COMPETITIVE EVENTS

Rules for Miami Music Teachers Association Competitive Events: (Competitions, Scholarships, and Honors Recital)

*See application requirements for each event after the following general rules*

General Rules:

  1. To be eligible to submit students, a teacher must have paid current membership dues on or before July 1 of the current fiscal year. The only exception to this deadline will be granted to a teacher joining for the very first time. This one time exception will allow the teacher to pay all dues on or before January 1st of the audition year.
  2. Teachers must attend 2 events/meeting to enroll students in the MMTA Honors and Scholarships Auditions. Starting in January 2023, MMTA teachers will be able to attend the 2 required events in an extended period from January to December of the year prior to entering students. It is the member’s responsibility to sign up the attendance form when attending an event. The application form to enter students will require teachers to state the dates when they attended the 2 events. MMTA will not provide this information to teachers if they don’t keep this record themselves. Chairperson will verify attendance to accept the application form.
    As an alternative to meet this requirement, MMTA teachers may enroll a minimum of 2 students in the Fall Recital and/or Spring Recital. Each Recital counts towards 1 attendance requirement. Apart from the MMTA events held throughout the year, attending the District 6 Enrichment Day (usually held in the fall) may also count toward the 2-meeting minimum requirement. 
  3. Any teacher who has students participating in any event of MMTA or MMTF will be required to accept a help assignment from the chairman of that event. The assignment may require the teacher’s presence on audition day or performance day.
  4. Students must have completed at least 6 months of study with the teacher who submits the application. Students who have graduated from high school or taken the GED are not eligible except for voice students, where the age limit is 20.
  5. At least one original copy of the composition performed, unmarked except for measure numbers, must be presented to the judges. Neither the student’s name nor the teacher’s name should appear on the score. Repeats are not to be taken. No photocopies will be accepted and, if presented, the student will automatically be disqualified. Photocopied
    scores may be accepted if written permission from the publisher is presented, but the Chairperson must be notified in writing together with the application form.
  6. All repertoire must be in its original form. Absolutely no arrangements or “pop tunes” will be accepted. The only exception to this is for music used in the MMTF Ensemble Scholarship auditions.
  7. No piece will be allowed if the student has previously auditioned with this piece in any competition sponsored by FSMTA District VI Music Teachers Associations, including Broward County, Miami, Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast MTA’s.
  8. Applications must be signed by the teacher and sent to the Competition Chairperson by the deadline. You may find the application form and instructions in the newsletter Tones and Overtones (in the edition prior to each event) and on MMTA’s website. If sent by email, applications will be considered received on the date when the entry check is
    postmarked. Some events require the applications to be mailed. Please check each event’s requirements.
  9. Fees: Merit Scholarship $35 per student. Honors Recital Audition $25 per student. Ensemble scholarship $25  per student  (not per ensemble). Latin American Scholarship $25 per student. Composition Contest $25 per student. Pat Simpson Concerto Competition $35 per student (for MMTA members) & $65 (for non-members). Fees for competitive events MUST come from the teacher: If more than one application is being submitted, teachers should submit a single check or
    Zelle transaction for the total amount due. Checks must be payable to MIAMI MUSIC TEACHERS FOUNDATION (or MMTF) Mail check to MMTA treasurer (please see executive board page for information on
    current treasurer)
    Zelle payments will need teachers name and event date
    Zelle contact: miamimtainformation@gmail.com
  10. To receive the judges’ evaluation forms; please contact the Chairperson.
  11. Any entrant whose program or application does not meet the requirements will be notified within 7 days of receipt of the applications and given an opportunity to make the necessary changes.
  12. Three judges, having no connection with any participating student, will evaluate students on performance. No one may be present at the auditions except the student, judges, and competition Chairperson. All decisions of the judges are final and will not be subject to further review. They have the right to declare no winner. One entrant in a competition
    category does not automatically guarantee a winner. Judges will be instructed not to speak with teachers or parents at any time, and they will only speak with students regarding matters of protocol if necessary.
  13. Video and/or audio recording are not allowed under any circumstance during the auditions. Violating this rule will result in disqualification.
  14. Teachers MUST NOT contact the judges on the day of the event or afterward. If this rule is broken, they may not be given permission to send students for any competition the following year.
  15. Questions or problems arising from the competitions must be handled by the student’s teacher and the competition’s Chairperson. Parents are not allowed to contact the Chairperson.
    • The winners will perform with a String Quartet.
    • The repertoire selection will be the same as the video submission and the live audition.
    • The students are responsible for providing the String Quartet with the orchestra adaptation of their piece, no later than a month after winners are announced. MMTA is not responsible for providing the quartet accompaniment to the concerto. If the winner students are unable to provide the quartet arrangement by the time requested, they will be disqualified (they will not receive the monetary price if they are unable to perform with the quartet)
    • The concerto must be performed by memory.Please see below requirements for each event.
      For further information contact the Chairperson.

