Performance competitions are sponsored by MTNA and KMTA and designed to challenge and encourage exceptionally talented young students in pursuit of musical achievement. These competitions provide an opportunity for students to receive professional adjudication in a competition setting with rules and repertoire requirements.
Performance Competition Information
October 12 – 13, 2024
Transylvania University
Lexington, KY
Competiton Entry Deadline: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 3:00 PM Eastern Time
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Competitions start at the state level and are hosted by the Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA).
The Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) is excited to announce that $200 cash prizes will be awarded to the first-place winners or state representatives in each category of the 2024 MTNA Competitions. First-place winners in all categories of the 2024 KMTA Bluegrass Competitions will receive a cash prize of $100.
We are indeed grateful that Magnolia Bank of Hodgenville, KY has agreed to sponsor the MTNA Performance Competitions again this year. Gratitude is also expressed to an anonymous donor, Krystal Music, Dr. Naomi J. Oliphant, and The Piano Shop for sponsoring the Bluegrass Competition prizes.
Funds previously used for the David Moore Competition will now be used to fund the first-place MTNA Composition Competition cash prizes. David Moore was a talented young Kentucky pianist and composer taken from us far too soon.
In order to be eligible for the 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 rules of the MTNA Competitions indicate that if there is only one entrant in a State-level category, this person will automatically be named a State Representative and advance to the Southern Division level of the competition. In order to receive the $200 prize money, however, the performance competition State Representative will be required to participate in the competition by playing for comments only and must also perform in the Winner’s Recital. Composition first-place winners and/or State Representatives are invited and encouraged to perform on a Winner’s Recital, but this is not a condition for receiving the cash prize. Performances must be on the instrument(s) for which the submitted composition was written. Only live performances are permitted.
MTNA Competition categories include:
Note: Brass and Voice (Senior and Young Artist only) Performance Competitions beginning in 2024 will be two-tiered competitions: the Preliminary Round by video submission only, and the Final Round live at the MTNA National Conference. Entrants will compete without regard to the state or division in which they live or take lessons, and seven will be selected in both the Brass and Voice categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round. There will be no state level rounds for Senior and Young Artist Brass and Voice Competitions this year.
- COMPOSITION: Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- PIANO: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- PIANO DUET: Senior
- STRING: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- WOODWIND: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
KMTA Bluegrass Competition categories include:
- BRASS: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- CHAMBER MUSIC: Senior, Young Artist
- ORGAN: Young Artist
- PIANO: Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- PIANO ENSEMBLE: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- STRING: Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- VOICE: Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- MUSICAL THEATER VOCAL: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
- WOODWIND: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
Current plans are to hold the MTNA and Bluegrass Competitions in person.
General Competition Notes
- Repertoire may NOT be changed once the application is submitted.
- Students may register for MTNA or Bluegrass Competitions, but not both.
- Competition fees are non-refundable.
Transylvania Travel Information
Special Group Hotel Rate
The MARRIOTT COURTYARD LEXINGTON NORTH (775 Newtown Court, Lexington, KY 40511) has graciously offered KMTA a much-reduced hotel room rate. The hotel is about 2 miles from Transylvania University.
A LIMITED number of rooms are available the nights of Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12 at the rate of $179.00 plus taxes. The rooms are standard rooms. 2 queen beds, for 1-4 people per room.
In order to receive this special rate, call directly to Marriott Reservations at 1-800-321-2211 or the hotel at 859-253-4646. All reservations must be placed by the CUT-OFF DATE OF SEPTEMBER, 18, 2024. Please identify yourself as part of the KMTA FALL 2024 ROOM BLOCK. Each guest is responsible for paying their own charges. The property is a cashless hotel, but accepts credit or debit cards for payment.
KMTA/MTNA Competition Chair
Naomi J. Oliphant
8304 Dinah Way
Louisville, KY 40242
(502) 594-3265 (cell)
naomi.oliphant@louisville.edu
MTNA Competitions
MTNA Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.
Note that rules applicable to all MTNA competitions, except those referring to division and national levels, also apply to KMTA Bluegrass Competitions.
MTNA Composition Competitions
MTNA Composition Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.
Entrants and teachers must meet the MTNA Entrant and Teacher Requirements. All submissions must follow the Composition Competition Rules.
KMTA Bluegrass Competitions
KMTA Bluegrass Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.
KMTA Bluegrass Competitions end at the state level, but they provide an opportunity for some students to compete with more accessible repertoire requirements. Students capable of meeting more demanding repertoire guidelines should be encouraged to enter the MTNA competitions since those provide the added opportunity of advancing to division and national levels.