The Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) is excited to announce that a cash prize of $100 will be awarded to first-place winners in each category. Thanks to an anonymous donor, Dr. Naomi J. Oliphant, and The Piano Shop for sponsoring the Bluegrass Competition awards!
Competition Information
You can find general information on the Bluegrass Competitions below. For quicker access to the specific categories, use the following links:
- General Competition Information
- Bluegrass Eligibility Information
- Bluegrass Competition Applications
Repertoire Requirements
- Brass Requirements
- Chamber Music Requirements
- Organ Requirements
- Piano (Solo) Competition Requirements
- Piano (Ensemble) Requirements
- String Requirements
- Voice Requirements
- Woodwind Requirements
General Information
- KMTA Bluegrass Competitions follow “Rules and Procedures Applicable to All MTNA Student Competitions” (except those referring to division and national levels) found in the “MTNA Student Competitions” section.
- In order to be eligible for the $100 cash prize, all first-place performance competition winners will be required to perform on the Winner’s Recital at the end of the competition day; cash prizes will be presented during the recital.
- The deadline for applications and entry fees is Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 3:00 pm Eastern Time.
- The KMTA Bluegrass Competition will be held at Transylvania University on October 12-13, 2024.
- Teachers’ state and national dues must be paid by the deadline as indicated in the “MTNA Student Competitions” under “Teacher Eligibility” in the April 2024 issue of the American Music Teacher and online.
- All KMTA members, except student members, may enter students in the KMTA Bluegrass Performance Competitions. Nonmember teachers must pay a teacher entry fee of $75 for the KMTA Bluegrass Competitions. This fee will allow the nonmember teacher to enter one or more students into the various KMTA competitions, provided all eligibility requirements are met.
- The decisions of the judges will be final. A winner will be declared in each area of the competition.
- Student repertoire programs have no minimum time requirement.
- The program submitted may be longer than the time limit in any category. The adjudicator will hear at least a portion of each composition.
- Repertoire cannot be changed once the application is submitted.
Entrant Eligibility:
- Elementary: ages 5-10 as of January 1, 2025
- Junior: ages 11-14 as of January 1, 2025
- Senior: ages 15-18 as of January 1, 2025
- Young Artist: must be currently enrolled college students or high school graduates who are studying their instrument or voice, ages 19-26 as of January 1, 2025
Accompanists:
- Entrants must provide their own accompanists.
- Entrants may be accompanied by anyone including their own teacher or coach.
- The accompaniment is required, except for pieces intended by the composer to be unaccompanied.
- Taped accompaniments are not permitted.
Additional Information:
- Cuts in solo parts are not permitted. Repeats are left to the discretion of the entrant.
- Cuts in the piano part (tutti) of concerto movements are permitted.
- Individual movements of large works that can be performed as musical units complete in themselves are permitted.
- Repertoire must fulfill guidelines.
- Repertoire timings must be accurate.
- Solo performers/ensembles must provide the adjudicator with one published edition of each piece submitted on the applications form.
- Follow MTNA guidelines in the area of “Competition Music”.
MTNA/Bluegrass Competition Chair
Naomi J. Oliphant
8304 Dinah Way
Louisville, KY 40242
(502) 594-3265 (cell)
naomi.oliphant@louisville.edu
Solo and Ensemble Entry Forms:
Non-refundable entry fees for performance competitions are as follows:
Elementary: $20
Junior: $25
Senior: $30
Young Artist: $40
Bluegrass Brass Competitions
Junior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Senior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- Doubling is permitted as follows:
- Trumpet: B-flat, C, D, E-flat, piccolo trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn
- Trombone: one work on alto or bass trombone
- French Horn, Euphonium, and Tuba: none
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Young Artist
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- Classifications may be represented by published transcriptions.
- Doubling is permitted as indicated above under Senior.
- An entrant will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Bluegrass Chamber Music Competitions
Senior
- Ensembles may be any combination of piano, string, wind, and percussion instruments of at least two (2) but no more than six (6) performers. NOTE: There is a separate competition for four-hand and duo-piano ensembles.
- Instrumentation of each ensemble must remain the same for all repertoire performed.
- The ensemble should include only senior entrants but may include some junior entrants only if the number of senior entrants is equal or greater.
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Individual movements of larger works are acceptable.
- The piano (if included) must be an equal partner in the ensemble.
- The program may include arrangements only if sufficient original works are not available in that style period. The arrangements may not be simplified, cut, or abridged in any way from the original work.
- An ensemble will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- The performance must be without a conductor.
Young Artist
- Ensembles may be any combination of piano, string, wind, and percussion instruments of at least two (2) but no more than six (6) performers. NOTE: There is a separate competition for four-hand and duo-piano ensembles.
- Instrumentation of each ensemble must remain the same for all repertoire performed.
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Individual movements of larger works are acceptable.
