National Alliance for Audition Support

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See the NAAS Recommended Audition and Tenure Guidelines for more information about how to stand with Sphinx’s goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras.

NAAS Guidelines (PDF)

The National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS) is an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. It does so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation, financial support, and audition previews. NAAS is made up of the Sphinx Organization, the lead program administrator and fiscal agent for the Alliance; the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy; and the League of American Orchestras, representing 700 orchestras. A group of Black and Latinx professional musicians act as thought leaders, guides, and advisors for the Alliance. NAAS is supported by a three-year grant of $1.95M from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as well as contributions from over 100 orchestras across the U.S.

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Bill Neri, Director of Ensemble Advancement

The National Alliance for Audition Support is made possible with the support of the Mellon Foundation.

Support Opportunities

NAAS provides individualized, long-term support to Black and Latinx orchestral musicians, identifying their unique needs and working in partnership with them over time with a shared end goal of orchestral placement.

Learn more about the different areas of support:

2023-2024 Partner Orchestras

Akron Symphony Orchestra

Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Albany Symphony

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Artis—Naples

Asheville Symphony

Aspen Music Festival and School

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Inc.

Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

Berkeley Symphony Orchestra

Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale

Binghamton Philharmonic

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra

Boise Philharmonic Association, Inc.

Boston Landmarks Orchestra

Bozeman Symphony Society

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

California Symphony

Calgary Philharmonic

Canton Symphony Orchestra

Charlotte Symphony

Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra

Chautauqua Institution

Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra

Chicago Philharmonic

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Colorado Springs Philharmonic

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Des Moines Symphony

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Erie Philharmonic Orchestra

Eugene Symphony Association, Inc.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Georgia Symphony Orchestra

Grand Rapids Symphony

Grant Park Music Festival

Greensboro Symphony Orchestra

Harrisburg Symphony Association

Hartford Symphony Orchestra

Houston Symphony

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Jacksonville Symphony

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Kansas City Symphony

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Lexington Philharmonic

Lexington Symphony

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Louisville Orchestra

Madison Symphony Orchestra

Maryland Symphony Orchestra

Maui Pops Orchestra

Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Minnesota Orchestra

Music of the Baroque

Nashville Symphony

National Arts Centre Orchestra

National Orchestral Institute

National Philharmonic

National Symphony Orchestra

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra

New Haven Symphony Orchestra

New Jersey Symphony

New Orchestra of Washington, Inc.

New York Philharmonic

North Carolina Symphony

North Georgia Chamber Symphony, Inc.

Omaha Symphony

One Found Sound

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Oregon Symphony

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

Pacific Symphony

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Portland Symphony Orchestra

Princeton Symphony Orchestra

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra

Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School

Richmond Symphony

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

ROCO

San Diego Symphony

San Francisco Symphony

Sarasota Orchestra

Seattle Symphony

South Bend Symphony Orchestra

Spartanburg Philharmonic

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Stamford Symphony / Orchestra Lumos

Stockton Symphony

Symphony of Northwest Arkansas

Symphony Tacoma

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

The Cleveland Orchestra

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra

The Florida Orchestra

The Knights

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

The Syracuse Orchestra

Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Inc.

US Navy Band

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

West Michigan Symphony

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Yakima Symphony Orchestra

York Symphony Orchestra

“I saw immediate results in my auditions this year, which I credit largely to the feedback I received at SOPA and NAAS audition intensive. I advanced at two out of the three auditions I took this fall, and made finals at the most recent one. This is something I had not achieved prior to my participation with NAAS. As a result of the feedback I received from SOPA and the NAAS Intensive, I made some small but significant changes to my process. I think that these changes are responsible for my improved audition results.”
“It was INCREDIBLE that Susan Feder took the time to hear our opinions on representation and diversity in the classical world. For me, that shows consideration for my voice and opinions and not just counting me as a number toward a quota.”
“NAAS has granted me my two most successful auditions to date and I believe it’s because it alleviates the financial factor that many of us go through especially considering the nature of auditions in which it is never a guarantee. Therefore, sometimes it feels like going to auditions can be a waste of money especially if you do not advance in previous auditions. This creates a scenario where minorities (usually of low resources) would not take auditions, for the reasons previously explained, and thus we end up not having enough representation in orchestras around the country. However, the NAAS grant counters this by supporting and encouraging those who want to take auditions, but are on the fence due to economic circumstances.”
“I can't thank the NAAS enough! I think the program is vital to the current times we live in and we will see change happen soon. As a recipient of grants from the NAAS, I feel it is also my duty to continue the cycle by being a teacher and mentor for students of color who want to pursue music so that the number of musicians showing of to auditions rises every year!"
“Receiving a NAAS audition grant inspired me to keep going. It's all too easy to fall off the radar after school without having a regular orchestra position. In combination with the audition intensive earlier this month, I am reinvigorated and ready to keep progressing and winning an orchestra position.”
“The NAAS Audition Grants simply make taking auditions possible. Without funding from the NAAS program, I would literally not have been able to take half of the auditions I took this year.”