General Guidelines, Rules and Definitions (2022)
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Teacher Eligibility and Participation Guidelines
WI NATS members must be in good standing with the National Association and State Chapter by September 15
to register students in the Fall Auditions. Questions regarding membership should be directed to Jessica Schwefel.
If you are not entering students, we can use your help as an Adjudicator! Please contact Auditions Chair Nathan Krueger.
Current National Association members new this year to the State of Wisconsin may enter their students in the Auditions
if they pay their state dues by October 1st..
NATS members may not enter themselves or students of another teacher in the auditions.
NATS members may participate in the Adult Divisions if they are studying with another Wisconsin NATS teacher and they meet the Category requirements.
Teachers must process all entrance forms and communicate directly with audition personnel. Students are not allowed to enter themselves in the audition or make repertoire or other changes.
to register students in the Fall Auditions. Questions regarding membership should be directed to Jessica Schwefel.
If you are not entering students, we can use your help as an Adjudicator! Please contact Auditions Chair Nathan Krueger.
Current National Association members new this year to the State of Wisconsin may enter their students in the Auditions
if they pay their state dues by October 1st..
NATS members may not enter themselves or students of another teacher in the auditions.
NATS members may participate in the Adult Divisions if they are studying with another Wisconsin NATS teacher and they meet the Category requirements.
Teachers must process all entrance forms and communicate directly with audition personnel. Students are not allowed to enter themselves in the audition or make repertoire or other changes.
Teacher Absenteeism
All WI members sending students to the Audition must be present ALL DAY on Friday, November 11th and available for judging or service assignments, or the absentee rule (below) takes effect. All are encouraged to remain to judge Saturday FINALS as well. Members who do not enter students are invited and encouraged to serve as adjudicators - contact the Auditions Chair.
If a teacher is unable to judge, they will pay a $75 absentee fee and be limited to entering no more than five students. After invoking absentee status, the teacher's students may not participate in the Auditions until the teacher once again attends the Auditions him/herself.
Students of teachers on sabbatical or other leave will be allowed to participate in the auditions only if the replacement teacher is a member in good standing with the National Association and the Wisconsin Chapter.
If a teacher is unable to judge, they will pay a $75 absentee fee and be limited to entering no more than five students. After invoking absentee status, the teacher's students may not participate in the Auditions until the teacher once again attends the Auditions him/herself.
Students of teachers on sabbatical or other leave will be allowed to participate in the auditions only if the replacement teacher is a member in good standing with the National Association and the Wisconsin Chapter.
Student Participation Rules
The student registration fee is $30 for entry in a single category.
A student may participate in as many categories as they like(classical, music theater, spirituals). The online registration form must be filled out for each category: once for each category entered. The Registration Fee is $30 plus $20 for each additional category.
Student registration fees are NON-REFUNDABLE once registration has closed.
It is not possible to accommodate schedule requests. Please make sure students are available for the entire day on Friday for their singing divisions, and Saturday for college finals.
Teachers may not accompany their own or another teacher’s students. Students may not accompany themselves.
Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. Please select the appropriate box when registering students.
A student may participate in as many categories as they like(classical, music theater, spirituals). The online registration form must be filled out for each category: once for each category entered. The Registration Fee is $30 plus $20 for each additional category.
Student registration fees are NON-REFUNDABLE once registration has closed.
It is not possible to accommodate schedule requests. Please make sure students are available for the entire day on Friday for their singing divisions, and Saturday for college finals.
Teachers may not accompany their own or another teacher’s students. Students may not accompany themselves.
Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round. Please select the appropriate box when registering students.
Student Awards
Monetary Awards are given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place WINNERS at the conclusion of the Final Round of the Auditions.
Ist Place: $150 2nd place: $125 3rd place: $100
These awards (and recognition of all Finalists) are given at the Awards Ceremonies: (times are approximate)
Friday, Nov. 11th - 7:00 pm High School Categories 1 - 4; Advanced College/Ind Studio 13 and 14
Saturday, Nov. 12th - 11:30 am Lower College Categories 5 - 8
Saturday, Nov. 9th - 3:00 pm Upper College Categories 9 - 12
All students are encouraged to stay for the Awards Ceremony for their category.
