Heart of America plans to pilot a new, non-competitive division at the 2027 Nashville Championship on February 27, 2027. Learn more about this exciting opportunity below.
HOA is excited to announce the addition of a non-competitive division at our Nashville event this February. The Scholastic Division gives ensembles the full Heart of America stage experience: same venue, same national stage atmosphere and same adjudication panel, including professional commentary. We’ve removed the competitive aspect to provide a critique-only performance, designed for developing your ensemble at a marquee event. HOA will continue to offer this division at our future Nashville Championships.
Groups in this division receive no score or placement; however, they do receive expert, student-focused feedback, something directors and staff members have requested in the past.
The Scholastic Division is designed for new, developing or rebuilding programs. Directors wanting their students on a national stage and their program in front of expert judges can fulfill these needs without the pressure of rating and ranking. Because HOA believes feedback is where education meets performance, Scholastic Division groups receive transcripts and timestamped audio critiques from the judging panel immediately following their performance. A member of the judging panel will also provide private, in-person comments to the group after their performance.
The ensemble will be celebrated during our Preliminaries Award Ceremony and all performers and staff are encouraged to attend the exciting Finals Competition that evening.
Ready to register as a Scholastic Division ensemble or as a competitive group in Nashville? Visit our REGISTRATION SITE.
Curious if the Scholastic Division is right for your program? Reach HOA Executive Producer Dan Baker directly at dan@hoachoir.com.