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TEACHER REQUIREMENTS
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
nominations due 
FRIDAY, DEC. 12, 2025
applications due
FRIDAY, JAN. 9, 2026

FOR TEACHERS

# of NOMINATIONS

 NEW THIS YEAR (2026 season)!   Each SCHOOL / ORGANIZATION is allowed a limited number of nominations per discipline. If more than one teacher at your school wants to nominate students in the same discipline, you must collaborate to decide who will nominate each student.

  • HIGH SCHOOL maximum: 5 juniors & 5 seniors

  • PRIVATE STUDIOS / CONSERVATORIES maximum: 1 junior & 1 senior 

  • UNAFFLIATED PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS maximum: 1 junior & 1 senior

  • Teachers should be prepared to provide the following:

    STUDENT'S INFORMATION

    ​

    • NAME

    • GRADE: Junior or Senior

    • EMAIL: If you provide a school provided email address for the student (ex: 123456abc@sausd.edu) please make sure that the address can accept emails from outside your district - specifically, from ocartistoftheyear@aoy.scng.com

    • THE STUDENT'S HIGH SCHOOL: Even if the student is being nominated by a studio or private instructor, we want to know which high school the student attends. 

    TEACHER'S INFORMATION

    ​

    • YOUR NAME

    • YOUR EMAIL: Please make sure that the address can accept emails from outside your district - specifically, from ocartistoftheyear@aoy.scng.com

    • YOUR PHONE: The best number at which to reach you.

  • LENGTH: 250 -1500 CHARACTERS, including spaces (approx. 50 - 300 words) 

    PROMPT
    Tell us why you believe this student is an Artist of the Year.

    Your statement does not need to be long. Ultimately, we are looking for a solid quote to publish in the paper that celebrates your student. To this end, if you choose to write a short statement, it's important that your statement is well-written and coherent.

    ​

    If you want to repurpose a recommendation that you have already written for your students, you can do that as well. But again, we need to pull a few sentences of it to publish in the paper.

    ​

    Your statement will also be included with all materials presented to the judges.

FOR STUDENTS

  • Students will be placed in divisions based on the number of years of training.

    CALCULATING YEARS OF TRAINING

        # years of school instruction

    +  # years of private instruction

    =  # YEARS TRAINING

    even if these years overlap

    • SCHOOL INSTRUCTION = Any training received as a part of the middle school and high school curriculum or as extra curricular school activities.

    ​

    • PRIVATE INSTRUCTION = Any training received that is separate from the school. This can be at a private studio and/or with a private instructor

    D1
    DIVISION 1
    Students will be placed in D1 if:

    • TRAINING = 4 or MORE years

    ​-- AND/OR --​

    • The student's SCHOOL is:

    OCSA | Orange County School of the Arts, or

    APA | Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

    D2
    DIVISION 2
    Students will be placed in D2 if:

    • TRAINING = LESS THAN 4 years

    • The teacher does NOT need to figure out a student's division.  This will be determined using questions asked to the student on the student's portion of the application.

    ​

    • During ROUND 1, students from both D1 and D2 will be passed onto the semifinals.

    ​

    • We will guarantee that D1 and D2 students will be named as finalists.

    ​

    • The Artist of the Year will still be one student, chosen regardless of their division.

  • When you fill out your application, you will be asked to list the styles of music you are showcasing in your video. We call these your SPECIALTIES.

    There are MANY styles of music. The list below is NOT exhaustive and it may not categorize music in the way that you would. 

    ​

    Use this list as inspiration. If you do not see your style of music on this list, you may write-in any style you plan to show us.

