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Skills Day: Keyboard and Sightreading

Application Requirements 1. Please register at new.mtfest.com 2. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com. Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event. Pay with Visa or Mastercard. After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records. You do not need to mail anything to the Chair. No late applications will be accepted. All fees are non-refundable. 3. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits To access the VMTA Keyboard Skills and Sightreading requirements, teachers should go to http://www.virginiamta.org/, click the “member area” button, find your name in the drop down box, click the name, and type in your password. If you need help with the password, e-mail John Winsor or call 757-424-4277. This event is a pre-requisite for Northern District Auditions (NDA). The requirements for NDA are listed below: Teacher Guidelines The minimum judging time commitment is 1 hour plus 1 additional hour for every four students entered. These assignments are based on the number of students enrolled, regardless of subsequent student withdrawals. Students must bring 1 rating sheet for each skill being tested. These may be downloaded from new.mtfest.com, and will be available after the schedule is published. Teachers must agree to abide by the Teacher Responsibilities. No make-up exams will be given for any reason. If the entire event is cancelled for weather, the snow date is January 14, 2024. Due to the number of exams being given, the paucity of volunteers, and the difficulty of scheduling adjacent exams for those students testing on two or more skills, please ask your students to save the whole day, […]

$20

Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition

Application Requirements 1.  Please register at new.mtfest.com.  Registration will open on November 15 and will close on December 7. 2.  Pay fees online through mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. 3. Teachers are responsible for checking their entries online for any errors in submitted applications. If there are any errors, you must edit your entry online (click on the pencil icon next to student name) by December 7.  Changes to applications are not permitted past  December 7.   4. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. 5. Snow dates for this event are Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21, 2024.  Levels and Time Limits Repertoire Requirements Students who play the same concerto for more than one year may not repeat the same movement.  Only one movement is allowed.  Only cuts to orchestral tutti are permitted.  Students must perform the entire movement unless stopped by the room monitor.  A room monitor will ask the performer to skip to the cadenza if the total performance time is longer than the allotted time limit.  Music must be performed from memory. If a cadenza for the movement exists, it must be played. Students who play a concerto without a cadenza risk being disqualified from prize eligibility if there is a cadenza in existence for that concerto, and a cadenza is not performed. A student may compose and perform his/her own cadenza for […]

$40

Concerto Competition: Strings

Application Requirements 1. Please register by January 11, 2024 at new.mtfest.com 2. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. 3. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits The competition has two divisions:  Upper Strings (Violin) and Lower Strings (Viola, Violoncello, String Bass, Guitar and Harp).  Each division has the following levels and playing time restrictions: Students and teachers may determine their own cuts. Repertoire Requirements One movement from a concerto or other major work for solo instrument with orchestral accompaniment. Performance from memory is required. Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may download  as a spreadsheet for your reference:  Repertoire for Concerto Competition for Strings 2014 Eligibility Open to students of violin, viola, violoncello, string bass, guitar or harp.  This event will be an in-person competition at Spectrum School for the Arts. Previous first place winners may not compete again in the same grade category, but are eligible (with the chairman’s approval) for the next level. Awards Each performer will receive a certificate for participation. Teacher Guidelines All parent or student questions about an event should be handled by the teacher.  Teachers should never give parents or students the phone numbers or e-mail addresses of chairmen.  Chairmen have no obligation to respond to parent or student inquiries.  Teachers must agree to abide by the Rules […]

$40

Theory Mastery Day

Application Requirements 1.  Please register at new.mtfest.com. 2. Register by January 11, 2024. 3.  Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or MasterCard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. 4. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Teacher Guidelines Due to the number of exams being given, we ask that your students save the whole day and understand that we cannot honor time requests. Teachers are required to work 1 hour plus one hour for every four students entered. Teachers entering fewer than four students are expected to work 2 hours. No partial hours. These assignments are based on the number of students enrolled, regardless of subsequent student withdrawals. Teachers must agree to abide by the Teacher Responsibilities. To access the VMTA theory tests, teachers should go to http://www.virginiamta.org/, click the “member area” button, find your name in the drop down box, click the name, and type in your password. If you need help with the password, e-mail John Winsor or call 757.424.4277. If the event is cancelled for weather, the makeup date is Sunday, February 18, 2024.

