A DISCIPLINE is the broad area of study. The seven disciplines are: Dance Film and TV Fine Arts Instrumental Music Media Arts Theater Vocal Music One Artist of the Year (seven total) will be named in each discipline.

A SPECIALTY is an area of study within a discipline. Click on the discipline link below, then click on the SPECIALTY BUTTON which will take you to potential specialties for that discipline. Dance Film and TV Fine Arts Instrumental Music Media Arts Theater Vocal Music

YES.* Technically, a student may be nominated seven (7) times in one season: once in each of the seven disciplines. FOR EXAMPLE: If a student is amazing in theater AND is, say, a virtuoso pianist, that student may be nominated in both THEATER and INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. In this instance, the theater nomination application should address the student’s strengths in theater and the instrumental music application should address the student’s strengths as a pianist. *The EXCEPTION for this is for musical theater nominees. See The Musical Theater "Either / Or" Rule.

When filling out the application, the student will note the specialties that she/he/they are submitting. The teacher does NOT have to identify a specialty for the student.

​NO. Because schools don't nominate students. Individual teachers do. That said, we hope your school encourages teachers in every arts discipline to nominate students.

Any student nominated by a teacher for Artist of the Year, even if that student does not complete her/his/their portion of the application. All nominees are recognized by The Orange County Register.

Up to 16 students in each discipline are chosen as SEMIFINALISTS. They are invited to present their work and have a conversation with a panel of professional artists.

Four students in each discipline will be chosen as FINALISTS for that discipline. Two will represent Division 1 and two will represent Division 2. They are students who stood out during the semifinal interviews but who are not ultimately named as the Artist of the Year.

One student in each discipline is chosen as the Artist of the Year. A total of 7 Artists of the Year will be named.

Eligible nominees only need to meet two criteria: AGE: a high school JUNIOR of SENIOR between the ages of 15 and 19. ORANGE COUNTY CONNECTION: a resident of Orange County; - OR - a student attending high school in Orange County

If the student does not attend a traditional high school that tracks students by grade, the student should be between the ages of 15 and 19.

YES. This is about celebrating the top high school artists in the county this year regardless of how well they did last year. We want to honor the top artists in any given year and recognize that the top artist may be the same student two years in a row.

NO. Well, no and yes. If a student is enrolled as a student during the current school year, that student may be nominated, even if that student graduates mid-year (before the May/June graduation ceremonies.)

NO.

Nominate that student! This program isn't about "winning." It is about honoring excellence. We want to encourage all teachers and instructors to nominate the top artists being cultivated by their program. Use this to celebrate artistry in your programs. Don’t worry about comparing yourselves to other programs or picking someone that is likely to be named "Artist of the Year." Celebrate your students and where they are right now. Think of it as sending athletes to the Olympics. Most countries are PROUD to send their best to participate in the Olympic Games, even if they understand that their athletes may not be contenders for a medal.

Not necessarily. We are not looking for the top "arts leader" or top "arts student." We are looking for your top ARTISTS. Now, if your top leader and favorite student is also your top artist, then that is the person to nominate.

NO. If, for instance, you do not have a film program, you can still nominate outstanding film students who attend your school. ​Ideally, we want you to be able to showcase the students who are training in their art form at your school/in your program, BUT if you do not have a specific program on your campus, you can still nominate a student in the discipline if you feel that student is excellent in that discipline.

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS: We encourage visual and performing arts teachers at Orange County high schools to nominate their top students. Non-arts teachers may also nominate students if they are able to speak to a student's strengths as an artist in the nominated discipline. PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS: We encourage private tutors as well as instructors at private studios and in after-school art programs in Orange County to nominate their top students. The nominating instructor should be able to speak to the student's strengths as an artist in the nominated discipline.

