Overture Awards

Welcome to the Overture Awards!

About the Overture Awards:
The Overture Awards is a program that recognizes, encourages, and rewards excellence in the arts among Greater Cincinnati students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts. The Overture Awards Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theatre, visual art, and vocal music.

How to Start an Application:
To begin the application process and view discipline criteria, locate the "Start an Application" drop-down on the left-hand side of the screen and select your category and program. Please be sure to review the information below before starting an application.

2026 Competition Timeline:

• Applications Open: September 16, 2025
• Applications Due: December 9, 2025
• Semifinalists Announced: January 16, 2026
• Semifinal Competitions at the Aronoff Center:
  • Creative Writing: virtual adjudication, students do not report
  • Dance: February 5, 2026
  • Instrumental Music: February 10, 2026
  • Theater: February 12, 2026
  • Visual Art: February 4 portfolio drop off, February 6 portfolio pickup
  • Vocal Music: February 11, 2026
• Finalists Announced: February 13, 2026
• Final Competition Rehearsal: March 13, 2026
• Final Competition and Awards Ceremony: March 14, 2026

Overture Awards Disciplines and Program Groups:

• Creative Writing
• Dance
• Instrumental Music: Select a program below for your specific application.
  • Brass/Woodwind/Percussion
  • Piano
  • String
• Theater: Select a program below for your specific application.
  • Apply for “Drama” if you are performing 2 monologues.
  • Apply for “Musical Theater” if you are performing 1 monologue and 1 song.
• Visual Art
• Vocal Music: Enter this discipline if you plan to sing two songs. 

(applicants may enter in only one of the disciplines above)


Discipline Criteria:
To view discipline criteria, locate the "Start an Application" drop-down on the left-hand side of the screen and select your category and program. This will direct you to your discipline's criteria page.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be in grades 9-12 who study in the Greater Cincinnati Region. (*find all qualifying counties below)
• By completing an application, students agree to be available for the competition dates. (see dates above) If a student is not available on the competition dates, they are not eligible to compete.
• Students do not need to be nominated by a teacher or studio instructor in order to submit an application for the Overture Awards.
• There is no limit on the number of students who can apply to the Overture Awards from one school. However, we do encourage students to have a teacher/school coordinator/counselor review their application and their discipline's criteria before submitting.

The following counties constitute the “Greater Cincinnati” area:

• State of Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren
• State of Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Pendleton
• State of Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland

Application Fee:
The application fee is $25 and must be paid in order to submit an application.

• If the application fee is a barrier to your participation in the Overture Awards, we are happy to waive the fee. Please email overtures@cincinnatiarts.org to request a fee waiver.

Application Submission Options:

Applications may be filled out and submitted by a school coordinator/teacher OR by a student. The student and the coordinator/teacher should decide which of the following application methods will be used:

1. A student may fill out and submit their application independently. (Students do not need to be nominated to apply)
2. School coordinators/teachers may fill out and submit an application on behalf of a student.
3. School coordinators/teachers may first start an application for a student, and then give access to the student by providing their email address when prompted. The coordinator/teacher and student will both have access to the application. (Students will receive a verification email sent to the email address the school coordinator/teacher provides.)

Overture Awards Communication:
Email is the primary means of communication for the Overture Awards. After the application deadline, communication will take place via the Acceptd platform, and messages will be sent to the email address that's been recorded on a student's application. Please be sure the email information entered on the application is accurate.

YoungArts Finalists:
The Overture Awards and YoungArts have an agreement where Overture Awards finalists automatically advance in YoungArts. The Overture Awards has extended that agreement to eligible Overture Awards competitors who advance to the finals in YoungArts. Since the YoungArts Finals conflicts with the Overture Awards Regional Competition, Overture Awards competitors who advance to YoungArts Finals will automatically advance to the Overture Awards Semi-Finals competition. Competitors must meet all other requirements including completing an application, and must notify the Overture Awards about advancing to YoungArts Finals.


Questions?
Visit the Overture FAQ Page Contact overtures@cincinnatiarts.org

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If further assistance is needed, please reach out to the Acceptd Support Team.