$21

Concerto Competition and Festival: Woodwinds

Application Requirements 1. Teachers register students at new.mtfest.com 2. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. 3. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits Time limits may be reduced if enrollment exceeds the time frame allowed for the competition. Repertoire Requirements Grades 6 & under:  In the competitive and noncompetitive sections, the slow movement of any concerto Grades 7-8:  In the competitive and noncompetitive sections, the slow movement of any concerto Grades 9-10:  In the competitive and noncompetitive sections, any movement of any concerto Grades 11-12:  In the competitive section, a fast movement from any concerto Memorization of the selection is preferred but not required. Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may download  as a spreadsheet for your reference:  Repertoire for Concerto Competition for Woodwinds. Eligibility Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, or recorder students may enter.  No previous first place winners may compete again in the same division, but with the chairman’s consent, they may compete at a higher level. Awards In the noncompetitive section, students will receive comments and a rating, but no ranking, from at least two judges. In the competitive section, all performers will receive a certificate of participation. Teacher Guidelines Students must provide their own accompanist Please provide one published score with all  measures numbered, and which must not bear the student’s or teacher’s name. […]

$40

Bach/Baroque Festival and Competition

Application Requirements Please register at new.mtfest.com. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com. Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event. Pay with Visa or Mastercard. After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records. You do not need to mail anything to the Chair. No late applications will be accepted. All fees are non-refundable Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits Repertoire Requirements Festival Piano: Repertoire: Play 2 memorized pieces, one by J. S. Bach and a second piece by J. S. Bach or another Baroque composer. Any piece with a BWV number, including all pieces in the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, is acceptable as the first piece. Adults: memory optional Strings: Repertoire: Play 2 memorized pieces, one by J.S. Bach and a second piece by J.S. Bach or another Baroque composer. Published arrangements from Suzuki books or other anthologies accepted. Competition Piano: Format: In-person, 2 rounds and an Honors Recital. The first round will be in recital format. Judges will write critiques. The second round will be a private audition. Repertoire: Play 2 memorized pieces. Choose the first piece (by J S Bach) from the following list: A Little Prelude (BWV 899-900, 902, 924-928, 930-931, 933-941, 943, 999, 902a); 4 minutes total playing time A 2-part Invention; 4 minutes total playing time A 3-part Invention (Sinfonia); 7 minutes total playing time A movement from a French or English Suite or from a Partita; 7 minutes total playing time One Prelude and Fugue set (both with the same BWV number) from either volume of WTC; 10 minutes total playing […]

$23

Piano Concerto Festival, Grades K-3

Application Deadline:  January 27, 2024 Application Requirements 1.  Please register Grades K-3 at new.mtfest.com 2.  Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. 3. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee.  PLEASE NOTE:  If you enter students in grades K-3 AND grades 4-12, you must pay separately for each event. Levels and Time Limits In case there are fewer than 6 students registered in the K-1 Level and/or the 2-3 Level, the grouping criteria shall be one mixed level of K-3.” Repertoire Requirements Students may play only one movement. Music must be performed from memory. Entrant will abide by all copyright laws and has permission to use all music given to judges and accompanists during all events as outlined here. The cadenza is optional. If you wish it to be heard: Double-check your time limit listed above Time the cadenza Time the movement Make a cut that allows time for the cadenza Mark it clearly for the judges to follow, i.e. “cut to cadenza” Put in a tab (if necessary) to mark the cadenza for the judges to find Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may  download  as a spreadsheet for your reference:  Repertoire for Piano Concerto Festival 2014 Eligibility Students who play in the Concerto Competition in January may not play in the Piano Concerto Festival.  Students must play at […]

$29

Composition Competition

Composition Competition IN MEMORY OF ALMA GRAYCE MILLER POSTMARK DEADLINE: March 7, 2024 FEE $24.00 per entrant. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. All fees are nonrefundable. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 1. Fill out the application. 2. Submit four clear copies of each manuscript. On the manuscript, write the title of the piece, the composer’s age, and number of years of study. The composer’s name must not appear on the manuscript. 3. Submit a digital file (mp3 or mp4) of the composition to mcconnell.piano@gmail.com. Label the entry with the title of the composition only. 4. Mail application, manuscripts, and one check per studio payable to NVMTA to: Christy Tallamy 1712 Tomworth Ct. NE Leesburg VA 20176 CHAIR Christy Tallamy ABOUT THIS EVENT This competition is intended to encourage the writing of original creative compositions. It is in memory of Alma Grayce Miller, a former NVMTA member, who left funds for this purpose. Not sure how to navigate student compositions? Can it be done between now and the deadline? (The answer is yes.) For ideas, tips and inspiration, check out and information video here. ELIGIBILITY Participants must study with an active member teacher of NVMTA or pay the non-member fee (as defined in the bylaws). Compositions must be in student’s own handwriting or in the form of a computer printout personally produced by the composer. There is no restriction on the selection of instruments. There are neither age or grade requirements nor requirements concerning form, style, or length of composition. Computer generated recordings are permitted but not preferred. TEACHER GUIDELINES Participating teachers must pick up materials from the chair at the conclusion of the […]

$24

Spring Festival (NFMC)

