• Outstanding Choral Student Dates
• Outstanding Choral Student Forms

Outstanding Choral Student auditions are held in each district to select a male and a female winner who then compete at the state level to be selected as Outstanding Male or Outstanding Female Choral Student. All candidates prepare a resume and a vocal solo, and are interviewed after performing. District and State OCS winners are honored at the All-State Concert, and State winners receive trophies and scholarships.

1 Eligibility

• A complete audition application includes:
  1. OCS/OA/ME Registration Form 6.1
  2. OCS/OA/ME Student List Form 6.2
  3. school check made out to Alabama Vocal Association or signed school Purchase Order for Total Fees
  4. a copy of your NAfME card
• Outstanding Choral Student registration fees include:
  • $40.00 school fee (there is only one school fee for OCS, OA, and ME for each school)
  • $10.00 fee for each student
  • ($50.00 late fee if registering after the deadline)
• Mail your complete application by the deadline to your District Chairman.
• No applications will be accepted later than one week prior to audition/interview date.
• Directors must have current NAfME membership in order for their students to participate. If your membership is not current when you submit the registration, be prepared to present proof of membership (NAfME card or cancelled check to NAfME) when you register at the registration desk.

4 The Audition

• Directors will receive notification of the audition time(s) after the complete registration application has been received and the OCS times have been scheduled. 
• Directors should arrive at the OCS audition site for registration at least one hour prior to the first scheduled warm-up time.
• Directors should bring to the registration desk three copies of the Outstanding Choral Student Resume for each applicant.
• Students should use their own judgment about attire for the audition, keeping in mind that this the highest honor a choral student in Alabama can receive.  Dress clothes such as that for a serious job interview or college audition (rather than formal evening wear) are appropriate. 
• Each district nominee will perform from memory one vocal selection of their choice.
• After singing the vocal selection, each district nominee will be interviewed by the panel of judges.
• The panel of two or three judges will select a male and a female winner from each district, if there are qualified candidates.
• The three components of the total score for each candidate shall be weighted as: Resume 35%, Performance 35%, and Interview 30%.
• The choral directors of all of the OCS participants will be notified by phone call or email within 24 hours after the auditions as to the results of the audition.
• The district chairman will return the candidate resumes to the director at or after the OCS audition.

5   State Level Auditions

• There is no separate registration form for for State OCS candidates; however, directors of district winners are responsible for providing seven resumes (the 3 district resumes plus four more; the state resume will be identical to the district resume) for the state level OCS competition. These resumes should be delivered to the District Chairman one week prior to the All-State Festival.
• Auditions will be held in a designated room at the All-State site on the Wednesday afternoon and evening before All-State begins on Thursday.  A group photograph will be taken between the scheduled female and male OCS auditions.  District Chairs will notify directors of OCS candidates about time of arrival for the audition.
• The music requirement, performance and interview process, attire standards, and scoring rubric are the same as at the district level.
• The seven District Chairmen on the Board of Directors shall serve as the panel of adjudicators for the State OCS candidates. District Chairs will not score their own District representatives. One male OCS and one female OCS winner will be chosen, if there are qualified candidates.

6   District and State OCS Winners

• State OCS winners will be announced on Thursday or Friday to all of the All-State Choral students.
• State OCS winners will each perform their vocal selection at the high school All-State concert and will receive a trophy and a scholarship award.
• The remaining District OCS winners will receive trophies at the All-State festival.
• The schools of each OCS State winner will receive a plaque.

7   Scholarships

• All AVA scholarships will be paid directly to the college in which the recipient is enrolled. It is the responsibility of each AVA scholarship recipient to notify the Executive Secretary of his/her college enrollment in order for payment to be made. Students will forfeit the AVA scholarship if they fail to use it within five (5) years.