    CLASSICAL

    • Art song (Lieder)

    • Bel canto

    • Classical crossover

    • Operatic

    ​

    THEATRICAL

    • Broadway/Musical Theater

    • Cabaret

    • Operetta

    • Patter song

    • Sprechstimme

    • Vaudeville

    ​

    JAZZ

    • Bebop

    • Blues

    • Crooning

    • Jazz fusion

    • Jazz vocal

    • Scatting

    • Smooth jazz

    • Swing

    • Torch song

    ​​

    POPULAR

    • Alternative

    • Beatboxing

    • Country

    • Emo

    • Funk

    • Glam rock

    • Grunge

    • Heavy Metal

    • Hip-hop

    • Indie

    • K-Pop

    • Pop

    • Punk

    • R&B

    • Rap

    • Raggae

    • Rock

    • Singer/Songwriter

    • Soul

    SACRED & SPIRITUAL

    • African American Spirituals

    • Gospel

    • Gregorian chant

    • Hymns

    ​

    FOLK

    • Appalachian

    • Barbershop

    • Bluegrass

    • Celtic 

    • Sea shanty

    • Tejano

    • Throat singing

    • Yodeling

    ​

    ETHNIC/WORLD MUSIC

    • African tribal chants

    • Afrobeat

    • Bhangra

    • Chinese opera

    • Ghazal

    • Hawaiian

    • Hindustani/Carnatic

    • Mexican folk, including, Banda, Cumbia, Mariachi, Norteño, Poco a Poco, Ranchera

    • Native American, including, Ceremonial, Ghost Dance, Healing, Honor Songs

    • Qawwali

    • Sufi

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

  • Students should be prepared to provide the following:

    STUDENT'S INFORMATION

    ​

    • YOUR NAME: As you want it to appear in print.

    • YOUR GRADE: Junior or Senior

    • YOUR BIRTHDATE

    • YOUR PRONOUNS: Not all names are familiar to us, therefore, including your pronouns helps us to make sure we are correctly identifying you when we write about you!

    • YOUR EMAIL: If you provide a school provided email address  (ex: 123456abc@sausd.edu)  please make sure that the address can accept emails from outside your district - specifically, from ocartistoftheyear@aoy.scng.com

    • YOUR PHONE NUMBER: Best number for texts and phone calls.

    • YOUR ADDRESS: Best snail mail address to receive information.

    • YOUR HIGH SCHOOL: Even if you are being nominated by a studio or private instructor, we want to know which high school you attend. 

    TEACHER'S INFORMATION

    • FIRST AND LAST NAME

    • TEACHER'S EMAIL

    (optional)

    PARENT'S INFORMATION

    ​

    Include this information only if you want a parent/guardian to also receive communications about Artist of the Year.

    • NAME

    • EMAIL

    • PHONE NUMBER: The best number at which to reach your parent/guardian.

  • All students must submit a PHOTO and a PHOTO RELEASE

    FORMAT | jpg

    SIZE | 1 MB max  (or 1000 kb)

    • Ideally, we want to see your face in your photo and it should reflect who you are as an artist.

    • Photos may be published in print or online by Artist of the Year, MediaNews Group, Chapman University, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Arts Orange County, and any other sponsor, and by their successors, licensees and assigns.

    PHOTO RELEASE OPTIONS
    OPTION 1

    ONLY FOR PHOTOS TAKEN BY

    SOMEONE YOU KNOW

    1. Print out the Photo Release pdf below.​

    2. Fill out the top of the form.

    3. Have the photographer sign the release at the bottom. (If you are the photographer, you must sign the release.)

    4. Scan or photograph the completed release.

    5. Upload the signed document as a jpg or pdf as a part of your online application.

    OPTION 2

    ONLY FOR PHOTOS TAKEN BY

    A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

    or PHOTO STUDIO

    If you HAVE a photo release from a professional photographer/photo studio for the photo you want to use, you may submit that as your photo release.

    ​

    When providing a release from a professional photographer/photo studio, please do the following:

    1. Make a copy of the release.

    2. Hightlight the following on the release:

      • The name of the photographer/photo studio who took the photo.​

      • Language that indicates that the rights of the photo belong to you. 

      • Language that indicates that you have unlimited permission to use this photo.

      • Language that indicates that there are no financial obligations to the photographer/photo studio for the use of the submitted photo, now or in the future. 

    3. SCAN or TAKE A PICTURE OF THE RELEASE with the highlighted language.​

    4. UPLOAD THE DOCUMENT as a jpg or pdf as a part of your online application.

    OPTION 3

    ONLY FOR PHOTOS TAKEN BY

    STEVE WYLIE

    You do NOT need to submit a photo release, if your photo was taken by STEVE WYLIE. We have a release on file from him.​

  • You and your parent will be able to sign the participation agreement online, in the application. If you are unable to sign documents virtually, you may print out this document to sign and attach it to your application.

