EMTA welcomes teachers of all musical instruments plus voice. Our event availability for students tends to vary with the make-up of teachers within our association. Teachers who join our association and don’t see an event that suits their student’s instruments are welcome to work with our association to modify existing events for their student’s participation and/or organize new events.
Events currently open to students of all instruments and voice
MTNA National Competitions
The three-tiered Junior, Senior, and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with State Competitions. (Note: Brass and Voice, Senior and Young Artist, please see below) 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 Piano, Piano Duet (Senior only), String, and Woodwind.
Brass and Voice (Senior and Young Artist only) Performance Competitions are 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. Seven finalists will be selected in both the Brass and Voice categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round.
Composition Competitions, for Elementary, Junior, Senior and Young Artist levels, are also three tiers. The winners/representatives of each state’s competition advance to the Division Competition. Division winners compete in the National Finals. The national winners have their compositions performed at the annual MTNA National Conference.
The Chamber Music Competitions are two-tiered competitions: the Preliminary Round, by video submission only, and the Final Round, live at the MTNA National Conference. Ensembles will compete without regard to the state or division in which they live or take lessons, and seven ensembles will be selected in both the String and Wind categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round.
WSMTA Young Composers Project
The Young Composers Project gives students the opportunity to submit their original compositions for judging and comments by qualified adjudicators. These adjudicators are college professors and/or private teachers whose area of expertise is composition. The project provides educational feedback, a goal-setting format, and a focus on music that students love – their own compositions. Adjudicators select a first, second and third place composition for each grade level giving written comments. Certificates are awarded to all participants, and a small monetary prize is awarded to each first place winner. First-place winners are invited to perform their compositions at the WSMTA Conference each June.
WSMTA Student Art Project
WSMTA has a Student Artwork Contest to showcase the hidden talents of our students. Student artists are invited to submit artworks relating to the WSMTA conference theme.
EMTA Community Recitals
The EMTA Community Recitals are a chance for students of EMTA teachers to perform in a non-competitive and informal environment. Parents and other guests of the performers are welcome to attend this event. Students of all instruments and voice are welcome to perform.
EMTA Composition Recital
EMTA Members are invited to enter their students into the annual Student Composition Recital. There is no charge for entry and teachers may enter as many students as they wish. All solo performances must be performed live, preferably by the student composer. Compositions for groups may be played live by a chamber group or presented in recorded format.
EMTA Adult Music Student Socials
This is a social evening where EMTA adult music students can socialize and/or perform in a casual and safe social setting. Partners of adult music students and their 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 EMTA 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 and space where individuals who feel like playing can give it a go. Drinks and some snacks will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring some nibbles if they are so inclined.
EMTA Musicianship Festival and Music Literacy Program
The EMTA Musicianship Festival is a large “ribbon” festival which consists of fun “field day” of musical events. Events include: music performance opportunities, WSMTA music literacy exams, musical composition submissions, and music projects (including arts and crafts, history, research paper, etc.). This festival is EMTA’s largest event of the year and typically has a dress-up theme association with the festival.
Events that are open to all instruments, but currently only have event organizers for piano and voice
WSMTA Music Artistry Program and Honors Recital
The WSMTA Music Artistry Program (MAP) is an annual event in which students statewide perform in studio masterclasses and receive one-on-one coaching by Visiting Artists in a positive, noncompetitive learning environment. Each student and ensemble will be given a certificate from WSMTA as well as a written evaluation and oral comments from the visiting artist. More information is available on the WSMTA website and a separate parent information sheet is available.
EMTA State Recital Competition and District Honors Recital
The State Recital Competition celebrates the highest echelon of quality by the students of EMTA teachers as winners and alternates represent our chapter at the state and district level. All students who participate in the Music Artistry Program (MAP) event are eligible to enter the State Recital Competition. This competition selects the EMTA Chapter Representatives to perform in the WSMTA State Conference Honors Recital (1st place) and at the District 1 Honors Recital (Alternates). All Winners are also invited to perform at the EMTA Awards Gala in June.
EMTA Excellence in Music Awards Program
EMTA has established an Excellence in Music Awards Program which includes the Joan E. Brown Scholarship award. The Excellence in Music Awards Program 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 Gala Recital
The Student Award Gala is a celebration where outstanding students chosen from the the major EMTA festivals and events perform at an end of the year recital. An awards ceremony and cookies and beverage reception will follow each recital.
