COMPETITIONS
The chapter’s trademark program is our competitions. We award monetary scholarships to competition winners in Choreography, Dance (Classical/Modern); Voice (Classical); Musical Theater; Poetry for high school students; Instrumental Music and more.
On a rotating basis, we hold competitions in Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, and Musical Theater. Chapter winners go on to compete for larger prize money at the national level.
Annual Chapter Competitions
NSAL 2025-26 HIGH SCHOOL POETRY COMPETITION
Arizona, September 15 – March 1, 2026
The Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts & Letters (NSAL AZ) and Poetry Chair, Madi Latham, announce the annual poetry competition conducted for high school age students across the state of Arizona. To include monetary prizes.
2026 NSAL High School Poetry Competition
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
NSAL 2026 CLASSICAL VOICE COMPETITION
The Arizona Competition is for young singers ages 16 – 18 and 19 – 22.
$2,000 in awards.
2026 NSAL Classical Voice Competition
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
NSAL 2026 MUSICAL THEATER COMPETITION
The Arizona Competition is for young singers ages 16 – 18 and 19 – 22.
$2,000 in awards.
2026 NSAL Musical Theater Competition
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
NSAL 2026 NATIONAL HIGH BRASS COMPETITION
Trumpet and French Horn
Little Rock, Arkansas, May 14-16
The competition will take place in the new Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Stella Boyle Smith Music Center. Please find rules, requirements and application below.
2026 NSAL High Brass Competition
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
2026 MARTORELLA SCHOLARSHIP IN CLASSICAL VOICE
This scholarship is available through the National Society of Arts and Letters to classical singers ages 23-31.
$10,000 in scholarship funds are available for use as tuition.
2026 Martorella Classical Voice Scholarship
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
Competitions FAQ
Q: How can I apply to enter an NSAL Arizona competition?
A: NSAL Arizona conducts, or participates in, various competitions each year. For details, rules and application information, check this page for updates and application forms.
Q: How much does it cost to enter an NSAL Arizona competition?
A: Entrance fees vary, depending on the particular competition. Some are completely free such as the Literature (Essays) Competition. For others, there may be additional expenses, such as the cost of preparing a CD or DVD. Please read each competition’s rules and requirements.
Q: What are the competition age ranges?
A: Each competition has its own age rules, but generally, the youngest is 14 and the upper limit is 25 (with one exception). Check each competition’s description on this page.
Q: How much money do competition winners receive?
A: Monetary awards, which may change from year to year, differ depending on the competition and the winner’s placement after adjudication.
In recent years, the chapter has distributed monetary awards between $100 and $15,000.
Q: How do application deadlines work?
When you submit your application by email, it must be received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date. When you submit an application by post or courier, it must be postmarked or dated no later than the deadline date.
Partnerships
In an effort to fulfill our mission of supporting young, talented artists at the beginning of their careers, NSAL Arizona partners with The National Association of Teachers of Singing to award $1000 to winners of its state competition in classical and music theatre voice.
The competition is designed for emerging music theater soloists and those who just need that one break to move their careers forward. To be eligible, applicants must be between ages 20-28 as of the application deadline date.
NSAL Arizona partners with the Herberger Theater Center for its Arizona Young Artists’ Competition.
Performances are adjudicated by outstanding professionals in Acting, Modern/Contemporary Dance, Musical Theatre Voice, and Classical Voice.
Finalists perform at the Herberger Theater and compete for scholarships to help further their education in the arts. The audience will also have the opportunity to vote on their favorite performer in all four categories to win the People’s Choice Award.
The competition showcases the diverse and emerging talent of young Arizona artists, introduces them to the audition process, and provides them with an opportunity to interact with highly regarded arts professionals.