Opportunities - Choirs - Festivals - Competitions

Solo Competitive Events



  • National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Festivals

    • NATS: Competitions, Awards, Auditions

    • Highly competitive

    • Usually classical music, but also has events for musical theater and spirituals

    • In this area, there are two NATS competitions each year:

      • Texoma 

        • Art Song and Spiritual Events (Classical) in the Fall

          • Spiritual Event is only on odd years (including 2023)

        • Musical Theater event online in February

        • Texoma is a big deal, with students from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and the winners (top 5 places) enter the national competition. 

        • Teachers who bring students must judge, (not their own students) so with distance and sometimes overnight stays, it can be hard for teachers/parents to want to make the trip. This also depends on how many students participate.

        • It’s also almost always far enough to warrant an overnight stay. - this year it’s at UNT. Previously it has been held at Baylor or even farther than UNT.

        • This event is a good opportunity to see college and professional soloists because of the collegiate/professional events also happening there.

      • South Texas District

        • Spring (April)

        • Every three years (including 2023) it takes place in Corpus Christi

        • Otherwise held in San Antonio or Austin

        • Teachers who bring students must judge, so when it lands in Corpus Christi and is a possible overnight stay, it can be hard for teachers/parents to want to make the trip. This also depends on how many students participate.

  • National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) Festivals

    • NFMC Festivals

    • Mr. Arterburn took 9 students through both the district and state Festivals in Spring of 2023 with 3 students winning their state categories and 8 students receiving the top rating of "Outstanding"

    • District Festival

      • Less competitive and many get the chance to advance to state should they receive a "Superior" rating

      • Student chooses between singing 2 classical pieces or 2 musical theater pieces

      • Events for instrumental performance and composition are also available

      • $25 Registration Fee

      • $0-$10 for purchasing original Copyright music copies for each student

      • Video Submission Option

      • $25-$35 to pay pianist for those who participate live

    • State Festival

      • $37 registration fee for those that advance to participate in the State Festival

      • Video Submissions only

      • Opportunity to get bigger and better recognition/ribbons

      • Opportunity for cash prizes and titles as the top performer per judge and per event.

      • About $8 to ship awards to you during the summer

  • UIL Solo and Ensemble

    • Solo and Ensemble

    • Soloists/Ensembles receive scores rather than rankings based around winning over others

    • Usually organized through school choir

    • Solo or small group classical singing

    • Great experience to advance to the state round and sing at UT campus




Choral Competitive Events


  • All Region Choir - All State Choir

    • Texas All State

    • First round is less competitive and gives lots of students an opportunity to sing with an amazing mix of skilled singers from the greater Austin area.

    • Middle School Region does not advance to state.

    • The later rounds get more competitive with sight reading and polished singing in auditions. 

    • To get to sing at the TMEA convention with the huge and skilled ensembles is an unforgettable memory.

    • It can be very subjective at times, so while Mr. Arterburn loves the opportunity to chase excellence in choral singing and sightreading, it is not the end of the world to not make it all the way.

  • Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) Honor Choirs and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choirs

  • UIL Choir Concert and Sight Reading

    • Concert and Sightreading Evaluation

    • Organized through School choir

    • Choirs receive scores rather than rankings based around winning over others

    • Mr. Arterburn is a good resource to practice and prepare for this



Opportunites



  • Inversion Nova Youth Chorus
    • Mr. Arterburn sings with the adult choir of this organization, and they do wonderful performances featuring newly composed music.
    • https://www.inversionatx.org/nova
  • Illumine Children's Choir
    • We have heard great things about this youth chorus as well and they seem to have a summer camp.
    • Illumine
  • Hill Country Youth Chorus (HCYC)
    • Texas State University run
    • Directed by Dr. Thomas Rinn, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education
    • Ensembles
      • Prelude Choir
        • Mondays 6:30 pm-7:15 pm
        • Grades 1-3
        • Focuses on developing fundamental musical skills through singing, movement, and active listening. 
      • Bravo Chorale - 
        • Mondays 6:30 – 7:45 pm 
        • Treble singers in grades 4-12. 
        • Choristers work to develop singing skills and overall. musicianship through the performance of diverse choral music. 
        • Performs at various community events in the Hill Country Area throughout the year.
      • Encore Ensemble
        • Mondays 7:50 - 8:15 pm 
        • Auditioned group of advanced singers from the Bravo Chorale. 
        • Performs advanced choral repertoire of various styles.
        • Performs at various community events in the Hill Country Area throughout the year. 
    • Tuition
      • $100 per semester for singers in Bravo Chorale.
      • $50 per semester for Prelude Choir students.
      • Discounts available for children of TXST Faculty members, and multiple children from the same family
      • HCYC also has opportunities for those in financial need
    • https://choirs.music.txst.edu/ensembles/youthchorus.html
  • Summer Camps
    • Orpheus Music Academy
    • Illumine Youth Choir Summer Camp
    • Birchwood Music Company
    • School of Rock and other music Schools offer camps. I have not interacted with these schools but have heard of them
  • College Auditions
    • Mr. Arterburn has lots of knowledge of what to look for in a college, and can help make connections and prepare materials to audition with.
    • Even if your student were only to continue singing for fun, Mr. Arterburn is a good resource for questions and advice there.

  • Scholarship and Award Applications

    • Mr. Arterburn can help with preparing materials and submissions

    • Organizations such as the following have awards available:
      • TCDA and ACDA
      • NATS
      • TMEA
      • TEA

  • Summer Program Applications



Updated September 2023