Vocal Solo Competition

Event: Vocal Solo Competition

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year and competition season. This year's competition will consist of three rounds: Preliminary, semi-finals, and finals. After their preliminary submissions, singers will receive an adjudicated score and ranking. Our top 10 in each category will advance to semifinals. From there, the top 5 in each category will be invited to perform at finals.

Students are invited to submit in the following categories: Classical voice, Commercial music/jazz, and Musical theatre.

Key Dates
January 24, 2025 - First Round virtual video submissions due
February 15, 2025 - Feedback delivered
March 15, 2025 - Semi-Finals: In-Person MasterClass
          hosted in regional areas between March 15 and April 5
May 18, 2025 (2:00 to 4:00pm) - Finals Round, Glendale City Church (610 E. California Ave, Glendale)

Eligibility

1. Any director/voice teacher with a current membership in SCVA (having paid their membership dues for the current school year) is eligible to send students to the competition and/or festival
2. Eligible students must be in grades 6-12 for the classical vocal solo competition.
3. Eligible students must be in grades 6-12 for small ensemble festival.
4. All participants must ensure that they are available for all dates and times before completing the application. The competition is a significant time commitment.
5. Participants must be active members of a school choral program (if applicable).
6. All ensembles will receive an adjudication with comments and scores. Superior ensembles will be invited to perform at the Finals, but they don't compete.

Participation Fees
$40 for a solo performance
$45 for duet, trio, quartet, or small ensemble
All applications will need to be paid through PayPal; NO checks
All application fees are non-refundable

Guidelines and Rules

1. To be eligible for the vocal solo competition, students must perform a classical music, musical theatre, jazz standard solo or commercial popular music selected and approved by their sponsoring choir director. Selections must be appropriate in content and fit for educational competition singing. (If you have questions about a piece don't hesitate to email the VPs to check on a song. They would be happy to discuss the artistic and educational value of selections to ensure that we are being inclusive and equitable.)
2. Ensemble pieces may be performed with no more than one person per part. (i.e. a five-part madrigal will have 5 singers)
3. All performers must provide their own accompaniment in virtual recording or live accompanist for semi-finals. A pianist will be provided for the finals round.
4. All solo performances must be accompanied.
5. Performers may not accompany themselves (with the exception of singer-songwriters in the commercial music category)
6. All solo performances must be memorized. Ensemble performances may choose to perform with scores.
7. No rating or comments will be provided to soloists or ensembles who have not met the eligibility requirements.
8. All performances will be allowed a total of 10 minutes total video time.
9. Registrations to participate will only be accepted online.
10. The top ten Soloists in each category (who receive a superior rating) will advance to the semi-finals round and the top five from the semi-finals will move on to the finals round on May 18th.
11. Soloists and ensembles may choose to participate for "comments only" and not be rated or considered for the competition.
12. Cash scholarships will be paid to qualifying finalists in all categories.

Performance Information

1. Selections should be appropriate to the singer's age and experience level.
2. Participants have a total of 10 minutes to perform in video submission.
3. Must have Accompaniment to acapella singing.
4. There will be a concert of finalists. The top 5 in each category will perform in the concert along with any ensemble participants. After the finalists' performances the highest ranked Junior High students in each category and the top 3 in each category for High School students will be given awards.
All students must provide original copies of their music for all performances in the competition or festival. A pianist will be provided for the finals concert. Students should submit copies of their sheet music to SCVA in advance of the finals round. If they fail to submit copies of their sheet music in advance, the accompanist reserves the right to not play for the finalist.

Note: All Superior rankings after round 1 are eligible to compete in the CMEA Vocal Solo Competition as finalists. After Round 1, a list will be sent to CMEA of those that are eligible but interested participants do need to apply on CMEA Website. When that time comes, we will post or email more information to those that need it on how to do that.

Click here for a printable flyer.

Contact
Drew Lewis, e-mail: drewlewis1977@gmail.com
Monica Benson, e-mail: monicatbenson@gmail.com