Your Voice is Heard!
May 23-26, 2025 in Chicago
$13,000 in Cash Prizes, $4 Million+ in Scholarships, and Written Feedback
Sing in the Competition, Get Feedback from Faculty, Attend Masterclasses, and Connect with Programs at the Expo Recruiting Fair
In Partnership with RWS Global and casting by ARC
Prescreen Round
Register for a Video Audition or a Live Audition
Prescreen Options
Video Audition Prescreen
Video Audition Prescreen
Online: Nov 1 – May 1
$25 Application Fee
If singers advance and choose to attend the Second Round, there is an additional $65 registration fee that includes all remaining rounds plus a free Convention Pass.
Register
Live Audition Prescreen
Live Audition Prescreen
Chicago at the CS Convention: May 23
$65 Application Fee
There are no additional charges for the Second Round; registration also includes a Convention Pass.
Register
Divisions
CLASSICAL
High School 1 – Freshmen and Sophomores (min age 14)
High School 2 – Juniors and Seniors
University – All Undergraduates
Young Artist/Emerging Pro (no age limits)
MUSICAL THEATRE
High School 1 – Freshmen and Sophomores (min age 14)
High School 2 – Juniors and Seniors
University/Pre-Professional (no age limits)
**Singers can audition in both classical and musical theatre, but must register separately for each category.**
Video Prescreen Details
- November 1 – May 1
- Submit a Video at any time to get a scored evaluation with written feedback.
- If singers advance to the Second Round, they will receive a new registration link for the Second Round. They only pay if they decide to come.
Guidelines:
• Singers submit ONE video-recorded song selection.
• Selections should be no longer than 7 minutes.
• The same selection or a new one can be used for later rounds.
Submit a Video
Upload to YouTube a new self-recording and add it to your application. Click for more INSTRUCTIONS
Get Reviewed
CS judges review your video and give you written feedback and an overall score.
Advance
All qualified singers advance to the LIVE Second Round in Chicago. A separate Second Round registration and application is required.
Video Prescreen Audition
Live Audition Details
- May 23 – Chicago, IL at the CS Music Convention
- No additional Second Round registration is required if a singer chooses the Live Audition.
Guidelines
• One selection up to 7 minutes in length.
• Accompanists are provided, but singers can bring their own.
• There is no time to rehearse with accompanists.
Live Prescreen Audition
Second Round and Finals
All Second Round and Final events are held at the CS Music Convention.
- May 23-26, 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel
- $65 Registration Fee
- Includes:
- Convention Pass to attend any of the 100+ masterclasses, workshops, and presentations
- Free entrance to the Expo Recruiting Fair
- All accompanist fees
- All remaining rounds of the Competition
- Singers from the Video Prescreen Auditions will not receive a Second Round time until they complete the additional Second Round registration process.
- Singers from the Live Prescreen Audition do not need to complete any additional applications. They will receive an audition day and time when those schedules are made.
- Includes:
Competition Registration includes a FREE Convention Pass for the 100+ Masterclasses and Expo Recruiting!
General Schedule
General Schedule
Friday, May 23
- CS Vocal Competition LIVE PRESCREEN ROUND
1 – 8 pm
- Singers perform 1 selection
- All qualified singers advance to the Second Round
- Daytime audition attire appropriate
- Accompanist provided
- Convention Masterclasses and Workshops
5:00 – 8:30 pm- Convention Pass Required
- Volunteer to sing during the class or pre-purchase a Guaranteed Singer Card ($55/card)
- Classes taught by Juilliard, Eastman, San Francisco Conservatory, NEC, Michigan, and more than 70 other universities, summer programs, and professional organizations.
Saturday, May 24 – Sunday, May 25
- CS Vocal Competition SECOND ROUND
10 am – 8 pm each day- Singers perform 1 selection
- Top 25-40 from each division advance to the Semifinal Round
- Daytime audition attire appropriate
- Accompanist provided
- Convention Masterclasses and Workshops
9:30 am – 8:30 pm each day- Free to attend with Second Round Registration
- 100+ classes to choose from
- Volunteer to sing during the class or pre-purchase a Guaranteed Singer Card ($55/card)
- Classes taught by Juilliard, Eastman, San Francisco Conservatory, NEC, Michigan, and more than 70 other universities, summer programs, and professional organizations.
- Expo Recruiting Fair
1:00 – 5:00 pm day
- Free to attend with Second Round Registration
- 70+ schools, colleges, summer programs, and professional organizations
- Meet one-on-one with college recruiters and jump start the recruiting process!
- View last year’s attending schools
Monday, May 26
- Semifinal Round
9:30 am – 1:30 pm- Singers perform 1 selection
- Top 5-10 from each division advance to the Final Round
- Daytime audition attire appropriate
- Accompanist provided
- Final Round
3:00 – 6:00 pm- Singers perform 1 selection
- Formal attire appropriate but not required
- Accompanist provided
- Awards Announcement
6:00 – 7:00 pm- University Scholarships announced
- Top 3 winners announced for each Division
Competition Divisions:
*Singers can do both Classical and Musical Theatre divisions, but must register for each division separately.
Classical Divisions (click to view)
High School 1 – Freshmen and Sophomores
- Minimum age of 14
- Must be a current high school Freshman or Sophomore
High School 2 – Juniors and Seniors
- Minimum age of 14
- Must be a current high school Junior or Senior
- Cannot be attending a university program
University
- Ages 18-24 as of May 25, 2024
- No undergraduate or graduate performance degree as of January 1, 2024
- High school graduate or equivalent
Classical Young Artist/Emerging Pro
- Minimum age of 22
- No age limit
- Recommended to have a degree in vocal-related field or significant vocal training
- No principal roles with A or B level companies (companies with a budget of more than $5 million)
Musical Theatre Division (click to view)
High School 1 – Freshmen and Sophomores
- Minimum age of 14
- Must be a current high school Freshman or Sophomore
High School 2 – Juniors and Seniors
- Minimum age of 14
- Must be a current high school Junior or Senior
- Cannot be attending a university program
University/Pre-Professional
- Minimum age of 18
- No age limit
- Recommended to have a degree in vocal-related field or significant vocal training
- No lead experience on Broadway
General Guidelines
Classical Divisions Rep
- Singers should choose repertoire at a level appropriate to their vocal development.
- Art songs or Arias are accepted.
- Repertoire can be in any language.
Musical Theatre Divisions Rep
- Selections can come from Broadway, off-Broadway, and revival shows.
- Both mix/belt and legit style singing are accepted and judged equally.
- Singers should be able to demonstrate strong acting abilities as appropriate to the literature.
- Operetta is not accepted in the Musical Theatre divisions.
Scholarships
- More than $4,000,000 of university and summer program scholarships will be offered to Competition participants.
- Any singer who advances from the First Round is eligible to win a scholarship.
- Scholarships are given completely at the discretion of the school offering it. The majority of the scholarships will go to juniors or sophomores as most seniors have already committed to a specific school.
- $13,000 in cash prizes will also be given to the national winners at the Awards Concert.
Sponsored by:
Follow us: 
For questions, email support@csmusic.net.