Ideally, NO... BUT, we recognize that in some specialized cases, the parent may be the ONLY instructor qualified to nominate the student because the parent is the only person training the student in their artform. In that case, the parent may be the nominator. We encourage you to contact us if you have further questions about this. We, and the judges, want nominations to come from an unbiased person. Students should be nominated by those instructors that train your student in her/his/their art form.

NO. Only teachers/private instructors can nominate. If you wish to be nominated, we suggest that you talk with your teacher/private instructor about this possibility.

Teacher many nominate up to 10 students per discipline. ​ :: 5 juniors :: 5 seniors​ ​ Nominations are not tethered to specific specialties. Teachers don't have to worry about keeping track of who you have nominated in any specific specialty. If a teacher choses to nominate 10 students in every discipline, that teacher could nominate 700 students per year.

​NO. But they can if they want.

NO. Each nominator only gets ten nominations (2 juniors AND 2 seniors) PER DISCIPLINE TOTAL. Where you choose to attribute (to the high school, a private studio/program, or to an individual private instructor) that nomination is up to you.

NONE. Individual teachers nominate students. Schools/programs do not nominate students. There is no limit on the number of nominees per school/program.

NO. The student should be nominated by one person only. We encourage you to talk with your student and the other instructor about who the best instructor to nominate should be.

STUDENT INFORMATION • The student's name • The student's grade (you can only nominate juniors and seniors) • The student's high school • The student's email address If you provide a school provided email address for the student (ex: 123456abc@sausd.edu) please make sure that the address can accept emails from outside your district - specifically, from ocartistoftheyear@gmail.com TEACHER'S INFORMATION • The teacher's name • The teacher's email address (which can accept emails from ocartistoftheyear@gmail.com ) • The teacher's phone number • The teacher's perferred pronouns

Teachers only have to answer ONE PROMPT: Tell us why you believe this student is an ARTIST OF THE YEAR. You will have a minimum of 250 characters and a maximum of 1500 characters with spaces (approx. 50 to 300 words) to answer this prompt. Your statement does not need to be long. Ultimately, we are looking for a solid quote to publish in the paper that celebrates your student. To this end, if you choose to write a short statement, it's important that your statement is well-written and coherent. ​ If you want to repurpose a recommendation that you have already written for your students, you can do that as well. But again, we need to pull a few sentences of it to publish in the paper. ​ Your statement will also be included with all materials presented to the judges.

Go to the APPLICATION LINKS page Click on the discipline in which you plan to nominate your student. Fill out the online application.

STUDENT INFORMATION The student's full name How do you want your name to appear in print and on awards? The student's grade The student's birthdate The student's email address If you provide a school provided email address (ex: 123456abc@sausd.edu) please make sure that the address can accept emails from outside your district - specifically, from ocartistoftheyear@gmail.com. The student's address This should be the best snail mail address to receive information. The student's high school The student's pronouns These will be used publicly. We will use your chosen pronouns in all public documents and stories published by The Orange County Register and its affliates. TEACHER'S INFORMATION The teacher's name The teacher's email address

Students will submit THREE written statements. You will have a minimum of 500 characters and a maximum of 1500 characters with spaces (approx. 300 words) to answer each prompt. 1. REQUIRED FOR ALL NOMINEES: In your opinion, what does it mean to be an ARTIST? We are not interested in how others have defined what it means to be an artist. This question is designed to help you develop and explain YOUR PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING of what it means to be an artist. Your answer should then inform how you answer the other prompts below. 2. and 3. Choose to answer TWO of the prompts below: YOUR WORK (for performing arts, and film and tv students): Tell us about the pieces you submitted and why you think they reflect who you are as an artist. Why did you choose these pieces? What do you want people to see/feel/understand as a result of interacting with your work? YOUR ARTISTIC STATEMENT (for visual arts students): If you have developed an Artistic Statement, you may share it. BEGINNINGS AND TURNING POINTS: How did you get started in your art form? And/or describe an experience you had that helped you to develop a passion for what you do. What was it about that experience that was impactful? BREADTH AND DEPTH: Beyond your specialty, are you involved in other aspects of your art form? What else do you do in this art form? What do you want us to know about your involvement in this art form? BEYOND YOUR ART FORM: Tell us about how your work in your art form has influenced the other artistic parts of your life. THE FUTURE: Looking ahead, what do you want to do as an artist? Generally, what kind of impact do you want to have on the world? Specifically, what kind of work do you want to do in the future?

