Recording requirements short list:
• Produced since 2018.
• HD or better on tripod. Unless you’re shooting 4K on a locked-down camera, we suggest using multiple cameras.
• High quality audio
• Find more technical guidance in the submission form. Also, check out these “tech tips.”
Rights:
• Music rights: WETA is able to clear many (not all) copyrighted pieces for broadcast. It’s not required, but it ensures you’re not submitting a work that can’t be considered on rights grounds. Submit preclearance requests here by June 1.
• Footage rights: You grant WETA permission to use your video by signing the “Materials Release” (the video is the “material”)
• People rights: You grant WETA permission to show the people who appear by either signing on behalf of your choristers (the “Proxy Release”) or by each chorister signing on their own behalf (the “Appearance Release”)
Repertoire:
• 6-minute hard maximum
• 4 submissions maximum
• recorded 2018 or later
• not previously submitted to Songs of the Season
• Choir/choral works appropriate for the holiday and/or winter season - all styles, genres, languages, and backgrounds welcome.
• As WETA needs to balance the show as a whole, and because sometimes more than one chorus submits the same work, we recommend submitting multiple, contrasting, entries, and at least one selection that might be familiar to the larger viewing audience.
Eligibility:
• We are seeking a wide variety of choral organizations/programs anywhere in WETA’s broadcast region. This includes all of Washington DC, surrounding counties in MD and VA, even small parts of the Eastern Shore and West Virginia!
• Any type of vocal ensemble - community, collegiate, faith-based, secular, professional, amateur, children’s choirs and choruses, accompanied or not.
REMINDER:
Timeline:
June 1 - (optional) Deadline for submitting your repertoire list for pre-clearance.
July 1 – (mandatory) Deadline to submit recordings and related materials for consideration.
Submissions:
You are encouraged to submit up to four selections. Each submission requires a new entry form.
• Read the instructions carefully about how to name your files: your video submission file, your lyrics file, your photos, your materials release, etc.
• Submit only one video file per form submitted.
• You must complete all the required fields on the form.
Successful WETA Arts Songs of the Season submissions from previous years:
• 2025 | 2024 | 2023| 2022 | Songs of the Season: A WETA Arts Special Edition (2021)
Music Questions? Contact: Michael Ehrlich at artisticdirector@vocalartsfairfax.org.
Technical questions? Contact: Judy Meschel at arts@weta.org