Performance Competition Guidelines

Entrant Information

  • An entrant may enter the competitions in only one state.
  • An entrant may enter only once in a competition year in any category (Brass, Piano, Senior Piano Duet, String, Voice, Woodwind).
  • In Chamber Music String and Chamber Music Wind, an entrant may enter in more than one ensemble.
  • Competition financial obligations are the responsibility of the entrant.
  • All entry fees are nonrefundable.
  • State and division winners/representatives are obligated to advance to the next level of the competition (State, Division, National).
  • If there is only one (1) entrant in a State-level category, there will be NO State Competition. The entrant will be named the State Representative and will advance directly to the Division Competition.
  • If there is only one (1) entrant in a Division-level category, there will be NO Division Competition.  The entrant will be named the Division Representative and will advance directly to the National Finals.
  • If there are seven (7) or fewer entrants nationwide in a category at the state level, those entrants will advance directly to the National Finals.
  • Primary communication is via e-mail. The application must have e-mail addresses for student, teacher and parents.
     

National Winner Responsibilities

  • In order to receive the monetary award, national performance competition winners are required to perform on the appropriate Winners Concert at the MTNA National Conference in Chicago, Illinois, March 22–26, 2014.
     

Competition Rules

  • Decisions of competition judges are final.
  • A national first-place MTNA solo performance winner may not enter again in the same level/category. For example, a national Junior Piano Winner cannot enter Junior Piano again.
  • A national first-place MTNA Senior Piano Duet team may not enter again with the same personnel.
  • A national first-place MTNA Chamber Music ensemble may not enter again with the same personnel.
  • Facilities permitting, competition performances (including winners concert) are open to the public. Competition rehearsals are closed to the public.
  • Audio or video recording and photography of the competitions and winners concerts are strongly discouraged.
  • It is the responsibility of the entrant to be available for all published dates of the competitions.
  • The assigned rehearsal and performance times are final and cannot be changed.
     

Repertoire

  • No changes in repertoire are allowed following submission of the application. Repertoire must remain the same for all three levels of the competition (State, Division, National).
  • All repertoire listed on the application must be prepared at all levels of the competition (State, Division, National).
  • Repertoire requirements are listed under individual levels (Junior, Senior,Young Artist, Chamber Music).
  • Teachers should verify that all repertoire listings are correct before submission of the application.
  • Entrants and teachers should verify all repertoire listings after receiving the e-mail confirmation following submission of the application.
     

Competition Music

  • All entrants and accompanists must abide by the federal Copyright Law. Photocopies are strongly discouraged. Entrants using photocopies or PDFs downloaded from the Internet may be asked to complete the Music Release Form verifying that they have permission to use this music.
  • All scores must be submitted to competition officials prior to the entrant’s performance.
    • Measures must be numbered at the beginning of each system.
    • A Music Release Form must be signed for any photocopies being used.
  • Entrants in the solo performance competitions must provide the judge(s) one score for each work listed on the application.  Solo instrumentalists may submit either the solo part or the complete score.
  • Ensembles in the Chamber Music Competition must provide the judge(s) one score or one complete set of parts.
     

Competition Procedure for All Categories

  • Performance procedures:
    • No minimum time limit.
    • Programmed music may exceed maximum time limit.
    • Performance will be stopped when maximum time is reached (does not affect results).
    • Student chooses first selection; judges determine remaining order of performance.
  • Repertoire
    • Direct questions concerning repertoire to appropriate national coordinator (Junior, Senior, Young Artist, Chamber Music) prior to submission of application.
    • Individual movements of suites, sonatas or other groupings that can be performed as musical units are permitted.
    • Cuts in solo parts are not permitted. Repeats are left to the discretion of entrant.
    • Cuts in the tutti (piano) parts of concerto movements are allowed and encouraged.
    • All repertoire must be performed with accompaniment except for works written specifically for unaccompanied solo instrument. Recorded accompaniments are not permitted for works to be performed with piano or orchestra.
    • MTNA will not provide equipment for the performance of an original work written for solo instrument and multi-media and cannot guarantee accessible electrical outlets in the competition room.

Accompanists

  • Teachers may accompany their own students or another teacher’s students at any level of the competition.

MTNA Official Accompanists

  • Official accompanist fees are nonrefundable.
  • Additional rehearsal time with an official division or national accompanist may not be contracted (see below).
     

State Competition

  • Official accompanists are not provided at the state level.
     

Division Competition and National Competition

Junior Competition Official Accompanist Fees

  • Official accompanist fee:
    • $80 for forty-five (45) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance

Senior Competition Official Accompanist Fees

  • Official accompanist fee:
    • Instrumental: $150 for sixty (60) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance.
    • Voice: $90 for forty (40) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance.

Young Artist Competition Official Accompanist Fees

  • Official accompanist fee:
    • Instrumental: $175 for sixty (60) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance.
    • Instrumental:  $200 for ninety (90) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance.
    • Voice: $175 for sixty (60) minutes of rehearsal and competition performance.

Competition Agreement

  • It is the responsibility of the teacher, coach, entrant and parent or guardian to abide by all rules and regulations for the MTNA Student Competitions.  Failure to meet this responsibility will make the student ineligible to receive any recognition or awards.
  • All entry fees are nonrefundable.