All students must submit a PHOTO and PHOTO RELEASE. A photo release is a signed statement giving The Orange County Register permission to use your photo online and in print without restrictions. Read the page on PHOTOS & PHOTO RELEASE and/or see the section on the FAQ page relating to Photos and Photo Release.

The Nominate Agreement outlines the expectations and permissions needed in order to participate in the Artist of the Year program. It must be signed by the: Teacher - signed inside of the online application Student & Parent Guardian - must be signed BY HAND by both parties. There are 2 options: Both the student and parent may docu-sign the document as a part of the online application. If you are unable to collect signatures on your device, you may fill out a paper Nomination Agreement and upload it to the online application.

NO. Visual arts students do not have to submit a résumé. There is space on the online application to add a list of awards/accomplishments if the student wishes to do so.

NOTE: Media Arts and Fine Arts DO NOT have to submit a résumé. For details on résumés for your discipline, click on discipline name below: THEATER DANCE VOCAL MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FILM and TV Résumés highlighting your artistic work are different from your typical business résumé. All credits should be listed in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER - the most recent roles/work should be listed at the top and then work backwards. Think of it this way: If someone is going to skim your résumé, you want that person to know about your most recent work FIRST.

Because résumés are not required by Media Arts and Fine Arts students, there is a place on the online application for visual arts student to list awards you have received IF you want to share this information. This is not required. Performing Arts and Film and TV students may list awards on their résumé.

Each discipline has different requirements for their performance videos. Not all specialties require a performance video. Click on the links below to take you to the page with the specifics on what to submit: THEATER: for Acting and Musical Theater Performance specialties DANCE: for All Specialties INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: for All Specialties VOCAL MUSIC: for All Specialties FILM and TV: for All Specialties MEDIA ARTS: for Motion Graphics and Animation There are no limits on the length of pieces to submit. You may either submit a link with a reel of your work OR create a portfolio and post your videos on there. FINE ARTS: not required

Each discipline has different requirements for their online portfolios. Not all specialties require an online portfolio. Click on the links below to take you to the page with the specifics on what to submit: THEATER: for Theatrical Design DANCE: for not required INSTRUMENTAL and VOCAL MUSIC: if showcasing Composing/Arranging as a secondary specialty FILM and TV: for not required MEDIA ARTS: for All Specialties (Motion Graphics and Animation may submit a video reel in lieu of an online portfolio) FINE ARTS: for All Specialties

Click on the link for your discipline below to get specific details on what to submit in your video. Theater Dance Vocal Music Instrumental Music Film and TV

Due to the variety of resources available to students throughout Orange County, and the amount of support available to a student, we are going to get submissions that are uneven in format. We have found that our teachers and judges can see/hear past the quality of the videos and are able to evaluate the artistic talent of our nominees. Also, we aren’t looking to disqualify any student simply because they don’t have the tools or support to make a professional video. We will accept any video, regardless of the quality. Last year, we found that some students OVER produced their pieces and that was more of an obstacle than for those students who submitted with basic equipment.

NO. HOWEVER, we encourage students to work with their teachers on their video. At the very least, show your teacher your video to get feedback.

It is to the student’s detriment to not follow the rules - our guidelines are set up so that students are able to show themselves off in the best possible light. While it is frustrating when students don’t follow directions for what we are asking in the content of the video (i.e. the number and length of pieces submitted), we will not disqualify a student for not submitting what we asked. Ultimately, we are looking for “Artist of the Year” not “Rule Follower of the Year.”

