When: March 1, 2020
Where: New England Conservatory of Music
Registration Opens December 16, 2019 Closes February 1, 2020
Student Auditions Schedule
9:30am-1:30pm - Preliminary Round Auditions (Building 4)
11am-12pm - Workshop: Yogic Techniques for Performance/Practice by Kate Robinson (26-100)
1:15pm-2pm - Panel Discussion: "Landing the Audition" with Phyllis Hoffman, Dana Varga, Michael Hanley, and Sabrina Learman (26-100)
2:00-2:30 - Finalists Announcement and Photos (26-100)
3:30pm - Finals Round Concert and Winners Announcement (26-100)
11am-12pm - Workshop: Yogic Techniques for Performance/Practice by Kate Robinson (26-100)
1:15pm-2pm - Panel Discussion: "Landing the Audition" with Phyllis Hoffman, Dana Varga, Michael Hanley, and Sabrina Learman (26-100)
2:00-2:30 - Finalists Announcement and Photos (26-100)
3:30pm - Finals Round Concert and Winners Announcement (26-100)
NATS Policy on Copyright Laws
The National Association of Teachers of Singing endorses a strict policy regarding
copyright laws. The use of photocopied music is prohibited at all NATS sponsored
events, from the national to the chapter level.
Exceptions are:
1. Music that is out of print, still under copyright law, with permission from a
publisher.
2. Sheet music or books for which the copyright has expired, but available in CD
format. (e.g., CD Sheet Music). Performers must be prepared to present proof of
ownership upon request.
3. Sheet music purchased legally from an online vendor. Such music should have either
a separate page proving the performer has purchased such OR a copyright notice at the
bottom of the music that includes the performer’s name. Performers must be prepared to
present proof of ownership upon request.
4. Music available from approved public domain websites. Performers should take
particular care when accessing these sites as some do not guarantee that all works are
indeed in the public domain. Current approved online public domain sites are:
www.imslp.org
www.sheetmusicarchive.net
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/2085
copyright laws. The use of photocopied music is prohibited at all NATS sponsored
events, from the national to the chapter level.
Exceptions are:
1. Music that is out of print, still under copyright law, with permission from a
publisher.
2. Sheet music or books for which the copyright has expired, but available in CD
format. (e.g., CD Sheet Music). Performers must be prepared to present proof of
ownership upon request.
3. Sheet music purchased legally from an online vendor. Such music should have either
a separate page proving the performer has purchased such OR a copyright notice at the
bottom of the music that includes the performer’s name. Performers must be prepared to
present proof of ownership upon request.
4. Music available from approved public domain websites. Performers should take
particular care when accessing these sites as some do not guarantee that all works are
indeed in the public domain. Current approved online public domain sites are:
www.imslp.org
www.sheetmusicarchive.net
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/2085
Withdrawal Notice
Participants requesting to withdraw from the Student Auditions will receive a refund of the registration fee, under the condition that they have given notice at least 24 hours prior to the Student Auditions (by Saturday, ). Need to withdraw? Email communications@natsboston.org.
Divisions
In the event that any Division does not meet the minimum of 5 participants, NATS-Boston reserves the right to assign these singers to another appropriate category, or offer a refund if an appropriate category is not available or is at capacity.
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Musical Theater
Juniors Lower High School Upper High School Lower College Upper College Graduate School Adult Avocational |
Classical
Lower High School Upper High School Lower College Upper College Graduate School Adult Avocational |
Division Requirements
All repertoire must be memorized, including repertoire traditionally performed with sheet music (oratorio).
Time limits are strictly enforced.
Songs written in uncommon languages may be sung in English or the original language, but cannot be a substitute for the required (American or British) art song with English as the original language.
It is not necessary to provide adjudicators with copies of music.
Time limits are strictly enforced.
Songs written in uncommon languages may be sung in English or the original language, but cannot be a substitute for the required (American or British) art song with English as the original language.
It is not necessary to provide adjudicators with copies of music.