    1. Download and print out the Nomination Agreement.

    2. Fill out the form and collect the relevant signatures. 

    3. BOTH the student AND parent/guardian must sign the agreement.

    4. ​Scan or photograph the signed document. ​

    5. Upload the signed document as a jpg or pdf as a part of the online application.

  • LENGTH: 500 -1500 CHARACTERS,

    including spaces (approx. 100 - 300 words) for each prompt

    PART 1:  REQUIRED FOR ALL NOMINEES
    In your opinion, what does it mean to be an artist?

    We are not interested in how others have defined what it means to be an artist. This question is designed to help you develop and explain YOUR PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING of what it means to be an artist.

    PART 2:  You need to answer 2 PROMPTS out of the five below. 

    We are using these questions to learn about who you are as an artist. Your answers, included in your online application, will help us to best understand how you think and what you are trying to explore artistically.

    YOUR WORK: Tell us about the pieces you submitted and why you think they reflect who you are as an artist. Why did you choose these pieces? What do you want people to see/feel/understand as a result of interacting with your work?

    BEGINNINGS AND TURNING POINTS: How did you get started in your art form? And/or describe an experience you had that helped you to develop a passion for what you do. What was it about that experience that was impactful?

    BREADTH AND DEPTH: Beyond your specialty, are you involved in other aspects of your art form? What else do you do in this art form? What do you want us to know about your involvement in this art form?

    BEYOND YOUR ART FORM: Tell us about how your work in your art form has influenced the other artistic parts of your life.

    THE FUTURE: Looking ahead, what do you want to do as an artist? Generally, what kind of impact do you want to have on the world? Specifically, what kind of work do you want to do in the future?

6. VIDEO / PORTFOLIO

FOR VIDEOS AND PORTFOLIOS

 

You will not be disqualified if you do not follow these guidelines. We share these guidelines for you because they adhere to industry standards (i.e. what you would be asked to submit for a college or professional audition.) We feel that following these guidelines will help you showcase yourself in the best way possible. 

 

If you choose to diverge from our guidelines (i.e. not showing enough work; not showing contrasting pieces; submitting a live performance; not following the formatting tips; submitting compositions without sheet music, etc.), it makes it more difficult for the judges to fully assess your work.

6A. PERFORMANCE VIDEO | guidelines for performers

  • VIDEO CONTENT FOR ALL PERFORMERS

    IMPORTANT: Put your strongest piece first.

    ​

    PLEASE SUBMIT

    • A minimum of two (2) pieces that show the breadth of your ability. You may submit more than 2 if you are showcasing more than 2 styles.

    • Specifically, we encourage you to find contrasting songs that differ significantly from each other in various aspects. Consider contrasting in the following ways:​​​​​​

      • Genre: One song could be pop, while the other might be classical musical.​​

      • Vocals: One might have a powerful vocal performance, while the other is more subdued.​

      • Mood: One song might be upbeat and happy, while the other is somber or melancholic.​​

      • Tempo: One might be fast-paced and energetic, while the other is slow and mellow.

    • Each piece on your video should be approximately one (1) minute each.

    • You may order your pieces in any order you want.

    • Please "slate" each piece (introduce yourself and each piece that you will be performing). This can be done verbally and/or with titles on the video. ​​​

    ​

    IMPORTANT

    • All pieces should be submitted on one (1) video. You will only have space to submit one link in the application.

    • We must see you singing. Audio only recordings will NOT be accepted.​

    • Please, no editing / jump cuts within a song. We don't want you editing together the best phrases from different takes. We want to see you sing each piece in an uninterrupted take.

    • We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE you from altering your voice via Auto-Tune and/or highly producing the sound in ways that listeners may question if you are actually signing. It should be obvious you are singing live and not lip-syncing.

    • Please sing with accompaniment. This can be live, or recorded music. You should only sing a capella if the style of music you are performing is typically performed that way.

    • We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE submitting clips from a live performance (a show with an audience). These videos are usually too far away, have poor sound, make it difficult to tell to know who we should be listening to, and the audience reactions can be distracting.

