Performing Arts Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 13 performing arts competitions for high school students. Of these, 5 are free to participate in and 5 offer virtual participation. Examples include American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, ASTA National Orchestra Festival, and International Thespian Festival.
- 13
- listed
- 5
- free
- 5
- virtual
- 13
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are performing arts competitions for high school students?
- Performing Arts Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in performing arts. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 5 of the 13 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 5 of the 13 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are performing arts competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — performing arts competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in performing arts on college applications.
13 activities found·Browse by category
American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive
ABT's flagship summer ballet training program held in New York, California, and Florida, offering advanced dancers instruction in ABT's National Training Curriculum with merit-based scholarships available.
ASTA National Orchestra Festival
National in-person orchestra festival run by the American String Teachers Association, giving high school orchestras adjudicated performances and clinics with professional musicians.
International Thespian Festival
A week-long national theatre festival at Indiana University bringing together thousands of high school Thespians for workshops, college auditions, and the Thespy Awards recognizing excellence in school theatre performance and technical design.
Music Center Spotlight Awards
Large Southern California performing arts competition and training program with $100,000+ in scholarships across categories, including music.
Music for All National Festival
Prestigious non-competitive national festival in Indianapolis where invited high school concert bands, orchestras, percussion, and chamber ensembles perform for expert adjudicators.
National High School Musical Theatre Awards (Jimmy Awards)
A national celebration of student musical theater performers, where nominees who win one of 51 regional awards programs travel to perform at a Broadway showcase in New York City for scholarships and recognition.
National Wind Band Honors (Mark of Excellence)
National recorded-submission competition recognizing outstanding high school and middle school concert bands, judged on a live recording from the current school year.
National YoungArts Foundation National Arts Competition
A prestigious national competition for artists ages 15-18 across ten disciplines including visual arts, design, film, jazz, photography, classical music, theater, dance, and voice, with cash awards and mentorship for winners.
Orchestra Cup (National Orchestra Championships)
Elite, invitation-based national high school orchestra championship held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, where top school orchestras perform for renowned adjudicators.
PlayGround Young Playwrights Project
Bay Area playwriting contest and mentorship program for high school students across all nine Bay Area counties, with winning short plays given professional staged readings at Potrero Stage in San Francisco.
Rita Moreno Awards
Regional high school musical theatre awards program covering San Mateo to Santa Barbara counties, California, recognizing top student performers who compete for a chance to represent the region at the national Jimmy Awards in New York.
School of American Ballet Summer Course
A five-week intensive ballet training program in New York City run by the official school of New York City Ballet, admitting intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12-18 through a national audition tour.
U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Orchestra Young Artist Competition
Prestigious national solo instrumental competition for grades 9-12 strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion; winners perform with the U.S. Army Orchestra.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.