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State Competitions

ASMTA 2nd Vice President (Competitions): Dr. Ji-Young Kim, pianokim79@gmail.com.

MTNA Performance Chair: Dr. Yali Luo, yluo2yluo2@gmail.com

and Dr. Baruch Meir, baruch.meir@asu.edu

MTNA Composition Chair: Jenny Su, jennychenyisu@gmail.com

The MTNA Arizona State Competitions Committee encourages every detail of musical excellence by solo and chamber music performance competitions (junior high through collegiate) and composition competitions (elementary through collegiate).

State level winners advance to the MTNA Southwest Division Competition. Winners at the Southwest Division Competition then advance to the MTNA National Competition held at the MTNA National Conference.

Upcoming Competitions

MTNA State Competitions

November 7-8, 2026

Hammer & Strings Conservatory

610 N. Gilbert Road, #400

Gilbert, AZ 85234

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 3:00pm EDT (12:00pm MST)

The three-tiered Junior, Senior, and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with 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 Piano, Piano Duet (Senior only), String, and Woodwind.

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.

***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. Registrations will open November 1, 2026 and are due by 3:00pm EST on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

Live piano accompaniments are required for video competitions and live competitions.
Primary communication with entrants is by email. The registration must have accurate email addresses for entrants, parents (where applicable) and teacher/coach. Be sure to check spam/junk folders regularly for confirmations and other important information.
MTNA active membership dues must be paid before submission of the registration. A $200 nonmember teacher fee will be assessed if entrant’s teacher has not paid active membership dues for the 2026-2027 membership year.

***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. Registration will open November 1, 2026 and close at 3:00pm EST on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

The MTNA-Stecher & Horowitz Two Piano Competition consists of two rounds: a Preliminary Round, by video submission only; and a Final Round, which takes place live at the National Conference. All entrants will compete without regard to the state or division in which they live or take lessons. Registration will open on September 1, 2026 and close at 3:00pm EST on Monday, January 4, 2027.

MTNA Southwest Division Competitions

January 2027

Online Only

MTNA National Competitions

April 2-6, 2027

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

St. Louis, MO

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