The time limits set because we feel we can adequately evaluate you work in the time frame we set. If a video is longer than requested, judges will likely stop once they have seen enough and will not watch all of the content. Students will not be disqualified for going over the limit, BUT, we encourage concisse submissions.

Students can only be judged on what they show us. We will not disqualify a student if they do not provide what is requested, however, it does not help them to omit work that is requests. For instance, if we ask for two contrasting pieces, but they only show us one piece, it becomes difficult to assess the artistic range of the student.

For Nominees: NO Due to the volume of students who are nominated, we don’t have the human / facility / financial / time resources to see them all in person for the first round. While artists may hate making videos, but we are not an outlier when it comes to asking for them. These days, it is asked of our performing artists at all levels, so we don’t feel it is out of bounds to require this of these student artists. Also, by submitting a video, students have the opportunity to put their best foot forward for their first impression. For Semifinalists: YES Any student who is named as a semifinalist will be asked to perform in person.

MUSCIAL THEATER nominees may be nominated in - EITHER - ​ Musical Theater Performance in the discipline of THEATER - OR - ​ Musical Theater Voice in the discipline of VOCAL MUSIC But not both. ​

We were seeing increasing numbers of students "double dipping" - being nominated in both Theater and Vocal Music for Musical Theater, showcasing the exact same skills/materials. They were not distinguishing themselves as Vocal Music artists or Theater artists. By choosing one discipline, over the other, the student chooses they want to highlight themselves.

The THEATER teachers INSIST we keep it in theater because musical theater is inherently a performance medium. "It seems crazy to me to honor a vocalist singing musical theater but you are not judging their performance? It doesn't make sense. If they are doing musical theater, they had better be performing." The VOICE teachers INSIST we keep it in vocal music because of the singing technique. "Singers should stay with singers." In other words, teachers in both disciplines see the value and necessity for musical theater to be evaluated in their area of expertise. And because this is a program that values teacher input, we want to honor the works being developed by both Vocal and Theater teachers.

We find that the teachers/judges in each discipline use a slightly different lens when evaluating these students: Theater nominees will be asked to showcase performance abilities (acting and/or dancing) along with singing. Vocal Music nominees will be asked to showcase two (2) contrasting songs. They will not have to also showcase acting/dancing abilities. SO, when choosing the discipline for your musical theater student, think about their strengths and in which discipline they will shine the most.

YES! Students MAY be nominated in both Theater and Vocal Music, just not in both of of the musical theater specialties. FOR EXAMPLE: A student may be nominated in Musical Theater Performance in Theater and Classical Voice in Vocal Music Or, in Acting in Theater and Musical Theater Voice in Vocal Music Or, in Theatrical Design in Theater and Commercial Voice in Vocal Music. They just cannot be nominated in the musical theater specialties in both disciplines.

YES .... if you are a student. Teachers do not submit a photo.

Ideally, we want to see your face in your photo and it should reflect who you are as an artist. ​ Photos may be published in print or online by The Orange County Register, by Chapman University, on the Artist of the Year website, and by their successors, licensees and assigns.

SIZE: may be a maximum of 1 MB (1000k) FORMAT: must be a jpg file. No other formats will be accepted.

This is a signed, written document, signed by the photographer and/or the person who owns the right to the photo submitted which gives permission to The Orange County Register for unlimited use of photo.

Have them fill out the grey sections on the PHOTO RELEASE found on our PHOTOS & PHOTO RELEASE page. (If you are the photographer, you must sign the release.) NOTE: The photographer MUST sign the release.

YES. When providing a release from a professional photographer/photo studio, please highlight the information below on the release. HIGHLIGHT the following: THE NAME of the photographer/photo studio who took the photo. Language that indicates that THE RIGHTS TO THE PHOTO BELONG TO YOU. In other words, that you own all the rights going forward for this photo. Language that indicates YOU HAVE UNLIMITED PERMISSION TO USE THIS PHOTO. Once you submit your photo and this release when filling out your online application, you, as the Rights Holder, irrevocably grants to The Orange County Register a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide, all-media license to use all or any portion of your photo. Language that indicates there are NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER / PHOTO STUDIO FOR THE USE OF THIS PHOTO, now or in the future. If your release does not have ALL of this information, you can either have them fill out the photo release on this page, or choose another photo to use.