Event Details The Falls Church Spring Festival is an annual event that provides students an opportunity to perform and receive constructive feedback in a non-competitive environment. In addition to a written evaluation, students earn 1-5 points for each performance. To promote continuing study, points accrued can be used to earn trophies at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 points. Registration will open on October 15, 2023 and will close December 15, 2023. Festival will be held on March 15th and 16th at Luther Jackson Middle School. Please register at http://www.novaspfestival.org/ Fees State dues: Teachers must federate their students by paying state dues to VFMC. State dues are $35 for up to 16 students, +$1 for each additional student. $50 individual teacher fee for non-NVMTA members. Local registration fee: $25.00 per student, per event. Repertoire Requirements Repertoire requirements and guidelines can be found in the 2021-2024 Federation Festivals Bulletin. Contact chair@novaspfestival.org for information on bulletins. Eligibility Students of any age whose teacher belongs to NVMTA and has paid Junior Club dues may participate. Juniors Junior entrants must be 18 years of age or younger on the date of Festival. Adult entrants must be 19 years or older on the date of the Festival. Adult entrants may either be a Senior member of the National Federation of Music Clubs, or a student of an NVMTA teacher. Teacher Guidelines: NVMTA membership must be up-to-date. Non-NVMTA members must submit Senior Individual dues along with Junior Club dues. All dues must be paid to the VFMC treasurer by October 20th, 2023. New members, please contact chair@novaspfestival.org.

$25

Achievement Awards Competition: Voice

Achievement Award: Voice Competition Goal:  To give students experience in performing classical repertoire and to receive constructive criticism from experienced voice teachers.  We warmly welcome students in grades 8 and above who would gain vocal growth from this audition/performance experience. Application Requirements Please register at new.mtfest.com Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  All fees are non-refundable. Levels and Time Limits Comment Only:  No age limit, 6 minutes. Levels may be adjusted if warranted by the number and age of applicants. Repertoire Requirements Levels 1, and 2: Two selections in different languages, one of which is English.  Level 3:  Three selections representing (1) Baroque/Classical, (2) Romantic, and (3) 20th or 21st Century. Selections must include at least two languages, one of which is English. Comments Only:  Two or three contrasting selections of varying styles, including one in a foreign language.  Music must be performed from memory, except for oratorio selections. In Level 3, music must be performed in the original language; in the case of opera and oratorio, in the original key. For questions about repertoire, please contact the Chair or Co-Chair. Eligibility Previous first-place winners may not compete again in the same level.  Singers under professional management are not eligible. Students must be taught lessons in person in Northern Virginia. Teacher Guidelines Singers must bring their own accompanists. Teachers and coaches may not accompany their students. Written comments from the judges will be given to […]

$40

Piano Ensemble Competition and Festival

Application Requirements 1.  Please register at new.mtfest.com. 2.  Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. Levels and Time Limits Levels are determined by the average age of the ensemble team. Average age will be rounded to the higher whole number. Ensembles with an average age below 7 or over 18 must play in the festival division. Repertoire Requirements Any piano composition written or arranged for not more than two pianos is acceptable. Ensembles may include one piano, four hands; two pianos, four hands; one piano, six hands; or two pianos, eight hands. A movement of a sonatina, suite, etc., counts as one composition. Portions of a piece are not acceptable. For instance, all the variations of a theme and variation should be included. Partners may switch Primo/Secondo positions between compositions. A theme and variations is considered one composition and therefore partners may not switch positions between variations.  Any question regarding repertoire will be decided by the Piano Ensemble chairmen. Memorization is not required. No more than two pieces of literature may be performed that fit the time limit for the appropriate level. Students may choose longer works, but playing times may not be exceeded. Piano Ensemble Competition registrants are required to play two selections.  Festival participants may play one or two selections. Entrants will abide by all copyright laws and has permission to use all music given to judges and accompanists during all events as outlined here. Eligibility Ensembles may […]

$29

Achievement Awards Competition: Piano

Application Requirements Please register at new.mtfest.com Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. The teacher will receive information after the registration deadline. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits Repertoire Requirements No Arrangements.  All music must be performed from memory. Level 1-4.  Three pieces representing three of the following five periods:  Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Contemporary. Level 5.  Four works:  1.) A piece from the Baroque period*; 2.) A sonata movement by Haydn, Clementi, Mozart, Beethoven, or early Schubert; 3) A piece from the Romantic or the Impressionistic period; 4) A contemporary piece. The style period for a given composer will be defined by the MTNA Composer Classifications.  Any composer with two classifications should be classified according to the qualities of the particular work.  Additional composers not included in the MTNA Composer Classification List will be classified as follows for NVMTA Achievement Awards from the following list:  Composer PAA.  Please email the chair with any questions regarding composer classification.  The diversity in style of repertoire is an important consideration, and students must present a diverse program for the competition. Students who have repertoire over the time limit will be stopped without penalty to ensure a portion of each piece is performed. *If playing a work from the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Prelude and Fugue shall be considered one piece, and both must be performed. Eligibility All students are required to […]