Ist Place: $150 2nd place: $125 3rd place: $100
These awards (and recognition of all Finalists) are given at the Awards Ceremonies: (times are approximate)
Friday, Nov. 11th - 7:00 pm High School Categories 1 - 4; Advanced College/Ind Studio 13 and 14
Saturday, Nov. 12th - 11:30 am Lower College Categories 5 - 8
Saturday, Nov. 9th - 3:00 pm Upper College Categories 9 - 12
All students are encouraged to stay for the Awards Ceremony for their category.
Repertoire
Questions about repertoire, and repertoire changes should be addressed to Susan Bender.
Repertoire Changes: Instructors of students in First Year College/Independent Studio categories (7A, 8A) may submit up to TWO repertoire changes per student. For all other categories ONE repertoire change per student is allowed after original registration is submitted. All repertoire change requests must be communicated by the instructor to Susan Bender. A confirmation email will be sent; students and teachers should have this email with them at the Audition.
Repertoire change deadline: Tuesday, October 30th. NO changes made on the day of the auditions.
Language: Selections should be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice.
Memorization: All repertoire must be sung from memory, the only exception is the oratorio/cantata requirement for the Advanced Category (Graduate).
Comment Only: Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round.
Classical Audition Terminology
Music Theater Terminology
All repertoire terminology from the NATS Student Auditions Regulations: Link
Repertoire Changes: Instructors of students in First Year College/Independent Studio categories (7A, 8A) may submit up to TWO repertoire changes per student. For all other categories ONE repertoire change per student is allowed after original registration is submitted. All repertoire change requests must be communicated by the instructor to Susan Bender. A confirmation email will be sent; students and teachers should have this email with them at the Audition.
Repertoire change deadline: Tuesday, October 30th. NO changes made on the day of the auditions.
Language: Selections should be sung in original language or in translation if warranted by common performance practice.
Memorization: All repertoire must be sung from memory, the only exception is the oratorio/cantata requirement for the Advanced Category (Graduate).
Comment Only: Any student may register to sing for comments only and participate in the preliminary audition round.
Classical Audition Terminology
- Aria Definition: 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.
- 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.
- Art Song in English: English must be the original language of the art song.
- Classical 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: 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.
- Double Dipping: Singers entering more than one category (Classical, Musical Theatre, Spiritual) in NATS auditions are allowed to sing the same selection in two categories provided that the repertoire requirements of both categories are met. If singers advance in NATS Auditions (chapter, regional, national rounds) in more than one category, they may not sing the same selection in multiple final auditions. See specific examples in the MT Terminology.
Music Theater Terminology
- Music Theater Selections: Repertoire is chosen from musicals (including film musicals), revues, operettas or music theater song cycles all of which are written or intended for a fully realized musical production; and music theater song literature. 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. Only one of the required selections may be chosen from operetta or music theater song literature.
- Fully Realized Production: A fully realized production includes blocking/acting, dance, costumes, sets, pit orchestra or piano, lighting, sound, or a combination of the aforementioned elements.
- Revues: Revues should thread back to the original production.
- Music Theater Styles: Repertoire should ensure that selections represent the spectrum of their vocal and dramatic abilities. This should be exhibited by selecting pieces of varying style periods: pop/rock, contemporary, and golden age, employing a multiplicity of vocal styles (belt, mix, legit).
- 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.
All repertoire terminology from the NATS Student Auditions Regulations: Link
Grounds for Disqualification
Students may be disqualified and awards can be rescinded at any time before, during, or after the auditions for any of the following reasons:
- Misrepresentation by the student or teacher regarding eligibility, age, length of study, or instructor
- Violation of memorization rule
- The student is accompanied by their own teacher
- Singing unapproved repertoire
