2025 WISCONSIN NATS ADJUDICATION INSTUCTIONS
!INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADJUDICATORS 2025       Preliminary and Semi-Final Rounds
Please take time to familiarize yourself with these procedures. This document will be in every Judges' Packet.
Questions - Problems - Missing Something?  
TEXT  Kathy Otterson  (608)576-1638        Dan Johnson-Wilmot (608) 498-9776

General Procedures 
  • The Head Judge (indicated by a * on the Judges' Packet label) is responsible for coordinating the smooth operation of the Audition, and handling the Judges’ Packet, and assuring that the Auditions are conducted in a professional manner. 
  • NO video or audio recording is allowed at the Audition. (please remind audience)
  • Electronic devices should be silenced. Remind the audience, if necessary, of expected performance decorum. 
  • One Adjudicator should use their cell phone or other device to time each singer.Adjudicators should indicate that they are ready for the next singer when they are done writing and scoring.
  • TIMING BEGINS when the Room Monitor announces the singer, and continues through the entire audition. 
  • If a singer or their accompanist is not present at their assigned time, proceed to the next and allow the late singer to sing when they arrive. 
  • If a singer does not appear, write “DNA” on the Adjudication Sheet, collate, and place with the others.

  • CATEGORIES AND SINGING TIMES

HIGH SCHOOL     
PRELIM - 8 MINUTES      SEMI - 5 MINUTES    FINAL - 5 MINUTES

LOWER POST HIGH SCHOOL 
ADULT AVOCATIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL
PRELIM -  ​10 MINUTES       SEMI - 6 MINUTES       FINAL - 5 MINUTES
​
​UPPER POST HIGH SCHOOL
HALL JOHNSON COMPETITION1
PRELIM - 12 MINUTES        SEMI - 6 MINUTES        FINAL - 5 MINUTES

ADVANCED 
PRELIM - 15 MINUTES      SEMI - 8 MINUTES      FINALS - 5 MINUTES

Singing Procedure  - Prelims and Semi-Finals
  1. Singers enter and are announced by the Room Monitor. 
  2. Singers introduce themselves, their accompanist, and announce the first piece they will sing.  Encourage them to do this if they have forgotten
  3. Selections are to be sung in their entirety as prepared by the student, WITHOUT edits from adjudicators. Examples of prohibited edits are requesting a singer start at the B section or suggesting a student skip a prepared recitative and start with the aria or stopping a student in the middle of a piece to move on to the next selection.
       ➤Prelims:  Adjudicators choose from listed repertoire until time runs out
       ➤Semi-Finals:  Student chooses from listed repertoire until time runs out
  1. Timekeeper calls “Time.”  The singer stops wherever they are in their selection.
  2. Remember - there is no penalty for ending early OR running out of time.
  3. Write comments during the singing and give each singer a score or ranking 
  4. Thank the singer and accompanist when their time is up.

Scoring   
At the top of the Adjudication Form, you will see a grid. Using the NATS RUBRICS appropriate to the level of study and age of the singer, place an X along the tick line following each of the rubric’s standards listed below. In the Prelims only: based roughly on those numbers, assign a composite score between 70 and 100.  If a singer has chosen to sing for COMMENTS ONLY, it will be highlighted on the adjudication sheet. Do not give them a score

➤Prelims    Write Comments and a SCORE (whole numbers only and scores may be repeated) for each singer.  Write the SCORE on the Comment Sheet and on the Tally Sheet. Do not compare scores with other adjudicators.

➤Semi-Finals   Write Comments and RANK singers - 1 being your top selection. 
No score is given, but you may use the grid on the Adjudication Form - without marking it - to help with the ranking process. Write the RANKING on the Comment Sheet and on the Tally Sheet. Do not compare rankings with other adjudicators. 


Writing Comments  (from the NSA “Best Practices in Adjudicating”)

➤To be most meaningful to the singer, comments should be: • Perceptive (focused listening) • Encouraging (enthusiastic affirmation) • Appreciative (thank you for singing) • Empathic (recognition that we all have had our own struggles) • Sensitive (thoughtful writing style) • Informative (accurate reporting) • Insightful (good diagnostics) • Inspiring (good ideas) • Engaging (accessible and conversational)

➤Write comments with: • Truth • Tact • Tidiness) • Efficiency• Encouragement • Specificity 
➤Specific comments may be directly to a student’s teacher - paper and envelopes are in the judge’s packet for this purpose. Write your comments, seal the envelope and write “To the Instructor of…” on it. Return with the Adjudication Sheets to the Tally Room.

At the conclusion of singing: 
  1. Make sure your student scores/rankings have been transferred to the Tally Sheets. 
  2. SIGN your Tally sheets.
  3. Collate Adjudication sheets according to the singer’s last name. 
  4. Head Judge collects Adjudication and Tally forms, places all materials in the brown envelope in the Judges’ Packet, and returns the Packet to the Tally Room. PLease be prompt so results are not delayed.Delegate this to someone else if you have another judging assignment immediately following. 

Thank you for your service to the students and to the WI Chapter!