GWENDOLYN ROBERTS YOUNG ARTIST AUDITIONS 2024

Sunday, May 19, 2024   

2 pm – 5 pm

FULLERTON College

Recital Hall

321 E. CHAPMAN AVENUE

FULLERTON, CA 92832

Please see YAA Information below for preparation and repertoire information.


The purpose of the Gwendolyn Roberts Young Artist Auditions of NATS-Los Angeles (NATS-LA) is to select those singers whose artistry and ability indicate that they are ready for a professional career.  The winner will demonstrate exceptional artistry and ability which include differentiation of musical style and languages, vocal and physical expressiveness that sets them apart from their peers.  


AWARDS  


First: $1,500 Scholarship Award: Certificate of Award; and a “Young Artist of the Year” public showcase recital sponsored by NATS-LA Chapter.


Second: $500 Scholarship Award; Certificate of Award.

Third: $300 Scholarship Award; Certificate of Award.

***Applicants must secure and compensate their own accompanist for their audition and for the recital, should they win 1st Place.***

ELIGIBILITY

1. Singers who are masters and/or post-graduate students prepared to enter the professional world of singing. Students who have graduated, or are graduating from an undergraduate program - and show great potential and preparedness - are also invited to participate in the Young Artist Auditions (Teachers making this determination are acting in good faith that the singer is capable of presenting a full art song recital.  Often the winners go on to compete in the NATSAA and Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.).

2. The age limit is 22-35.  Singers must be no younger than 22 nor older than 35 on the audition date. 

3. Singers must be studying with a member in good standing of NATS-LA Chapter for not less than eight months preceding the recital. 

4. Both the singer and their teacher must be a resident of the area covered by the NATS-LA Chapter. 

5. The singer must provide his/her own accompanist at his/her own expense for the audition, and for the recital, should they win first place.



AUDITION INFORMATION

Time and Location: 

Sunday, May 19, 2024  

2 pm – 5 pm

Fullerton College Recital Hall

Fullerton, CA



HOW TO APPLY

1. Complete application form.

2. The application must be postmarked or received by Saturday, May 4, 2024.

3. In addition to the completed application form, applicants must enclose the following:*

A. A non-refundable fee of $30.00, made payable to: NATS-LA.

B. Five (5) typewritten copies of your recital program proposal, clearly specifying which songs have been

selected for audition purposes. Please include the composer and time duration of each piece. The

contestant’s name must not appear on the program.  

C. Five (5) typewritten copies of translations for each of the songs selected for the audition.

* Please see “YAA Repertoire/Program Requirements” below.  Failure to include the correct information may disqualify you from these Auditions.

ADJUDICATION: (Please read the following carefully)

1. Three to five judges of the highest caliber will be provided.  Written comments will be mailed to the teacher.

2. Judges may not have students in the audition.

3. Contestants will open with a song of their own choice not to exceed five minutes in length. Judges will request further selections. Total singing time will not be longer than 15 minutes.

4. Contestants will be known by a designated number or letter. 

5. Teachers may not be accompanists for their own students.

6. In the event of a tie, judges may recall a singer.  Therefore, contestants are required to remain until all contestants have sung.  

7. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the auditions. 

8. It is the judges’ prerogative to determine which awards will be given.  All decisions of the judges are final.

YAA Repertoire/Program Requirements:

1. Contestant shall submit a recital program proposal of 50-60 minutes of music.

2. Contestant shall select 30 minutes of music from the above recital program proposal, at least one song from each category to be offered at the audition.  The selected songs to be used for the audition should be clearly marked on the recital program proposal.  

3. Contestant must be prepared to sing their chosen songs from memory.

4. Contestant should retain a copy of recital program proposal and selected audition songs. 

5. If a contestant is a repeat applicant, at least 20 minutes of new repertoire must be included on the recital program proposal.

Repertoire Categories - At least two to five (2-5) songs from each of the following must be included:

1. Baroque and Classical Airs (at least one in Italian):  Bach, Byrd, Cavalli, Cesti, Dowland, Gluck, Handel, Haydn, Lully, Monteverdi, Mozart, Paisiello, Pergolesi, Purcell, Rameau, Scarlatti, etc.

2. Lieder (in German): Beethoven, Berg, Brahms, Cornelius, Hindemith, Loewe, Mahler, Schönberg, Schubert, Schumann , Strauss, Webern, Wolf, etc.

3. French or other National Art Songs:  Bartok, Bizet, Caplet, Chabrier, Chausson, Chopin, Dallapiccola, Debussy, Duparc, Dvořák, Falla, Fauré, Ginastera, Gounod, Granados, Gretchaninoff, Hahn, Honegger, Malipiero, Martin, Messiaen, Milhaud, Mompu, Musorgsky, Petrassi, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Rachmoninoff, Ravel, Respighi, Rousse, Saint-Saëns, Satie, Szymanowski, Tchaikowsky, Turina, Villa-Lobos, etc.

4. English and American Art Songs: (at least one American song required) Barber, Britten, Carter, Cipullo, Copland, Diamond, Heggie, Holst, Ives, Larsen, Laitman, Musto, Pasatieri, Rorem, Thomson, Tippett, etc.

In addition to the above song literature, contestants may include one opera aria outside of the Baroque/Classical category.   

  • IMPORTANT: LAWFUL EDITIONS - Accompanists may use photo copies of music, but the lawful editions (hard copy) of each song must be AT HAND at the piano. Music may also be lawfully purchased online, but it must have singer’s name showing ownership on the cover/certificate page or at the bottom of the page showing legal purchase.

  • Please contact Susan Ali, NATS-LA YAA Chairperson at yaa@natslachapter.org if you have any questions.


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