2026 Singing Festival
Saturday March 7th, 2026
Sonoma State University
Green Music Center
Sonoma State University
Green Music Center
What is the Redwood Empire Singing Festival?
This is a day devoted to developing performance skills and collegiality for students of singing.
The best way to practice performing and auditioning is to, well, practice!
Our festival is a supportive environment for singers to have growth experiences.
This is a day devoted to developing performance skills and collegiality for students of singing.
The best way to practice performing and auditioning is to, well, practice!
Our festival is a supportive environment for singers to have growth experiences.
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Participating in this festival can be helpful to singers in many ways:
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SINGING FESTIVAL 2026 -- ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
FOUR DIVISIONS
Division I: Ages 10-14
Division II: Ages 15-18 (still in High School)
Division III: Post High School ages 18-24
Division IV: Ages 25 and above
In all Divisions, both songs are required to be memorized.
Total time for both songs is 8 minutes – INCLUDING:
Introduction of 1) performer’s name, 2) title of composition and 3) composer
COMMERCIAL MUSIC CATEGORY
Requirements are two songs, prepared and memorized:
Language: one or two in English; one may be in a foreign language (optional).
Repertoire: Two contrasting contemporary songs, NOT from a musical or stage production. One song may be an original composition (optional).
Students may accompany themselves.
Student may use backing tracks. (Please email your backing tracks in MP3 format to [email protected] after registering.)
A microphone for the singer will be provided in the adjudication room.
CLASSICAL CATEGORY
Requirements are two songs, prepared and memorized:
Language: one in English and, in Div. II-IV, one in a foreign language.
Repertoire: For all divisions, one must be an Art Song.
The other song must be an Art Song of a different period, a classical folk song including classical gospel,
Opera, Operetta, or Oratorio.
MUSICAL THEATER CATEGORY
Requirements are two songs, prepared and memorized:
Both songs from a staged Broadway, Off-Broadway production, or film musical.
ONLY Division I may use one song from a movie score.
Singers should ensure that contrasting selections represent the spectrum of their vocal and dramatic abilities (Classical, Contemporary, Pop/Rock) and use a variety of vocalisms (belt, mix, legit).
If you would like the NATS accompanist to play for you, you will need to submit clean PDFs of your sheet music to [email protected]
After we process your registration and sheet music submission, you'll receive an email containing your accompanist's contact details. This allows you the opportunity to schedule a rehearsal with them in advance, if desired. *Please note, any rehearsal time must be organized and funded by you, at a cost of $40 per half-hour (paid to your pianist). To ensure accompanists have sufficient availability, we strongly recommend scheduling rehearsals well before the week leading up to the competition.
Important Festival Music Deadlines
If music is not submitted clearly, legibly, and in the correct key by February 20, the festival accompanists will not be able to play, and students will need to bring their own accompanist.
It is highly advised that students know exactly what their sheet music sounds like before the festival. Coaching with festival accompanists is optional, but teachers and students should be confident in the submitted score.
- Registration is open January 18th- February 20th 2026
- All festival accompanist music is due by February 20, 2026
- Scores must be:
- Clear and legible
- In the correct key
- Marked with your cuts and markings
- Email all scores to: [email protected]
If music is not submitted clearly, legibly, and in the correct key by February 20, the festival accompanists will not be able to play, and students will need to bring their own accompanist.
It is highly advised that students know exactly what their sheet music sounds like before the festival. Coaching with festival accompanists is optional, but teachers and students should be confident in the submitted score.
General Festival Information Sheet for Students |
Campus map of Sonoma State University |
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Our festival is held in the "Music Education Hall"
Enter up through the front steps/ramps | ||
After the schedule has been made for 2026 it will be posted below and emailed to your NATS teacher.
Plan on being available between 8AM- 4PM for auditions. Timing will depend partially on how many singers sign up in different categories.
Final concert is at approximately 6 PM.
Plan on being available between 8AM- 4PM for auditions. Timing will depend partially on how many singers sign up in different categories.
Final concert is at approximately 6 PM.
Classical Division - Schroeder Hall
Musical Theater Division - Room 1028
Commercial Music - Room 1028
Schedule
Commercial Music and Musical Theater
Classical
