National Student Auditions 

The annual National Student Auditions are an exciting experience where student singers perform and receive written feedback, along with national prize totals of more than $84,000 with additional awards presented at NSA region and chapter auditions!

The NSA includes solo vocal performance categories in Classical Music, Musical Theatre, Commercial Music, and American Negro Spirituals. Most NSA categories are open to children through adults 30 years old or younger, who study voice with a NATS member.

How It Works: In these auditions, which now include international students, the students of NATS members begin by entering one of the 15 region NSA events. A few regions, use chapter auditions to qualify students for their region’s NSA. The top five placing performers in each region’s eligible NSA categories are invited to enter the national preliminary level of auditions via video submissions. Students in NSA auditions receive direct feedback in the form of written comments from panels of experts. Fifteen singers in each of the 34 NSA categories plus the biennial Hall Johnson Spirituals Competition and in alternate years the 3 American Negro Spirituals Categories — ALL advance to the national semifinal auditions. The top three singers from each national semifinal category advance to national finals. 

National NSA Entry Fee: $75 per category of entry (nonrefundable)

• Prizes: Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of the 35 categories total more than $84,000.
• Competition Dates: Online national preliminary audition screening begins second Friday in April, with the national semifinals and finals scheduled in conjunction with the NATS national conference. 
• Deadline to Enter National NSA: April 11, 2025 (entry by emailed invitation-only, following region auditions)

Application, repertoire information, and complete rules