Audition Timeline

2026 Audition Structure and Timeline

The 2025-26 Cal-Western Regional Auditions are hybrid auditions, consisting of a preliminary video round, and live semi-final and final rounds. Students sing the same repertoire in all rounds, including the Nationals should they advance. Student categories are determined by the student age as of September 1, 2025. 

  • October 6 Registration opens for the first round.  Registration includes all student information and YouTube links.  All videos should be made after September 1, 2025.

  • November 6 Registration closes. Suggested District deadlines are as follows:

  • Hawaii District Deadline 11-1-25

  • Nevada District Deadline: 11-2-25

  •  Utah District Deadline: 11-3-25

  •  Arizona District Deadline:  11-4-25

  •  Northern California District Deadline:  11-5-25

  • Southern California District Deadline:  11-6-25               

  • November 7-12* Vetting and remediation period. 

  • November 13* Judging assignments are sent out.  All categories will be judged by a panel of  3 NATS judges.  All teachers with participating students must judge. Categories will be subdivided if there are more than 15 participants.

  • December 4 Judging assignments due.

  • December 8* The top 7 students in each category or subcategory will be announced.  These students will participate in the live semi-finals in Arizona. Subcategories may be combined in the semi-finals in accordance with the national rules.**

  • December 11* Registration opens for the semi-finals.  Teachers confirm participation of semi-finalists; indicate whether their students will bring a pianist, use tracks for CM, or use a NATS pianist; and pay the appropriate fees.  Teachers will also submit chaperone forms through a separate process. 

  • December 22* Registration for semi-finals closes.  

  • January 17 Live semi-finals. All categories will be judged by a panel of 3 judges. All teachers with participating students must judge. The top 5 students in each advancing category/subcategory who also meet the national criteria*** will advance to the national YouTube round. The top 3 students in each category/subcategory who also meet the national criteria*** will advance to the finals.

  • January 18 Finals. Finalists in each category/subcategory will perform a 3 minute selection (audition cuts are permitted in the finals only).  Any NATS member present can vote to rank each category.

*These dates are dependent on the completion of vetting, remediation, and judging, and therefore are subject to change.

**If a category is sub-divided in the video round, it may have to be recombined in order to meet national requirements. This means there may be more than 7 students in a given semi-final. 

***In order to advance to the National YouTube round or to the Regional Finals, students must have an average score of 90 or above OR 2 scores of 90 or above.