Arkansas Chapter Spring Conference & Student Auditions
February 25 - 26, 2022
Hello Arkansas NATS members,
I would like to invite you and your students to attend our hybrid Arkansas Spring Conference and Student Auditions, which will be held February 25th-26th 2022 at Harding University in Searcy AR.
The preliminary round of auditions will take place online, and the semi-final and final rounds will take place in person. Registration will open on Monday January 24th and close at midnight on Monday February 7th.
Masking is strongly encouraged for attendees, but students will be allowed to perform unmasked if they choose to do so. Faculty at Harding University have developed an innovative system of pathways and performance spaces for their performing students
which allow for social distancing and aerosol dissipation. Questions regarding covid policies and mitigation should be addressed to President-Elect Susan Shirel (sshirel@harding.edu).
Please remember that the Hall Johnson Category will take place in this year’s auditions in rotation with the American Negro Spiritual Category, which takes place in odd numbered years.,
Our special guest artist is soprano Angel Blue who has emerged as one of the most important sopranos of our time, performing international, and has been viewed over 12 million times as part of the “Kids Meet an Opera Singer” on YouTube. Students wishing
to participate in the masterclass should have their teacher submit a link to a YouTube video to Chris.MacRae@URegina.ca by Friday February 7th. Selected performers will be informed by Friday February 18th.
Tentative Schedule:
Monday Jan 24th
Online Registration Opens
Monday Feb 7th
Video Submission Registration for Preliminary Round Closes (Midnight)
February 10-16
Preliminary Round Judging (Online)
Friday Feb 18th
Announcement of Semi-finalists
Friday Feb 25th
11:00am Registration & Judges meeting
12:00-5:00pm Semifinals (in person)
7:00pm Guest Artist Recital: Angel Blue, soprano (in person, live stream tbd)
Saturday, Feb. 26
9:00am Chapter Business Meeting (zoom & in person)
10:00 - 11:30am Masterclass with Angel Blue (in person)
12:00 or 12:30pm Finals Recital begins (in person)
Deadlines:
Registration Opens - Monday, January 24
Video Submissions for Preliminary round close Monday, February 7 at midnight
Preliminary Round online judging - February 10-16
Announcement of Semifinalist by Friday, February 18
Registration will take place through AuditionWare. A link to this registration can be found on your http://nats.org homepage. We will also be trying to provide a link on our Arkansas Chapter of Southern NATS webpage as well.
Remember that when registering, you must have all of the links to the completed videos, AND video links must not include any identifying names or channel titles identifying the teacher or studio.If you have any questions concerning registration, please
contact he new Auditions Co-ordinator David Ekstrum (dekstrum@gmail.com).
.
Best Regards and Happy New Year,
Chris MacRae, DMA
President, Arkansas Chapter of NATS
