EMTA Excellence in Music Awards

14 April 2026: EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Program Application Deadline
16 May 2026: EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Program
2026 EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Program Detailed Information PDF

Mission Statement: to support and encourage students to be active in their EMTA community and acknowledge exceptional ability, application and meritorious accomplishment by giving financial assistance to those students in grades 7-12.
Awards Fund: The award funds are managed by the EMTA Executive Board, which determines the available amount each year. Judges decide placements and how to allocate smaller awards.

Message to Teachers, Students, and Parents
Please read all information carefully to ensure a thorough understanding of the requirements and eligibility for student participation. Awards are structured to recognize many deserving students while also allowing continued participation. Please note:

  • The maximum award is generally 30% of the total available in each category, so that financial awards can be distributed to as many deserving students as possible.
  • Students may participate again in their age group if they received no more than 20% of the total award in that category the previous year.
  • Example: A 7th grader who won $100 in the 7/8 category in 2025 may participate again in 8th grade.
  • In some cases, award amounts are rounded for ease of application by judges.

2026 Award Money (total: $4,000)

Category2026 Total AmountMaximum Awards20% Eligibility for next year
7/8th grade$400$120$80
9/10th grade$900$300$200
11th/12th grade$2,700$1200$600

Reference: 2025 Award Breakdown

Category2025 Total AmountMaximum Awards20% eligibility for next year
7/8th grade$500$150$100
9/10th grade$1,000$300$200
11th/12th grade$3,000$1200$600

Teachers can use this table to determine if a student is eligible to participate in 2026 based on the awards received in 2025.

Please all information carefully to ensure a thorough understanding of the requirements and eligibility for student participation.

General Requirements (All Students)

  1. Volunteerism
    • Students must volunteer at the Musicianship Festival on May 9, 2026.
    • Full-day availability is expected; schedules will be assigned by the volunteer coordinator.
    • Please do not submit schedule requests. Students should keep this date open, though fewer hours may be required.
  2. EMTA Event Participation
    • Students must perform in two EMTA events.
    • Eligible events:
      • Jazz, Rags & Blues Festival
      • Time Era Festival
      • Community Recital
      • Music Artistry Program (new this year: map is an option, not required)
      • Composition Recital
      • Musicianship Festival (if used as the second event, students must fully enter)
    • Note: WSMTA or MTNA contests do not count.
  3. Performance Guidelines
  4. Students must prepare memorized pieces from three different time periods, or compositions in three distinct styles.
  5. Time Limits vary by age category.
  6. Student Photo: A current photo must be included in the application for use on the EMTA website (opt-out available).

Additional Age Group Information

7th–8th Grades

  • Total Awards: $400
  • Maximum Award: $120 per student
  • Eligibility for re-entry (20% rule): $100 or less from 2025
  • Performance Time: 7 minutes (cut allowed)
  • Notes:
    • Winners are not ranked.
    • Judges decide the number of winners and award amounts, aiming to recognize multiple students.
    • Judges choose one student to perform in EMTA Awards Gala on May 30th

9th–10th Grade

  • Total Awards: $900
  • Maximum Award: $300 per student
  • Eligibility for re-entry (20% rule): $200 or less from 2025
  • Performance Time: 9 minutes total (cuts allowed)
  • Notes:
  • Winners are not ranked.
  • Judges decide the number of winners and award amounts, aiming to recognize multiple students.
  • Judges choose one student to perform in EMTA Awards Gala on May 30th.

11th–12th Grade

  • Total Award: $2,700
  • Maximum Award: $1,200.
  • Eligibility for re-entry (20% rule): $600 or less from 2025
  • Performance & Interview: 15 minutes total (10 min performance, 5 min interview)
  • Essay Requirement:
    “Describe your musical goals in 500 words or less, detailing how music has impacted your life and what role it will play in your future.” You may include significant musical events, collaborations, teachers, or other meaningful experiences.
  • Notes:
    • Winners are ranked, and ties are allowed.
    • First place receives the Joan Brown Excellence in Music Award.
    • The Joan Brown Winner(s) are invited to perform in the EMTA Awards Gala on May 30th.

