Divisional Spotlight Competition
April 9–10, 2027 | Camp Heart O' Hills | Welling, Oklahoma
Registration Deadline: March 8, 2027
Winners Advance to the Territorial Spotlight Competition on June 3rd in Atlanta Georgia
About Spotlight
The Spotlight Competition celebrates the musical and artistic talents of young people throughout The Salvation Army. Participants have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, share their creativity, and use their God-given talents for worship and ministry.
The Arkansas & Oklahoma Divisional Spotlight Competition will take place April 9–10, 2027, at Camp Heart O' Hills, in conjunction with the Divisional Bible Bowl Competition.
Winners of the divisional competition will earn the opportunity to represent the Arkansas & Oklahoma Division at the Territorial Spotlight Competition on June 3, 2027, in Atlanta, Georgia, during The Salvation Army's Centennial Celebration.
Who Can Participate?
The competition is open to individuals who meet the following requirements:
Participants must be ages 7–23 as of June 3, 2027.
Participants must be actively involved in a Salvation Army music or arts program.
Participants must compete in and qualify through the divisional competition to advance to the territorial level.
Each division may advance one winning entry in each published competition category.
Competition Categories
Spotlight offers opportunities for participants in a variety of musical and artistic disciplines, including:
Brass: Instrumental solos and brass ensembles
Vocal: Solo and group vocal performances
Piano: Solo piano performances
Worship Team: Contemporary worship music
Dance: Dance performances
Theater: Dramatic performances
Visual Arts: Original artistic works
Each category has specific requirements, including repertoire, age divisions, and performance guidelines. Participants should carefully review the official category information before preparing their entries.
General Competition Guidelines
Solo Performances
Soloists must perform the required selection assigned to their competition category and level. Memorization is encouraged where appropriate and required for certain categories.
Ensemble Performances
Brass ensembles must perform two contrasting selections, with a combined performance time not exceeding 10 minutes.
Other ensembles must perform one required selection and one selection of their choosing, with a combined performance time not exceeding 10 minutes.
All choice selections must communicate a Christian message or be appropriate for use in a worship or ministry setting.
Ensemble Eligibility
Ensembles must include at least four eligible participants ages 7–23.
Up to two adult supporting members may participate for every four eligible youth participants.
Two corps may combine to form an ensemble.
Ensembles representing three or more corps are not eligible.
All ensembles compete in one open ensemble level.
Additional Requirements
Recorded accompaniment is permitted only for FUSE and AMP entries.
FUSE and VOX performances must be memorized.
Participants must wear appropriate attire, including Salvation Army uniform when required.
All performances, costumes, equipment, and staging must be appropriate for Christian ministry.
Participants are expected to demonstrate preparation, cooperation, encouragement, and good sportsmanship.
Advancing to the Territorial Competition
Divisional winners will advance to the Territorial Spotlight Competition.
Territorial Competition Date: Thursday, June 3, 2027
Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Qualifying entries must perform in substantially the same form as their divisional-winning performance. Any necessary changes to personnel or repertoire require prior territorial approval.
All required territorial competition materials, including music, scripts, audio files, and other applicable submissions, must be submitted by May 21, 2027.
Participants advancing to the territorial competition are expected to attend the Centennial Celebration weekend and participate in scheduled activities.
Registration and Additional Information
Divisional Registration Deadline: May 8, 2027
Additional information regarding divisional registration procedures and event schedules will be communicated as it becomes available.
For complete competition rules, category-specific requirements, required repertoire, and other important information, visit the official Spotlight website:
https://www.ussmusicandarts.org/spotlight
We encourage every corps throughout the Arkansas & Oklahoma Division to identify and prepare participants for this exciting opportunity to develop their talents, celebrate the arts, and glorify God through music and creative expression!
Audition Information
Divisional auditions will follow the same catagories and guidelines as the territorial competition. Below are links to the territorial competition catagories. The links include audition information, repetoire, and guidelines.