EMTA Event Information

The Edmonds Music Teachers Association organizes a number of different local musical events both on our own and in conjunction with the State (WSMTA) and National (MTNA) Music Teachers Associations. Available below is festival, meeting, scholarship and event information for EMTA.

EMTA General Meetings

EMTA general meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00AM with the exception of March, July, and August. Meetings are currently being held in person at the Edgewood Baptist Church in Edmonds. Specific Information about EMTA general meetings is available on the our general meeting page.

EMTA Musicianship Festival and Music Literacy Exams 2024

12 March 2024: Musicianship Festival and Music Literacy Exams Registration Deadline
9 April 2024: Deadline for Virtual Submissions to the EMTA Musicianship Festival
3 May 2024: Musicianship Festival Setup
4 May 2024: Musicianship Festival

The EMTA Musicianship Festival is a fun “field day” of musical events. Events include: music performance opportunities, music literacy exams, musical composition submissions, and music projects (including arts and crafts, history, research paper, etc.). Please register with your teacher for this fun event. The theme this year will be Star Wars/Space – “May the 4th be with you!”

Venue: Edgewood Baptist Church at 20406 76th Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98026

EMTA members only Musicianship Festival Information Page
* The form for teachers to submit their students for this festival is available now on the Member Festival Information Page.
Parent and Student 2024 EMTA Musicianship Festival Information Letter
Form for Virtual Submissions to the 2024 EMTA Musicianship Festival:
Upload 2024 EMTA Virtual Musicianship Festival Student Submissions

EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Competition 2024

9 April 2024: EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Competition Application Deadline
18 May 2024: EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Competition

EMTA has established a new Excellence in Music Awards Competition to replace the previous Joan E. Brown Scholarship award. The new Excellence in Music Awards Competition will 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.

EMTA Excellence In Music Awards Competition Information Page
EMTA Student Performance Sheet

Lois Whitner Study Grant 2024

15 May 2024: Deadline for WSMTA Lois Whitner Study Grant application
This grant is open to music students currently in grades 8-11 who have studied a minimum of 4 years and whose teachers are members (of at least 12 months standing) of WSMTA. The applicant must have participated in the Music Artistry Program. The applicant will be considered on a basis of financial need and musical commitment.
WSMTA Scholarship Information page

2024 EMTA Student Awards Gala

1 June 2024: Student Awards Gala

The Student Award Gala is a celebration where outstanding students chosen from the following events perform at an end of the year recital. An awards ceremony and cookies and beverage reception will follow each recital.

3:00 Concert
* WA State Young Composers Project Winners
* Jazz, Rags, and Blues Festival Best of Festival Medalists
* EMTA Voice and Piano State Recital Competition Winners

4:00 Concert
* Time Era Festival Best of Festival Medalists
* EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Competition Winners

Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 3:00PM and 4:30PM
Venue: Hartley Mansion, 2320 Rucker Ave, Everett, WA 98201

2024 WSMTA State Conference

27-29 June 2024 WSMTA State Conference
Theme: WEAVING CULTURE AND HARMONY
Location: GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
EMTA Representatives chosen at the State Recital Competition will perform at the WSMTA State Conference.

July-August 2024 – Summer Break for EMTA

2024 EMTA Jazz, Rags, and Blues Concert, Festival and Workshop

September 2024: Jazz, Rags, and Blues Festival and Workshop Registration Deadline (or until the limit of 75 participants is reached)
October 2024: Deadline to purchase discounted festival concert tickets
October 2024: Jazz, Rags, and Blues Festival and Workshop

The purpose of this festival is to encourage the exploration of Jazz, Rags, and Blues. The festival will take place in a masterclass setting in which each performer will perform and receive feedback by the adjudicator. Each student will receive a brief written evaluation and achievement certificate. The festival also features a workshop to teach improvisation and jazz techniques.

