The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2026 Awards for Excellence in the Arts (AEA) ceremony at 7:30 on April 23, 2026, at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC. Forty-four high school juniors from schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area were honored for excellence in NSAL’s six arts categories.

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters announces its 2026 chapter winners. The NSAL Writing Scholarships in Short Story are annual scholarships available through the National Society of Arts and Letters to young writers ages 16 to 22. The scholarship funds are for private study, special training, or personal advancement. The funds can be used for college tuition, but not for housing, travel or personal expenses.

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters will hold its 26th Annual Awards for Excellence in The Arts ceremony April 23, 2026, 7:30 pm, at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC. Nominations are open to junior-year arts students in area high schools; faculty nominations only. Nominations, only from faculty, are open to junior-year arts students in area high schools. To nominate, contact  arensteinsk85nsal@gmail.com‍ ‍

Award Categories: music (vocal, instrumental), visual art, dance, musical theater, drama, literature 
Note: The entire program is FREE and a reception will be held afterwards. 

The NSAL National Meeting will be held May 14-16, 2026 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our DC chapter will enter the winners of our voice, art and horn competitions in the national competitions for recognition and awards. The image above shows the location of some of the planned events, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Stella Boyle Smith Music Center.

NSAL-DC hosted its annual Spring celebration at the Arts Club of Washington in downtown Washington, DC on June 12, 2025. Chapter members and guests were welcomed by Sue Hamilton, NSAL-DC Secretary followed by a State of the Chapter report from Ron Ivey, President. 

Winners of the 2025 Winston Art Scholarships and Frank Wright Art Awards. See link at bottom of news release for images of all the awardee’s art.

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2025 Awards for Excellence in the Arts (AEA) ceremony May 29, 2025, at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC. Twenty six high school juniors from schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area were honored for excellence in NSAL’s six arts categories.

The NSAL National Meeting was held May 8-10, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our DC chapter had one winner at the national level: Elizabeth Ann Chen won 1st place in the National Winston Art Competition. DC chapter ballet contestant Sava Brizhik received a certificate.

Members and guests of NSAL-DC met on August 7, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Colonnade Condominiums Party Room in NW Washington, DC. We came to hear this year’s Winston Art Scholarship DC Chapter winner and first place winner at the National Winston Art Competition in Illinois.

NSAL-DC hosted its annual Spring celebration at the City Tavern Club in Georgetown, Washington, DC on June 19, 2024.  Chapter members and guests were welcomed by Sue Hamilton, NSAL-DC Secretary followed by a State of the Chapter report from Ron Ivey, President. 

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2024 Awards for Excellence in the Arts (AEA) ceremony May 29, 2024, at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC. Forty six high school juniors from schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area were honored for excellence in NSAL’s six arts categories.

The National Society of Arts and Letters Annual Meeting was held May 16-18, 2024 in Champaign, Illinois. Our DC chapter had two winners at National: Joseph Parrish won 2nd place in the Dorothy Lincoln Smith Classical Voice Competition; Ava Liberace won 1st place in the National Winston Art Competition.

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2024 Musical Theater Awards Competition on March 10, 2024 at the Levine School of Music

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2024 Virtual Awards Competitions for the Shirley Rabb Winston Classical Voice Scholarship.

NSAL-DC hosted a celebration reception at the City Tavern Club in Georgetown, Washington, DC on June 14, 2023. Chapter members and guests were treated to the chapter’s 2023 musical and fine arts winners. Fine arts winners were introduced to the audience while their winning works scrolled by on a screen. A Winston Classical Voice winner, Chase Cote, performed for the audience as well as Drama winner Corbin Ford. v

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2023 Awards for Excellence in the Arts (AEA) ceremony May 23, 2023, at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC. More than 70 high school juniors from schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area were honored for excellence in NSAL’s six arts categories.

National Awardee & First Place NSAL-DC, Age 19-22: Martin Mbuguah, Maryland Institute College of Art, "Knight V Wizard (the hero", oil on plywood

The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters held its 2023 Awards Competition in Drama on March 26, 2023 at the Studio Acting Conservatory in NW, Washington, DC.