Each year Chicago Chapter NATS hosts Student Auditions in Classical, Musical Theater and Youth categories. Student Auditions are an exciting experience where singers perform and receive written feedback about their performances. At these events singers meet and hear other singers, NATS teachers get to know their colleagues better, and everyone hears a variety of repertoire.
The CCNATS Board has been paying close attention to the ongoing updates in the news regarding public health and we are concerned with staying healthy and protecting those vulnerable to the coronavirus. Chicago Chapter NATS is committed to the wellbeing of our entire community and we have decided that it would be best to hold our auditions online for one more year.
You and your students have worked hard this year and we want to honor your efforts while maintaining our duty as responsible citizens. Due to the enduring circumstances we face, all CCNATS Student Auditions will be fully online in the Spring of 2022. Online auditions offer our singers an opportunity to work in the platform that they will be expected to use for college pre-screens and professional auditions. We believe that these online auditions will offer the students experience in line with current expectations and will also allow us to continue to improve our adjudication skills. Awards and certificates will be mailed directly to the student, so please make sure their mailing addresses are accurate and up to date when you complete registration. In the hope that conditions will be favorable in April and May, we are tentatively preparing for the possibility of Live-Outdoor concerts for the winners.
You and your students have worked hard this year and we want to honor your efforts while maintaining our duty as responsible citizens. Due to the enduring circumstances we face, all CCNATS Student Auditions will be fully online in the Spring of 2022. Online auditions offer our singers an opportunity to work in the platform that they will be expected to use for college pre-screens and professional auditions. We believe that these online auditions will offer the students experience in line with current expectations and will also allow us to continue to improve our adjudication skills. Awards and certificates will be mailed directly to the student, so please make sure their mailing addresses are accurate and up to date when you complete registration. In the hope that conditions will be favorable in April and May, we are tentatively preparing for the possibility of Live-Outdoor concerts for the winners.
2022 Chicago Chapter Auditions
Online
Classical Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, February 7
Registration Closes: Tuesday, March 1
Adjudication Ongoing Round 1: March 5-11
Adjudication Ongoing Final Round: March 12-18
Winners Announced: Sunday, March 19
Musical Theater Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, March 7
Registration Closes: Tuesday, March 29
Adjudication Ongoing Round 1: April 2-8
Adjudication Ongoing Final Round: April 9-15
Winners Announced: Saturday, April 16
Tentative Winners' Concert: Saturday, April 23 (All College - Classical & Musical Theater)
Youth Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, April 25
Registration Closes: Tuesday, May 10th
Adjudication Ongoing: May 14-20
Winners Announced: Saturday, May 21
Tentative Winners' Concert: Sunday, May 22 (All Youth)
Tentative Winners' Concert: Sunday, May 22 (All High School - Classical & Musical Theater)
Online
Classical Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, February 7
Registration Closes: Tuesday, March 1
Adjudication Ongoing Round 1: March 5-11
Adjudication Ongoing Final Round: March 12-18
Winners Announced: Sunday, March 19
Musical Theater Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, March 7
Registration Closes: Tuesday, March 29
Adjudication Ongoing Round 1: April 2-8
Adjudication Ongoing Final Round: April 9-15
Winners Announced: Saturday, April 16
Tentative Winners' Concert: Saturday, April 23 (All College - Classical & Musical Theater)
Youth Auditions
Registration Opens: Monday, April 25
Registration Closes: Tuesday, May 10th
Adjudication Ongoing: May 14-20
Winners Announced: Saturday, May 21
Tentative Winners' Concert: Sunday, May 22 (All Youth)
Tentative Winners' Concert: Sunday, May 22 (All High School - Classical & Musical Theater)
Information Links
BIPOC and Women Composer Categories
We are excited to continue special recognition awards for outstanding student performances of songs by BIPOC and Women Composers in each of the Student Auditions (Classical, Musical Theater, and Youth). Instructions on how to register your students for these special categories are included below
Students are welcome and encouraged to submit performances in both categories. However, to promote as many opportunities for singers to be recognized as we can, singers cannot submit the same song in both special categories. For example, if your student is singing a song by Margaret Bonds, please choose the category in which you would like the performance to be entered.
In addition to the instructions, we have included a link to a list of resources across media to support you in your teaching. We know that when we teachers are well-informed, we are set up to better model to our students how to perform with thoughtfulness and care. Subsequently, the resources we have provided address some of the concerns we have when we approach new repertoire. Although the list is by no means anywhere near comprehensive, you will find everything from song and composer databases and where to find sheet music, to panel discussions and interviews about whether white singers should perform spirituals and how to address dialect. We hope that this resource list will support you as you address these important topics with your students.
If you have questions, want to discuss repertoire, or have thoughts to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Director of Auditions, Katherine Petersen at auditions@chicagonats.org.
We are excited to continue special recognition awards for outstanding student performances of songs by BIPOC and Women Composers in each of the Student Auditions (Classical, Musical Theater, and Youth). Instructions on how to register your students for these special categories are included below
Students are welcome and encouraged to submit performances in both categories. However, to promote as many opportunities for singers to be recognized as we can, singers cannot submit the same song in both special categories. For example, if your student is singing a song by Margaret Bonds, please choose the category in which you would like the performance to be entered.
In addition to the instructions, we have included a link to a list of resources across media to support you in your teaching. We know that when we teachers are well-informed, we are set up to better model to our students how to perform with thoughtfulness and care. Subsequently, the resources we have provided address some of the concerns we have when we approach new repertoire. Although the list is by no means anywhere near comprehensive, you will find everything from song and composer databases and where to find sheet music, to panel discussions and interviews about whether white singers should perform spirituals and how to address dialect. We hope that this resource list will support you as you address these important topics with your students.
If you have questions, want to discuss repertoire, or have thoughts to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Director of Auditions, Katherine Petersen at auditions@chicagonats.org.