertoire requirements of each category are met. Crossover repertoire may be judiciously entered in MT and additional categories. For example, “Lonely House” from Street Scene may be entered as a selection in an MT category and as an aria in a CL category. Similarly, “If I loved you” from Carousel may be entered in both MT and CM categories, but in the CM category, the song must be performed in a specific CM style different from the musical’s original style of music. Teachers and students are reminded that the standards in these genre categories are different. A successful audition in one category will not necessarily produce success in a second category—unless the performance is altered to address the different standards of performance. Standards are defined in each NSA adjudication rubric. If a singer advances in NATS Student Auditions (chapter, regional, national rounds) in more than one category, they may not sing the same selection in multiple finals. Please see the NSA FAQ for additional information. Authentic Performance: A genuine tone unique to each singer for the purpose of sincere communication with no elements of vocal impersonation. |
