The American Pops Orchestra’s 10th Annual NextGen Vocal Competition: submit your free audition!
Calling all College Vocalists!
The American Pops Orchestra is excited to share that submissions for our 10th Annual NextGen Vocal Competition are officially open! Don’t miss your chance to submit your free audition in hopes to make it to the finals and perform live at Lincoln Center in NYC!
NextGen is a free national vocal competition offering rising vocalists the opportunity to compete for cash prizes, participate in Broadway masterclasses, and perform live with The American Pops Orchestra. Past winners have appeared on PBS with APO and have also gone on to successful careers on Broadway, television, national tours, and beyond.
Key Dates
- Auditions open on Tuesday, September 1st
- Auditions close at 8:00pm EST - Friday, October 2nd 2026
- NextGen Semi-Finalists Announcement: Monday, October 19, 2026
- NextGen Live Semi-Finals (Virtual): TBD
- NextGen Finals (at the Lincoln Center): Sunday, January 10, 2027
Prizes and Opportunities
- The 10 Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to perform live at the Lincoln Center
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners receive cash prizes ranging from $2,500 to $10,000
- Winners earn paid performance opportunities with APO in future seasons
For 10 years, NextGen has helped talented young vocalists take the next step in their careers, and now, it’s your turn. Take the chance, share your voice, and submit your free audition by October 2nd!