Teacher Requirements

  • Membership Requirement:

Teachers must be EMTA members by October 15, 2025, to enter students in the competition.

  • Student Eligibility:

Teachers must instruct students in the performance category in which they are entered.

  • Volunteer Commitment:

Teachers entering students are required to volunteer at both the Musicianship Festival and the Excellence in Music Awards Program.

  • Judging Availability:

Teachers must be available to judge on May 16, 2026, unless excused due to significant life events (e.g., weddings, graduations). Event chairs should be informed as early as possible if an exception is needed.

  • Event Support:

For maximum flexibility, all teachers should be available to judge. Those not assigned to judging will assist with event-related tasks, such as scheduling, paperwork, certificates, and checks.

  • Student Compliance:

Teachers are responsible for ensuring that their students meet all EMTA participation and volunteer requirements.

  • Entry Limit:

Teachers may enter up to two students per age category, with a maximum of four students across all categories.

Judging Information and Requirements

  • Judging Panel
  • 7th–8th grade: 2–3 EMTA teachers
  • 9th–10th grade: 2–3 EMTA teachers
  • 11th–12th grade: 3 EMTA teachers
  • Categories

Judges will assess all categories together, including instrumental, voice, and composition.

  • Conflict of Interest

The goal is to avoid assigning teachers to judge categories in which their own Students are participating. If this cannot be avoided:

  • In the 7/8 and 9/10 categories, teachers will step outside during their student’s performance.
  • In the 11/12 category, students will only be judged by teachers who are not their instructors.
  • Evaluation Criteria (7th–8th and 9th–10th Grades)
    Judges will assess each student individually, determining whether the performance merits an award rather than making direct comparisons between students.
  • Evaluation Criteria (11th–12th Grade)
    Judges will assess performance, essay, and interview

Locations

  • 11th–12th Grades: Bonnie Thomas’ home, Edmonds
  • 7th–10th Grades: Hartley Mansion, Everett


Who was Dr. Joan E. Brown?

JoanBrown_EW

Joan E. Brown was a charter member of the Edmonds Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association.  She received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in piano performance from the Juilliard School of Music, and completed her doctoral work at the University of Illinois.  Joan received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1956-57 to study in Germany.  While there, she performed chamber music recitals throughout Western Europe under the sponsorship of the US Government.

Her teaching career included West Virginia Wesleyan and positions at UCLA, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Interlochen Arts Academy, and the University of Portland.  She spent a year as an Artist-in-Residence for the State of North Carolina in Charlotte.  She was a master teacher and adjudicator.

Dr. Brown’s students were led by her to develop their potential as intelligent and well-rounded musicians.  She disliked the idea that only the “best and brightest” students should be acknowledged by scholarships and awards.  Hence, this scholarship is established in her honor.  It is not predicated on performance alone, but on the totality of the musicians and their contribution to the community.

Past Joan E. Brown Award Winners

2025
Zoe Vance, student of Laurie McFarland, 1st place
Jonathan Kocaj, student of Roxanne Kar, 2nd place
William Shirts, student of Jensina Oliver, 3rd place

2024
Ryan Chung, student of Allan Park, tied for 1st place
Echo Vance, student of Laurie McFarland, tied for 1st place

2023
Eleanor Shirts, student of Dr. Jensina Oliver, tied for 1st place
Noah Kim, student of Allan Park, tied for 1st place

2022
Hyun Yoon student of Allan Park, First Place Winner
Meredith Nam student of Allan Park, Second Place Winner

2021
Lucas Tam student of Dr. Yelena Balabanova, First Place Winner
John Meneses, student of Allan Park, Second Place Winner
Ezekiel Taton, student of Allan Park, Third Place Winner