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Musical Theater Division Requirements
Juniors Musical Theater Years of Study: No limit Age Range: 10 - middle school Audition Time Limit: 8 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Two Contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, or song cycle). Lower High School Musical Theater Years of Study: No limit Age: 14-16/ 9th & 10th Grade Audition Time Limit: 8 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Two Contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, song cycle or operetta). Only one selection may be an operetta aria. Upper High School Musical Theater Years of Study: No limit Age Range: 16-19/ 11th & 12th Grade Audition Time Limit: 8 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Two Contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, song cycle or operetta). Only one selection may be an operetta aria. Lower College Musical Theater Years of Study: 0-2 years post high school Age Limit: 22 Audition Time Limit: 10 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Three Contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, song cycle or operetta). Only one selection may be an operetta aria. Upper College Musical Theater Years of Study: 3-5 years post high school all as undergraduate Age Limit: 25 Audition Time Limit: 12 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Four Contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, song cycle or operetta.) Only one selection may be an operetta aria. Adult Avocational Musical Theater Years of Study: No limit, Serious adult students who do not have a degree in vocal performance Age: 22+ Audition Time Limit: 10 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Three contrasting Music Theater Selections from scores of book shows written or intended for fully realized musical productions (a musical, revue, song cycle or operetta). Only one selection may be an operetta aria. |
Classical Division Requirements
Lower High School Classical Years of Study: No limit Age Range: 14-16/ 9th & 10th Grade Audition Time Limit: 8 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Two contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One art song in English. One art song in a foreign language. Upper High School Classical Years of Study: No limit Age Range: 16-19/ 11th & 12th Grade Audition Time Limit: 8 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Two contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One art song in English. One art song in a foreign language. Lower College Classical Years of Study: 0-2 years post high school Age Limit: 22 Audition Time Limit: 10 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Three contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One aria or art song. One art song in English. One foreign language art song. Upper College Classical Years of Study: 3-5 years post high school all as undergraduate Age Limit: 25 Audition Time Limit: 12 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Four contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One aria. One art song in English. One foreign language art song. One additional selection. At least three languages must be represented. Adult Avocational Classical Years of Study: No limit, Serious adult students who do not have a degree in vocal performance Age: 22+ Audition Time Limit: 10 minutes Repertoire Requirement: Three contrasting selections from classical repertoire. One art song in English. One art song in a foreign language. One additional art song or aria. |
Finals Round Requirements
Division finalists are chosen from the preliminary round. Finalists are required to sing one selection from their preliminary round repertoire, in its entirety, for the Finals Round Concert. Finalists will be assigned a brief rehearsal time with the finals round pianist, before the Finals Round Concert. The Finals Round Concert is a public event open to all participants and guests.
Audition Terminology
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Musical Theater Terminology
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Classical Terminology
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Memorization All repertoire must be sung from memory.
Original Languages Selections must be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice. Transposition Music Theater 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. Judicious Cuts Piano introductions, piano interludes, piano music after the vocal solo is completed, and internal cuts of 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. 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.) Comment Only Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. |
Aria An aria is a solo taken from an opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, zarzuela, 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.
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. Memorization All repertoire, including oratorio, must be sung from memory. Original Languages Selections should be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice. Transposition All arias from opera, oratorio, mass, cantata, operetta, works titled “concert aria,” or music theater selections must be sung in the original or standard published key. 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. 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. Judicious Cuts 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. Comment Only Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. |
Awards
Participants will be evaluated by a panel of judges using the NATS Adjudication Rubric. Finalists from each division will be chosen to participate in the Finals Round Concert, and winners will be chosen and announced following the finals performance.
Junior Division
1st $150
2nd $100
3rd $75
Lower High School Musical Theater and Classical
1st $200
2nd $150
3rd $100
Upper High School Musical Theater and Classical
1st $250
2nd $200
3rd $150
Lower College Musical Theater and Classical
1st $400
2nd $300
3rd $200
Upper College Musical Theater and Classical
1st $500
2nd $400
3rd $300
Adult Avocational Musical Theater and Classical
1st $150
2nd $100
3rd $75
***all divisions EXCEPT Upper College Musical Theater and Classical will also have the option for up to two Honorable Mention awards at $50 each***
Junior Division
1st $150
2nd $100
3rd $75
Lower High School Musical Theater and Classical
1st $200
2nd $150
3rd $100
Upper High School Musical Theater and Classical
1st $250
2nd $200
3rd $150
Lower College Musical Theater and Classical
1st $400
2nd $300
3rd $200
Upper College Musical Theater and Classical
1st $500
2nd $400
3rd $300
Adult Avocational Musical Theater and Classical
1st $150
2nd $100
3rd $75
***all divisions EXCEPT Upper College Musical Theater and Classical will also have the option for up to two Honorable Mention awards at $50 each***
Questions?
Email communications@natsboston.org
Email communications@natsboston.org
