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VASTA News

Call for KCACTF Reps!

Hey VASTA Members!

EduCore is looking for VASTA members who are interested in being representatives at the Annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regional festivals as well as the national festival. This is an excellent opportunity to bring further awareness to VASTA and the work of Voice and Speech Trainers, which is core to VASTA’s mission.

This year’s regional festivals will be held in-person on the following dates and at the following locations:

  • Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northeast New York, Rhode Island, Vermont) - Jan 28th - Feb 1st @ Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT
  • Region 2 (Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, Western New York, Northern Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) - Jan 14th - 18th in Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Region 3 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin) - Jan 7th - 11th @ Madison College in Madison, WI
  • Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Southern Virginia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) - Feb 4th - 8th in Greensboro, NC
  • Region 5 (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota) - Jan 19th - 25th in Des Moines, IA
  • Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) - Feb 23rd - 27th in Abilene, TX
  • Region 7 (Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming) - ON HIATUS FOR 2025, NO REPS NEEDED
  • Region 8 (Arizona, Central and Southern California, Hawaii, Southern Nevada, Utah) - Feb 11th - 15th @ Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ.


A note to VASTA Members who teach at the University Level: If you are affiliated with a university that is participating in the KCACTF regional festival competitions, especially if your students are participating in the Irene Ryans, you may not be able to be a rep in your home region, but can be a rep in another area.

Responsibilities

1) Attend the Irene Ryan Semi-Finals/Finals and award one of the finalists with the VASTA Award in Vocal Excellence (how this works and criteria for the award will be provided).

2) If requested by the Festival Chairs, lead a workshop at the festival incorporating voicework. One of our aims is to broaden participants' understanding of voice and speech training and you are strongly encouraged to lead a workshop on a subject of your choice. We are keen that these workshops support VASTA’s mission around equity, diversity, and inclusion - do let us know if you would like any support with this. 

For more information on KCACTF, visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/pre-professional-artist-training/kcactf/

If you are interested in participating in any of the regional festivals as a VASTA rep, please contact Sim Rivers, KCACTF lead coordinator for EduCore, at sim.c.rivers@gmail.com. Please include which festivals you would be available and eligible to rep at, as well as any non-negotiable accommodations you would require (lodging, food, a travel stipend, accessibility requirements etc).