Photo by: Matthew Sewell

Competitions

2026 Arkansas Award Competition: High Brass (French Horn and Trumpet)

ASO Stella Boyle Smith Music Center
February 14, 2026 | Applications due January 31, 2026

1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202
Please come back for more details closer to the day.

Please note, you may be required to submit a 5-minute recording of the piece you plan to perform by January 31, 2026. To submit your application, please fill out the application from the national webpage. See more information here.
Apply Now

Competition Information | Competition Application

Interested contestants should submit their completed application to: 
Laura Hutchins, NSAL Arkansas High Brass Competition Chair
lfhutch@icloud.com

2026 National Awards Competition in High Brass (French Horn and Trumpet)

The National Society of Arts and Letters is pleased to announce the 2026 National Awards Competition in High Brass on May 14 – 16, 2026 in Little Rock, AR. Contestants will first compete at the chapter level, then the winners of each chapter competition will travel to Arkansas to compete at the National level.

Contact Us

Please watch the NSAL National Website for updates on the 2026 Competitions & Scholarships. For other questions, contact:

Laura Hutchins
NSAL Arkansas Competition Chair
lfhutch@icloud.com

Scholarships

Applications to Sherry Henderson, NSAL Arkansas Scholarships Chair

slhhsinger@yahoo.com | 501-352-0339

Please click the following links for more information on the 2026 NSAL Scholarships

Featured Story

Madison Robinson, 2025 NSAL Arkansas Ballet Competition Winner

Madison has danced since she was three years old, starting with recreational classes. It wasn’t until 2018 after participating in her first Nutcracker production with the ballet company, Moscow Ballet, that she decided to take her passion for dancing to a new level. The following year she became the first African-American Clara in Ballet Arkansas’ production of the Nutcracker. Since then Madison has performed in four other ballets with the company, including Sleeping Beauty (2023) and Cinderella (2020). Madison trained at the studio Shuffles & Ballet II, where she she is part of their pre-professional program. Each summer, Madison chooses to attend intensive dance programs to further her dance education. She has participated in Ballet Arkansas’ 2 week Summer Intensive (2020, 2022), Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s 3 week Intensive (2021), and the Ailey’s School’s 5 week Summer Intensive (2023-2024). Madison represented NSAL Arkansas in the NSAL 2025 National Ballet Competition. Madison is honored to be spending the next 3 years in New York studying under Alvin Ailey.