- The piano (if included) must be an equal partner in the ensemble.
- The program may include arrangements only if sufficient original works are not available in that style period. The arrangements may not be simplified, cut, or abridged in any way from the original work.
- An ensemble will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- The performance must be without a conductor.
Bluegrass Organ Competition
Young Artist
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes for setting pistons and thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
- A page turner may be used; a registrant may assist if the organ has no combination pistons.
Bluegrass Piano Competitions
Elementary
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Only works for solo piano will be allowed.
- The KMTA Junior High Keyboard Festival repertoire list should be used as a guideline.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Junior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Only works for solo piano will be allowed.
- The KMTA Keyboard Festival repertoire list should be used as a guideline.
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Senior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Only works for solo piano will be allowed.
- Compositions for prepared piano are not allowed.
- An entrant will be allowed twenty (20) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Young Artist
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Only works for solo piano will be allowed.
- Compositions for prepared piano are not allowed.
- An entrant will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Bluegrass Junior, Senior, and Young Artist Piano Ensemble Competitions
Junior and Senior
- Junior age entrants perform in the Junior level competition, and senior age entrants perform in the Senior level competition. If an ensemble has students in Junior and Senior levels, it must be placed in the level to which the majority of the students belong. If the number of students from each level is equal, the ensemble must be placed in the higher level.
- Ensembles may have from two (2) to three (3) performers, but not more than one (1) piano.
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- Repertoire performed in the KMTA Bluegrass Regional Festival may be changed for the KMTA Bluegrass Competition, but the ensemble performers must remain the same.
- Repertoire may be chosen from applicable sections of the Keyboard Festival Handbook and the MTNA National Course of Study. Substitutions of equal difficulty and musical worth may be made upon approval of the state coordinator. If a substitution is to be made, call or write the appropriate coordinator before the deadline to avoid a disqualification.
- Junior piano ensemble will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Senior piano ensemble will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Young Artist
- Ensembles may have from two (2) to three (3) performers, but not more than one (1) piano.
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- Repertoire may be chosen from applicable sections of the Keyboard Festival Handbook and the MTNA National Course of Study. Substitutions of equal difficulty and musical worth may be made upon approval of the state coordinator. If a substitution is to be made, call or write the appropriate coordinator before the deadline to avoid a disqualification.
- Young Artist piano ensemble will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Bluegrass String Competition
Elementary
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Junior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Senior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Young Artist
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Bluegrass Voice Competition
Elementary
- The program must include two songs of contrasting style. Selections must include songs from the art song and folk song categories and may include one selection from musical theater repertoire. The National Federation of Music Clubs Festival Bulletin list may be used as a guideline.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Junior
- The program must include two art songs from contrasting style periods. The National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival Bulletin’s list of vocal solo art songs in the Junior division should be used as a guideline for appropriate repertoire.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Senior
- The program must include three selections of the entrant’s choice, including one non-English art song, one English art song, and one song of the entrant’s choice. Difficult arias are discouraged. The National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival Bulletin’s list of vocal solo art songs in the Senior division should be used as a guideline for appropriate repertoire.
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Young Artist
- The program must include repertoire in the original language from each of the following categories: (1) Aria from opera or oratorio repertoire, sung in the original key, (2) German Lied, (3) French Melodie, and (4) Art song in English written after 1900. Additional song(s) or aria(s) of the entrant’s choice in the original language or in English translation may then be added.
- The typed repertoire program submitted must be grouped according to the classifications above, and include (1) the name of the oratorio, opera, or other identifying work from which an aria is taken, (2) the performance time for each selection, and (3) the composer’s full name.
- An entrant will be allowed twenty-five (25) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Bluegrass Musical Theater Vocal Competitions
Junior
- The program must include at least two contrasting selections of the entrant’s choice from the musical theater repertoire. Selections may include movie musicals.
- Entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Senior
- The program must include at least three (3) selections of the entrant’s choice from the musical theater repertoire and may include movie musicals.
- Selections must include at least one pre-1970 selection.
- Entrant will be allowed twelve (12) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Young Artist
- The program must include at least four (4) selections from the musical theater repertoire and may include movie musicals.
- Selections must include pre-1970, 70’s to 2000, and post-2000.
- Entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is required.
Bluegrass Woodwind Competition
Junior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- An entrant will be allowed ten (10) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Senior
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- Doubling is permitted as follows:
- Flute: one work on piccolo or alto flute
- Oboe: one work on English horn
- Clarinet: B-flat and A
- Bassoon: none
- Alto Saxophone: one work on soprano or tenor
- An entrant will be allowed fifteen (15) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.
Young Artist
- The program must include selections from at least two contrasting style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary.
- A classification may be represented by a published transcription.
- Doubling is permitted as indicated above under Senior.
- An entrant will be allowed thirty (30) minutes of performance time.
- Memorization is not required.