Return: National Orchestra Festival
2025 National Orchestra Festival
Schedule of Important Dates for 2025 NOF
After your application has been submitted:
- April 15, 2024: Applications Close
- April 15 to 22nd, 2024: Applications are Adjudicated
- May 1, 2024: Applicants are Notified
June 20, 2024:
- Signed Participation Agreement
- Signed Guidelines and Code of Conduct
- $1,500 Non-refundable Deposit Due
October 1, 2024:
- 25% of the Total Payment Amount Due
- NOF Package Confirmation
- Instrumentation, Concert Program, and Stage Form Due
December 4, 2024:
- 50% of the Total Payment Amount Due
- Rooming List Due
- Student Waiver Forms Due
January 29, 2025:
- Final Balance of the Total Payment Due
- March 19-22, 2025: National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, Georgia
2025 NOF Package Information
Overnight Package room number details:
- Quad = 4 individuals per room
- Triple = 3 individuals per room
- Double = 2 individuals per room
- Single = 1 individual per room
All Packages include the following:
- One Professional recording of your performance
- Professional photo of your orchestra
- Commemorative banner
- NOF Medal for each participant
- ASTA Conference exhibit hall - try instruments and buy music and music supplies.
- Participate in Conference sessions, including master classes, music reading sessions, education sessions
- National publicity in ASTA digital and print media
Premium overnight packages also include the following:
- One professional recording per student
- One meal (breakfast or lunch) per each night of stay (two-night package = 2 meals)
- Complimentary director and co/assistant director hotel and conference package (single)
- Complimentary double rooms for chaperones (20 students = 1 room for 2 chaperones)
Package Details:
- Package rates listed are inclusive per person.
- Transportation (including ground transportation at the conference site) and parking is the responsibility of each participating ensemble.
- Meals are offered on official NOF program days for all groups. We will provide details in November 2024.
- One-night packages are available for Ratings and Comments groups only upon request.
- Performance date and time are assigned in August 2024. Requests for time and date can be made however we do not guarantee any requests will be fulfilled.
2025 NOF Timeline and Guidelines
Please Note: Applications are only considered fully submitted after the form has been completed, all recommendations have been submitted, and all items have been uploaded. Please read and consider the entire Guidelines and Requirements, available as a PDF below, before applying.
Application Timeline
- Applications Open – December 1, 2023
- Applications Close – April 15, 2024
- Notify Applicants and Send Contracts – May 1, 2024
- Contracts and Deposit Due – June 20, 2024
Application Review
Applications will be reviewed by a national committee of ASTA members. The committee will provide detailed feedback to all applicants at the time of application notification.
Notification and Contract
Directors must submit a signed contract and a $1,500 non-refundable deposit by June 20, 2024. These materials will confirm participation in the festival. The deposit will be applied directly to the group's package fees. If you have specific questions regarding notification, payment, and group pricing, please get in touch with us at asta@astastrings.org.
The minimum number of student participants is 16. Groups may increase and decrease their total participant number until December 4, 2024. After December 4, 2024, groups are responsible for the last confirmed total number of participants received by ASTA.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
All cancellation requests must be received in writing by September 30, 2024, to asta@astastrings.org. No refunds will be given on any payments made before September 30, 2024, but the remaining balance for your group will be waived upon written cancellation confirmation from the ASTA National Office.
ASTA is counting on your participation as indicated in your signed contract and may have turned away other potential participating ensembles. Groups cannot cancel their participation after September 30, 2024. Groups not wishing to participate after this date are still liable for the total amount due, and no refunds will be given on any payments already made. The remaining balance for your group will be waived upon written cancellation confirmation from the ASTA National Office. This cancellation policy also applies to all circumstances beyond the attendee’s and/or ASTA’s control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorism, government regulations, disaster, strikes, civil disorder, or curtailment of transportation. If you have a unique circumstance preventing your group from participating and would like it to be reviewed for special consideration, please send, in writing, an explanation of your circumstance and include any appropriate documentation. Your request will be reviewed within 30 days, and you will be notified subsequently of the outcome.