Choral
Welcome to NSA's Choral Conservatory
The Choral Conservatory is a community of passionate singer artists and growing musicians. Over four years of study, students become confident singers and proficient musicians. Vocal pedagogy, music literacy, and music history are key components in the Choral pathway. Students sing a diverse repertoire that ranges from Bach to the Beatles.
We presently offer six different choral ensembles. Students will have opportunities to sing with treble, tenor/bass, and mixed ensembles. In addition to our traditional choral ensembles, we also offer two show choirs that perform with choreography and travel as ambassadors for the school.
The choral ensembles consistently receive superior ratings at both regional and state assessments. Choral ensembles have been selected to perform at the prestigious American Choral Directors Association Conventions in Raleigh, North Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio, representing Nashville and Tennessee as the only choral ensemble selected from the state. Students travel each year, and have traveled both nationally and internationally.
Students in the Choral Conservatory have performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, at the Ryman Auditorium with the band Foreigner, and for the nationally televised Nashville Christmas Parade. Our students have competed on American Idol, America's Got Talent, and The Voice. Alumnae can be seen on Broadway, on opera stages around the world, and as recording artists. After graduation, many students in the Choral Conservatory have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for college and universities.
Audition and Interview
After you have applied to NSA through the school options process, you will receive a link within 24 to 48 hours to schedule your in-person audition. Check your spam folder if you don't see the link.
On the day of your audition, arrive early, dress appropriately, and be prepared to discuss why you would like to come to NSA, your musical and academic goals, and what positive qualities you have to offer NSA. You may also be asked to provide a writing sample.
Choral Audition Requirements
- Your scheduled in-person audition on Saturday, February 7 will require the following:
- You will sing the first verse of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” from memory.
- You will sing 1-2 minutes of your chosen song excerpt from memory.
- You will be asked to sing scales or other vocal exercises.
- You will be asked to participate in vocal exercises to check your skill at matching pitch and repeating what you hear.
- You will be asked to sight-read pitches and/or rhythms from a score.
- Be prepared to discuss why you would like to come to NSA, your musical & academic goals, and what positive qualities you have to offer NSA. You may also be asked to provide a writing sample.
Audition Evaluations Criteria
Evaluations for choral auditions will be based upon the following criteria:
- Prepared solo: judged on intonation, pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, range, technique, expressiveness, and musical effect
- Scales/arpeggios: judged on intonation, pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, range, expressiveness, and musical effect
- Vocal exercises and sight-reading excerpts: based on accuracy rather than vocal quality.