Competitions

Performance competitions are sponsored by MTNA and KMTA and designed to challenge and encourage exceptionally talented young students in pursuit of musical achievement. These competitions provide an opportunity for students to receive professional adjudication in a competition setting with rules and repertoire requirements.

Students may enter either the MTNA Peformance Competition or the KMTA Bluegrass Competition, but may not enter the same category in both competitions.

MTNA Performance Competition

MTNA Composition Competition

KMTA Bluegrass Competition

Performance Competition Information

November 1-2, 2025
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY

Competiton Entry Deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Competitions start at the state level and are hosted by the Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA).

The Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) is excited to announce that $200 cash prizes will be awarded to the first-place winners or state representatives in each category of the 2025 MTNA Competitions. First-place winners in all categories of the 2025 KMTA Bluegrass Competitions will receive a cash prize of $100.

Thanks to Magnolia Bank of Hodgenville, KY for sponsoring the MTNA Performance Competition!

We are indeed grateful that Magnolia Bank of Hodgenville, KY for sponsoring the MTNA Performance Competitions again this year. Gratitude is also expressed to an anonymous donor and The Piano Shop for sponsoring the Bluegrass Competition prizes.

Funds previously used for the David Moore Competition will now be used to fund the first-place MTNA Composition Competition cash prizes. David Moore was a talented young Kentucky pianist and composer taken from us far too soon.

In order to be eligible for the cash prize, all first-place performance competition winners will be required to perform on the Winner’s Recital at the end of the competition day; cash prizes will be presented during the recital. The rules of the MTNA Competitions indicate that if there is only one entrant in a State-level category, this person will automatically be named a State Representative and advance to the Southern Division level of the competition. In order to receive the $200 prize money, however, the performance competition State Representative will be required to participate in the competition by playing for comments only and must also perform on the Winner’s Recital. Composition first-place winners and/or State Representatives are invited and encouraged to perform on a Winner’s Recital, but this is not a condition for receiving the cash prize. Performances must be on the instrument(s) for which the submitted composition was written. Only live performances are permitted.

MTNA Competition categories include:

Note: Brass and Voice (Senior and Young Artist only) and Chamber Music (Young Artist only) Performance Competitions will be 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, and seven will be selected in both the Brass and Voice categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round. There will be no state level rounds for Senior and Young Artist Brass and Voice and Chamber Music (Young Artist only) Competitions this year.

COMPOSITION: Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist
PIANO: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
PIANO DUET: Senior
STRING: Junior, Senior, Young Artist
WOODWIND: Junior, Senior, Young Artist

General Competition Notes

Repertoire may NOT be changed once the application is submitted.
Students may register for MTNA or Bluegrass Competitions, but may not enter the same category in both competitions.
Competition fees are non-refundable.

KMTA/MTNA Competition Chair

Naomi J. Oliphant
8304 Dinah Way
Louisville, KY 40242
(502) 594-3265 (cell)
naomi.oliphant@louisville.edu

MTNA Competitions

MTNA Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.

Note that rules applicable to all MTNA competitions, except those referring to division and national levels, also apply to KMTA Bluegrass Competitions.

MTNA Composition Competitions

MTNA Composition Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.

Entrants and teachers must meet the MTNA Entrant and Teacher Requirements. All submissions must follow the Composition Competition Rules.

KMTA Bluegrass Competitions

KMTA Bluegrass Competition dates, rules, and information can be found here.

KMTA Bluegrass Competitions end at the state level, but they provide an opportunity for some students to compete with more accessible repertoire requirements. Students capable of meeting more demanding repertoire guidelines should be encouraged to enter the MTNA competitions since those provide the added opportunity of advancing to division and national levels.