$40

Achievement Awards Competition, Strings

Application Requirements Please register at new.mtfest.com. Application deadline is April 13, 2024. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. Teachers will receive information after the registration deadline. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Times The competition has two divisions: Violin and Lower Strings (Viola, Violoncello, String Bass, Guitar & Harp) Repertoire Requirements Two works of appropriate difficulty representing different periods of music and contrasting in style and/or tempo. Music must be performed from memory. Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may  download  as a spreadsheet for your reference:  Repertoire for Strings Achievement Awards 2014 Eligibility Open to violin, viola, violoncello, string bass, guitar, and harp students.  Previous first-place winners may not compete again in the same level, but may compete in a higher level. Teacher Guidelines If there are any time restrictions that need to be considered in scheduling, indicate this on the application. The student must provide an accompanist if needed. Please provide one published score with all measures numbered, and which must not bear the student’s or teacher’s name. Participating teachers are expected to assist the chair as needed based on the number of students enrolled, regardless of subsequent student withdrawals.  Teachers must agree to abide by the Rules for Competitive Events as well as the Teacher Responsibilities. Any teacher who fails to carry out the assigned […]

$40

Achievement Awards: Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion

Application Requirements 1. Please register at new.mtfest.com. 2.  Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits Repertoire Requirements Two works, or movements from different works, contrasting in style and/or tempo. Memorization of the selections is preferred but not required Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may  download  as a spreadsheet for your reference:  Repertoire for Winds Achievement Awards. Eligibility Previous first-place winners may not compete again in the same level, but with chairman’s consent, may compete in a higher level. Teacher Guidelines Student must provide accompanist, if needed. Please provide one published score with all measures numbered, and which must not bear the student’s or teacher’s name. Teachers must agree to abide by the Rules for Competitive Events as well as the Teacher Responsibilities. Awards

$40

Sonata Festival

DATE AND PLACE Festival:  May 18,2024 Honors Recital:  May 19, 2024 George Mason University 4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA  22030 Registered participating teachers will receive detailed instructions regarding student information and teacher work hours.   DEADLINES Registration Deadline:  April 18, 2024 All fees are paid online by this date. FEE $24.00.  All fees are nonrefundable.  Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Please register at new.mtfest.com Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com   Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event.  Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair. CHAIR Greg Genter CO-CHAIRS Jeri Bennett LEVELS AND TIME LIMITS Elementary, e.g., simple Sonatinas = 4 minutes Intermediate, e.g., Clementi/Kuhlau Sonatinas = 7 minutes Advanced, e.g., Beethoven/Mozart/Haydn Sonatas =10 minutes REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS Sonata/Sonatina movements may be by the same composer or by different composers.  Students must enter two contrasting movements:  EITHER contrasting tempos (i.e. one slow, one fast) OR contrasting time periods (Baroque/Classical/Romantic/Contemporary).  For purposes of this event, Allegretto is considered "fast", and Moderato is considered "slow".  Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata, for example, movements 2 and 3 would not qualify due to similar tempi.  In a two-movement Sonata/Sonatina, however, movements with similar tempi are acceptable.  Teachers must indicate in their application that the entrant’s repertoire is a “two movement sonata or sonatina”.  A Minuet is acceptable if it is a movement of a sonata and if it has a contrasting tempo and style from the other movement that is selected (i.e., one Allegretto, one Adagio).  A Theme and Variations […]

$24

Northern District Auditions

Application Requirements 1. Please register at new.mtfest.com. Be very specific listing piece titles, including opus or Hob. numbers, keys, and movements. Registration deadline is 4/25, 2024. 2. Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com. Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event. Pay with Visa or Mastercard. After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records. You do not need to mail anything to the Chair. No late applications will be accepted. All fees are non-refundable. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. Levels and Time Limits Levels and time limits are determined by the student’s current school grade (and the student must have reached the corresponding sight-reading and theory levels for his or her grade, as shown below). Repertoire Requirements Three compositions representing three of the following periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary. No changes of repertoire will be allowed after the postmark deadline. Here is a list of repertoire used in 2014 which you may download as a spreadsheet for your reference: Repertoire for District Auditions 2014 Eligibility Student must have passed the examinations for their level on Theory Mastery Day and Skills Day by the application deadline. For example, at the time of application, a student currently in Grade 5 would enroll in level I-B and must have passed sight-reading level 3 and theory level 2B. Students should not enter the Northern District Auditions if they plan to participate in the MTNA Junior High or High School competitions of Virginia. Awards In each level: First Place $40, Alternate $25. Winners and alternates in each level will represent Northern Virginia in […]

$30