2020
The Scholarship was cancelled due to Covid.

2019
Lisa Kuang student of Yelena Balabanova and Claire Kim student of Allan Park, tied for 1st place Piano
Katherine Kuang student of Yelena Balabanova and Estella Xu student of Yelena Balabanova, tied for 2nd place Piano

2018
Ashley Mochizuki, student of Mariya Koshkina and David Lu, student of Yelena Balabanova, tied for 1st place Piano
Christopher Marley, 2nd Place Piano, student of Allan Park

2017
Patrick Bi, student of Conney Vernall, and Kat Kuang, student of Yelena Balabanova, tied for 1st Place Piano
Mi-Rae Kapelak, 2nd Place Piano, student of Cathy Baylor

2016
Kyran Park Adams, 1st Place Piano, student of Allan Park
Nancy Jong, 2nd Place Piano, student of Conney Vernall
Alec Sjoholm, 3rd Place Piano, student of Naoko Noguchi

2015
Angela Birchman, 1st Place Piano, student of Conney Vernall
Alina Bui and Hannah Volsky, tied for 1st Place Voice, students of Shih-Yi Kuan
Mi-Rae Kapelak, 2nd Place Piano, student of Cathy Baylor
Spencer Coffman, 2nd Place Voice, student of Shih-Yi Kuan

2014
Tammy Ho, 1st Place tied Piano, student of Ginny Reese
Nicholas Towle, 1st Place tied Piano, student of Cheryl Gray
Timothy Goei, 1st Place Non-Keyboard, student of Barb Hudak
Jane Sabahu, 2nd Place Piano, student of Naoko Noguchi
Madelyn Rangel, 2nd Place Non-Keyboard, student of Mary MacRae

2013
Madeleine Schultz, 1st Place Composition, Keva Vaughan-McMorrow
Aline Bui, 1st Place Voice, student of Shih-Yi Kuan
Andrew Kim, tied for 1st Place Piano, student of Carolyn Lee
Eugene Choi, tied for 1st Place Piano, student of Youn Joo Cook

2012
Emma Howeiler, 1st Place Piano, student of Keva Vaughan-McMorrow
Madeleine Schultz, 2nd Place Piano, student of Keva Vaughan-McMorrow
Jane Sabahu, 2nd Place Piano, student of Naoko Noguchi
Mackenzie Alvarez, 3rd Place Piano, student of Keva Vaughan-McMorrow

2011
David Oh, 1st Place Piano, student of Mariya Koshkina
Stephanie Goei, 1st Place Non-Keyboard, student of Ruth Bradshaw
Sarah St. Sauver, 2nd Place Non-Keyboard, student of Shih-Yi Kuan
Jolie Shen, 2nd Place Piano, student of Mariya Koshkina
Preston Sabahu, 3rd Place Piano, student of Naoko Noguchi

2011 — New Scholarship Guidelines Established

2009
Tiffany Wolf, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Sola Yun, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan

2008
Ryan Hyde, student of Gary Jordan
Storm Heitman, student of Gary Jordan
Elliot Gray, student of Ginny Gray

2007
McKenna Milici, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Elliot Gray, student of Ginny Gray

2006
Marissa Johnson, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Kaley Eaton, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Nathan Wasner, student of Warren Kunz

2005
Shawn Lawrence, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Jillian Arnold, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan

2004
Diana Juye, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan
Arielle Cecil, student of Mary Beth Cecil
Yoonji Kwon, student of Carolyn Lee

2003
Angela Morre, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan

2002
Vannessa Small, student of Keva Vaughan-McMorrow
Lindsay Karstetter, student of Sherri Brookfield-Jordan

2001
Jenelle Birnbaum, student of Kent Coleman

2000
David Kneeland, student of Keva Vaughan-McMorrow

1999
Sarah Thomson, student of Suzetta Glenn

1996
Rebecca Watkins, student of Warren Kunz

1994
Amy Main, student of Carolyn Malnes