If your photo was taken by STEVE WYLIE, you do NOT need to submit a photo release. We have a release on file from him.​

Choose a different photo. We MUST have photo release for your photo.

All high school arts teachers in Orange County are invited to evaluate the applications from nominees in Round 1. Any teacher, whether they have nominated or not, may be a part of the evaluation process. ​ They are sent links to review the materials submitted in the student applications including all written statements, resumes, and links to student performances / portfolios and they are asked to review all of the student's material. ​ Typically, 15 to 20 teachers volunteer to review and rank the applications. ​ Of that group, 5 to 10 typically join a Zoom meeting to discuss the nominees and choose the semifinalists.

Artists chosen as SEMIFINALISTS in each specialty will be invited to present their art form and engage in conversation with of a panel of judges on the Chapman University campus. ​ ART: Every semifinalist will be invited to present their art form in person to the judging panel. We will email the semifinalists with specifics of what is required based on their discipline/specialty. THE CONVERSATION: The judging panelists will ask questions pertaining to the work presented by the artists and will try to find out more about the artists' artistic attributes. INTERVIEW DATES: Semifinalists presentations will take place during the end of March on the Chapman University campus.

The semifinalists are invited to perform/present their work during an in-person interview at the end of March. The judges for this panel include: ​ :: arts faculty from local colleges and universities ​ :: arts leaders from Southern California arts organizations ​ :: professional artists ​ :: high school arts teachers ​ See the list of PAST JUDGES to see who has participated in previous years. ​ Any high school teacher invited to be on this panel cannot have a student who was named a semifinalist. ​ All judges receive the students’ application materials in advance of the panel. The judges review the students’ original submissions before we meet with them.

Go to the JUDGING PROCESS page to read the details for how students are evaluated.

Students will be placed in divisions based on the number of years of training. The EXCEPTION to this will be students who attend these schools: :: Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) :: Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) ​ Students from OCSA and APA will automatically be placed in DIVISION 1. ​ The teacher does NOT need to figure out a student's division. This will be determined using questions asked to the student on the student's portion of the application. ​ During ROUND 1, students from both D1 and D2 will be passed onto the semifinals. ​ We will guarantee that D1 and D2 students will be named as finalists. ​ The Artist of the Year would still be one student, chosen regardless of their division.

Students will be placed in Division 1 (D1) if: ​ SCHOOL: The student currently attends OCSA or APA. --- OR --- ​ TRAINING: The student has been studying the nominated discipline with a private instructor and/or at a private studio not affiliated with the student's school for the following amount of years AND/OR with the middle/high school arts programs: ​ :: 3 years or more: Film and TV, Fine Arts, Media Arts :: 4 years or more: Theater, Vocal Music :: 5 years or more: Dance, Instrumental Music Calculating Years ​ # years of private instruction + # years of school instruction = # years training (even if these years overlap) ​ If the student has received NO PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, the total years considered will be solely the total number of years the student has studied in middle and high school.

Students will be placed in Division 2 (D2) if: ​ TRAINING: The student has been studying the nominated discipline with a private instructor and/or at a private studio not affiliated with the student's school for the following amount of years AND/OR with the middle/high school arts programs: ​ :: Less than 3 years: Film and TV, Fine Arts, Media Arts :: Less than 4 years: Theater, Vocal Music :: Less than 5 years: Dance, Instrumental Music ​ Calculating Years ​ # years of private instruction + # years of school instruction = # years training (even if these years overlap) ​ If the student has received NO PRIVATE INSTRUCTION, the total years considered will be solely the total number of years the student has studied in middle and high school.