Thank you to all who have applied to audition to perform the National Anthem at Zozobra. Please note that auditions are closed effective Wednesday, July 5th as we have reached capacity. Thanks again!
Here’s your big chance to perform before a live crowd and a television and webcast audience of hundreds of thousands for the 99th Annual Burning of Zozobra!
Are you ready to perform before an audience of hundreds of thousands worldwide? Auditions
are now open to perform the National Anthem at the 99th Burning of Zozobra on Friday, September 1st!
The singing of the National Anthem adds great meaning to the solemnity of this historic tradition. With only one year to go to the 100th anniversary of Will Shuster’s Burning of Zozobra, can you hit those high notes? Our National Anthem is a notoriously challenging song, and this is your chance to show off your talent to the whole world. Are you up for it?
Performers of all ages are invited to try out for this opportunity to celebrate our country by singing or playing before an enthusiastic crowd — more 71,000 people attended in person at last year’s burning of Old Man Gloom. In addition to the audience who gathered in person, close to 190,000 people viewed the webcast and TV broadcast.
Auditions will be in person before a panel of local judges on Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 1–4 pm at the Scottish Rite Center, the big pink building located at 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe. Auditions will be first-come, first-served based on arrival time and you can park in the lot behind the building.
Auditions are open to all vocalists and instrumentalists – all genres, all ages – and everyone is welcome to try out! While we usually have plenty of vocalists who audition, we’ve also had a pair of guitarists, an a cappella group, and dozens of young singers under the age of 18. Show us what you’ve got!
We will choose three performers, and the winner will sing before the huge crowds at The Burning of Zozobra. The good news? We also choose second- and third-place winners from the auditions and they each receive a special performance opportunity.
The first runner-up will be our alternate and will need to attend rehearsals and be present at the Burning should the winner be unable to perform. The first runner-up will also perform at New Year’s Eve on the Santa Fe Plaza on Sunday, December 31, 2023, singing the National Anthem to welcome 2024. The second runner-up will wish America a Happy Birthday by performing the National Anthem at the City of Santa Fe’s 2024 Fourth of July Fireworks Show.
After the auditions, we’ll send out a press release announcing the winners with their photos and bios. So, audition and be willing to get famous!
Do you know a singer or a band ready to light up the night like Zozobra does? Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about the one-of-a-kind thrill of standing on the steps with Zozobra towering above, before tens of thousands of people with hundreds of thousands more watching on TV and online. It’s not your everyday gig, for sure!
Good luck to all, and let’s burn him!
Thank you to all who have applied to try out!
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is the sole organizer of The Burning of Will Shuster’s Zozobra. Over the years Zozobra has given back $1.9 million to help the children of our communities grow and thrive.