Previous Jazz, Rags, and Blues Information Page – Members Only

MTNA and WSMTA Competitions

September 2024 MTNA Composition Competition Registration Deadline
The intent of the composition competition is to encourage creativity and self-expression in student musicians at all levels through the art of composing. WSMTA winners advance to the Northwest Division and possibly to the National Competitions.
MTNA Composition Competition Information Page

September 2024: MTNA Performance Competition Registration Deadline
The three-tiered Junior, Senior and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with live state competitions. The winners/representatives of each state’s competitions advance to a video-only division competition. Division winners compete in the national finals at the annual MTNA National Conference. The state competitions are considered the primary educational level with the division and national levels showcasing outstanding performance and honoring significant pedagogical achievement. Competitions include Brass (Senior and Young Artist only), Piano, Piano Duet (Senior only) String, Voice (Senior and Young Artist only) and Woodwind.
MTNA Performance Competition Information Page

September 2024: WSMTA Outstanding Artist Competition Registration
The competition was established in 2005 to provide an additional performance opportunity for talented pianists from Washington state. It runs concurrently with the MTNA Competition, but is not part of the MTNA Competition. The Outstanding Artist Competition (OAC) may serve as a positive initial step for students desiring to compete in the MTNA Performance Competition in future years.
WSMTA Outstanding Artist Competition Information Page

WSMTA District I and II Conference

October 2024: Districts 1 & 2 Conference

EMTA Community Recital 2024

October 2024: Halloween Community Recital Registration Deadline
October 2024: Halloween Community Recital

The October Community Recital is a chance for students of EMTA teachers to perform in a non-competitive environment. The October Community Recital has a Halloween theme. Students are welcome to play in costume.

Students must contact their teacher to register. Teachers should contact the EMTA event organizer Jennie Holland via text or email to register their students. Please provide the name and age of the student along with the name of the piece and the composer. Contact details for Jennie Holland are available in the member directory.

LOCATION: Kings Chapel at Crista, 19327 King Garden Dr. N, Shoreline, WA 98133

Time Era Festival 2024

October 2024: Time Era Festival Registration
November 2024 : Time Era Festival

The Time Era Festival was created to help students appreciate the differences between the Baroque (1600-1750), Classical, (1750-1820), The Romantic (1820-1900) and the Modern (1901 to Present). The time period for for 2022 is Modern which includes any composer regarded as Impressionistic or 20th Century.

The Time Era Festival Information Page is no longer available.

Adult Piano Social 2024

November 2024 : Adult Piano Social Registration Deadline
November 2024: Adult Piano Social

This is a social evening where EMTA adult students can socialize and/or perform on a wonderful piano in a casual and safe social setting. Partners of adult piano students and their piano teachers are also welcome. For adults who definitely wish to perform, the initial part of the evening will feature performances of adult students and maybe a few piano teachers who have RSVP’d that they wish to perform at this event. We will not be asking audience members to be especially quiet during the performances, these are expected to be casual performances during a social evening. After the scheduled performance, there will be an open piano where individuals who feel like playing can sit down and give it a go. Drinks and some snacks will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring some nibbles if they are so inclined.

This event is being organized by EMTA members, Dawn Taylor-May and Amber Saldivar.

Adult Piano Social Registration is no longer available.
Members Only Adult Piano Social Information Page is no longer available.

EMTA Composition Recital 2025

January 2025: Composition Recital Registration Deadline
January 2025: Composition Recital

EMTA members are invited to enroll their students in this recital of live performances of student-composed pieces for instrument(s) and/or voice(s.) Students may perform their own pieces or have someone else perform them, but no recorded performances will be included unless the recording is part of a piece which will also include live performer(s.) The audience will be comprised of friends and families of the performers and composers and interested teachers as well as any general public members who happen to be in the Third Place Commons and want to hear the performances.
This event is being organized by EMTA member, Rick Asher.

EMTA Community Recital 2025

February 2025: EMTA Valentine Community Recital Registration Deadline
February 2025: EMTA Valentine Community Recital

The February Community Recital is a chance for students of EMTA teachers to perform in a non-competitive environment. The February Community Recital has a Valentine’s theme. Students are welcome to play in costume.