    • You will not be disqualified if you do not follow these guidelines. We share these guidelines for you because they adhere to industry standards (i.e. what you would be asked to submit for a college or professional audition.) We feel that following these guidelines will help you showcase yourself in the best way possible. If you choose to diverge from our guidelines (i.e. not showing enough work/not showing contrasting pieces, etc.), it makes it more difficult for the judges to assess your range as a performer.

  • FOR JAZZ PERFORMERS

    IMPORTANT: Put your strongest piece first. (It's worth repeating again.)

    • It is important that you also highlight your ability to improvise.

  • FOR CONDUCTING

    IMPORTANT: Put your strongest piece first. (It's worth repeating again.)

    • If you want to showcase your artistry as a conductor, you may submit one (1) piece - OR - a variety of pieces, whatever you feel demonstrates your breadth of ability.  

  • VIDEO TIPS

    We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to follow these tips. You will not be disqualified if you do not follow these tips, however, based on videos that we have seen over the years, these tips will help you showcase yourself in the best way possible. 

    • IMPORTANT: Put your strongest piece first. (It's worth repeating... again.)

    • Submit a minimum of two (2) performances. If you submit only one performance, you will not be disqualified. However, when you submit only one piece, we will be unable to assess your range as a performer.

    • Simple videos are fine. They do not need to be professionally filmed, but they should provide a clear picture and audio. 

    • We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to record your video in a neutral environment. The fewer distractions in the background, the more we are able to focus on you and your performances.

    • We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE submitting clips from a live performance (a show with an audience)\. These videos are usually too far away, have poor sound, make it difficult to tell to know who we should be listening to, and the audience reactions can be distracting.

    • Treat this like a college or professional audition submission. If you would be proud to submit this video for a college or professional audition, it will likely be a good fit for this submission. 

    • Show us who you are as an artist. Pick pieces that resonate with you. We are not looking for perfection but we are looking for artistry. If you are nominated, we assume you are talented.  Use this opportunity to show us what you are trying to explore/create/convey as an artist.​

    VIDEO FILE FORMAT

    • IMPORTANT: All links must be accessible to the public (no passwords or privacy settings.)

    • Do not assume that viewers will have a specialized video player if one is needed for your video.

    • The link should open straight to the video you want the judges to view.  It should NOT open to a page/folder that has multiple videos. If a judge has to guess which video to watch, it is likely that the judge will not watch anything and will move on. 

    • Remember, you want the video to be EASY to view.  If the judges have trouble seeing your work, they will not take the time to figure it out and will move on without evaluating you.

    • If you plan to use a phone to record your video, please hold the phone horizontally when you record.

  • EXAMPLE VIDEOS for HOW TO FRAME Your Performance

    GREAT TIPS & TRICKS FROM ACCEPTD and SPOTLIGHT

  • PORTFOLIO CONTENT FOR ALL COMPOSERS/ARRANGERS

    IMPORTANT: Put your strongest work first.

    • Create an ONLINE PORTFOLIO that showcases your composing/arranging. This can be a website or slideshow. The format it up to you.​

    • Don't forget to INCLUDE YOUR NAME on your website/slideshow.

    • If you ONLY submitting compositions/arrangements, please submit at least two (2) examples of your work. 

    • If you are submitting compositions/arrangements in addition to performing an instrument/singing a song, one (1) piece is enough to show us, but you may submit more if you like.

    • For each composition/arrangement, please include:

      • an audio clip​

      • a pdf of the sheet music.

    • The audio file may be a midi or of a live performance. We do not need to see you or anyone performing this piece.  We just want to hear it.

    • Ultimately, the more information we have, the easier it will be to evaluate the artistic merits of your work and artistic intent.

    CREATING YOUR ONLINE PORTFOLIO

    ALL LINKS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. 

    ** No passwords/privacy settings. **

    You may use any online format that you feel comfortable using. Please make sure that whatever you work you share is accessible to viewers with a single click.

    ​

    Portfolio online platforms to consider include:

    • Create a Google Slides slideshow (make sure when you share this link, under "General Access", it should be marked as "Anyone with the link" can be a "Viewer")

    ​

    -- OR --

    • Please do NOT use Instagram to share your work. Some of the judges are not able to access Instagram.

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