SA premier arts school opens auditions for 2026: A gateway to creative excellence

Johannesburg National School of the Arts (NSA), renowned as South Africa’s leading School of Specialisation in performing and creative arts, is set to welcome the next generation of artistic talent during its annual audition day on Saturday, 10 May 2025.

Aspiring young artists in Grades 7 to 10 can vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 academic year at the NSA campus in Braamfontein, where creativity meets academic rigor.

For over 50 years, NSA has sculpted South Africa’s cultural vanguard, blending world-class training in dance, drama, music, and visual arts with a robust academic curriculum aligned with the National Senior Certificate (NSC) requirements.

This dual focus has propelled the school to new heights, exemplified by its stellar 2024 results: a 99% matric pass rate, recognition as the district’s top public school, and provincial accolades for dance and music excellence.

Standout achievements include Grade 12 students Jodé Golding and Creagan Martins sharing Gauteng Top Dance Learner Award, while music prodigy Bienvenu Muyombo claimed the province highest practical exam mark.

Prospective students must showcase their talents in one of the school four disciplines during the audition day, which kicks off with registration at 7:30 AM. Grade 8 and 9 applicants will first demonstrate English proficiency through a timed test, followed by discipline-specific evaluations, while older candidates dive straight into their artistic assessments.

Aspiring artists should bring a certified birth certificate and recent school report, with no fees required to audition.

Discipline-specific preparations vary: young painters must arrive armed with pencils and colored tools for a marathon six-hour session, dramatists need all-black movement-friendly attire, and musicians should bring their instruments (excluding pianos and drums).

Dance hopefuls face strict wardrobe standards, from leotards to pointe shoes, reflecting NSA’s professional expectations.

Principal Salome Gaelesiwe describes audition day as “electric,” urging candidates to “let their spark outshine nerves.”

Successful applicants gain entry to an ecosystem that has launched careers of celebrated performers, educators, and cultural innovators.

With limited spaces available, the school urges passionate, disciplined learners to seize this chance to join a legacy where artistic freedom and academic discipline converge.

Interested families can visit  www.artschool.co.za or contact admissions at 011 339 6539, 063 091 6051, or admissions@artschool.co.za or Venue: National School of the Arts, 17 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

As NSA continues to shape South Africa’s creative future, May’s auditions promise to uncover the next wave of artistic visionaries.