Students must contact their teacher to register. Teachers should then contact the EMTA event organizer Jennie Holland via text or email to register their students. Please provide the name and age of the student along with the name of the piece and the composer. Registration will close when a total of 15 teachers or 1 hour of performances has been reached. Contact details for Jennie Holland are available in the member directory.

Members Only Community Recital Registration Information
LOCATION: Kings Chapel at the Courtyard, Crista, 19327 King Garden Dr. N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Time: 2:00PM, Length: Approximately 1 hour

Music Artistry Program 2025

January 2025 at Noon: Music Artistry Program Registration Deadline
February 2025: EMTA Music Artistry Chapter Fees Due
February 2025: Music Artistry Program – Voice
March 2025: Music Artistry Program – Piano

The Music Artistry Program of WSMTA is a self-supporting annual event developed for students to encourage interest in music and to maintain standards of fine musicianship. The program encourages students to prepare two memorized pieces in a non-competitive format to be assessed by professional visiting artists. The visiting artists are experienced teachers with advanced training and many serve on college faculties around the Northwest.

Please be aware that participation in the Music Artistry Program is a pre-requisite for all students wishing to apply to the new EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Program.

EMTA Members Only Music Artistry Program Page
WSMTA Music Artistry Program Information Page

Young Composer Project 2025

February 2025: Young Composer Project Registration and Submissions
The Young Composers Project gives students of WSMTA members the opportunity to submit their compositions for judging and comments by qualified adjudicators. This year, for the first time, Washington State teachers will also have the opportunity to submit their own compositions for comments from the adjudicators.
Please note there are some changes to the Young Composer Project this year.

WSMTA Young Composer Project Information

EMTA Honors Recital 2025

March 2025 (midnight): EMTA Honors Recital Registration Deadline
March 2025: EMTA Honors Recital

The EMTA Honors Recital is a special recital for outstanding performers as identified in the Music Artistry Program (MAP). Immediately following the Music Artistry Program, teachers should register their adjudicator-selected students for the EMTA Honor’s Recital. Only one piece is permitted per student due to time constraints.
* 1 student entrant per teacher with up to 10 students registered for MAP
* 2 student entrants per teacher with 10-20 students registered for MAP
* 3 student entrants per teacher with over 20 students registered for MAP

EMTA Voice and Piano State Recital Competition 2025

February 2025: Piano State Recital Competition Registration Deadline
March 2025: Piano State Recital Competition
March 2025: Piano State Recital Competition Result Announcement
March 2025: Voice State Recital Competition
March 2025: Voice State Recital Competition Result Announcement

The State Recital Competition is a competition to choose EMTA Chapter Representatives for the Washington State Conference Honors Recital and Alternates for the District Honors Recital. The winners are also invited to perform at Edmonds Chapter’s Students Award Gala in June. Winners of this competition will represent EMTA at the Washington State Music Teachers Association Conference. Alternates will be identified and participate in District I Honors Recital.

MTNA National Conference 2025

March 2025: MTNA National Conference

The MTNA National Conference, held annually, brings together the most representative cross-section of the MTNA membership. National competitions feature the outstanding performances of students in all instrument areas, as well as composition. Conferences include master classes, technology and informational sessions, pedagogy sessions, exhibit hall, evening concerts and much more. Members have an opportunity to participate by submitting proposals and papers for presentation.

MTNA Conference Information Page

District 1 Honors Recital 2025

April 2025: District 1 Honors Recital

The District 1 Honors Recital in April 2025. The ‘alternate(s)’ from each chapter’s state conference recitalists competition will be invited to perform in this recital. If non-piano MAP was held and the chapter selection took place, those selected students who placed as alternates are invited.

EMTA Adult Piano Social 2025

April 2025: Registration deadline for April 2024 Adult Piano Social
April 2025: Adult Piano Social Evening