      Events Requirements:


      1. MMTF Scholarships Requirements:
      Find Application form in our Calendar of Events 
    • Please note: One student can participate in more than 1 scholarship, but it will count towards the total of students that a teacher can enter in each scholarship.

      A. MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS for piano (Each Active member may submit maximum 3 students)
      Applicants are judged within school grade levels, as follows:
      Junior A: students through grade 4.
      Junior B: students in grades 5 and 6.
      Junior C: students in grades 7 and 8.
      Senior A: students in grades 9 and 10.
      Senior B: students in grades 11 and 12.

      B. MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS for voice (Each Active member may submit maximum 3 students)
      Applicants are judged in these age levels:
      Junior: through age 13, at time of audition.
      Senior A: age 14 through 16, at time of audition.
      Senior B: age 17 through 20, at time of audition.

      C. MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS for other instruments are also available. For further information, please contact the Scholarship Chairperson.

      RULES FOR MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS (for piano, voice, and other instruments):
      At all levels students are required to perform three pieces by memory, each from a different period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionism, 20th century). The only exceptions are Junior A piano and Junior voice, where repertoire does not have to be from
      different historical periods. Concerti or movements from concerti will not be accepted for piano auditions.

      Merit Scholarship first place winners at any level will not be eligible to compete the following year in the same category, but may compete in the next higher category if the school grade goes accordingly to the requirements (for piano and other instrument students), and if the age limits allows to move to the next category (for voice students). Merit Scholarship winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mentions) at each level are invited to perform one of the pieces from their audition program in the Honors Recital. Judges may recommend the recital piece, but the final choice may be made by the student. Winners will receive their award at the Honors Recital.

      D. MMTF LATIN-AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP: (Each Active member may submit maximum 2 students)

      RULES FOR LATIN-AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP:
      Applicants for the Latin-American Scholarship must play two pieces of contrasting styles by Latin-American composers. If there is any doubt regarding this requirement, contact the Scholarship chairperson before assigning the work.

      A student who auditions for this award may also audition for a Merit Scholarship but may not use one of the Latin American pieces as part of the 3-piece Merit program. Only one winner will be selected. The winner will play in the Honors Recital. The winner cannot apply for this scholarship in future editions. Winner will receive the award at the Honors Recital.

      E. MMTF ENSEMBLE PIANO ENSEMBLE SCHOLARSHIP: (Each Active member may submit maximum 2 ensembles

      RULES FOR THE PIANO ENSEMBLE SCHOLARSHIP:
      Students play as a duet/duo, trio, or quartet. Please contact the chairperson before assigning music to your students to verify if more than 1 piano will be available. Venue limitations will impact this decision. Two pieces are required. Entries are divided into: Elementary (through grade 4), Junior (grades 5 through 8), Senior (grades 9 through 12). If the participants have different school grades, they will be
      entered in the category of the higher school grade.

      Winners are invited to perform one of the pieces from their audition program in the Honors Recital. Judges may recommend the recital piece, but the final choice may be made by the students. Winners will receive their award at the Honors Recital. First place winners at any level will not be eligible to compete the following year in the same category but may compete in the next higher category if the school grade goes
      according to the requirements.

      2. MMTF Composition Contest:
      Find Application form in our Calendar of Events 

      1. There is no limit to the number of students each teacher may enter.

      2. Entries are divided into: Elementary (ages 5-10, minimum 16 measures) Junior (ages 11-14), Senior (ages 15-18). Age as of January 1st of the audition year.

      3. One composition per student. It must be an original work no longer than 5 minutes (any instrumentation).

      4. Students will submit one full score of the original work together with their application. Please only Title and Level will be written on the score. The name of the student can not be shown. Please write the measure numbers at the beginning of each system. Score will not be returned.

      5. Awards are presented at the discretion of the judges.

      6. Winners will be invited to perform at the MMTF Honors Recital. Winners will receive their monetary award and certificate at the Honors Recital.

      7. For more details, please contact the chairperson.


      3. MMTF Honors Recital Audition:
      Find Application form in our Calendar of Events (Honors and Scholarships Auditions are in the same form)

      1. Each Active member may submit 5 students for the audition to qualify for the Honors Recital. Vocal & Piano students.

      2. Participants are judged within two age divisions as follows:
      Junior Division: age 13 or younger. Senior Division: ages 14 through high school, except for Voice, where the age limit is 20. The participant’s age on January 1st preceding the audition will determine the Division.

      3. All repertoire must be in its original form. Absolutely no arrangements or “pop tunes” will be accepted.

      4. No piece will be allowed if it has ever been auditioned in any competition sponsored by FSMTA District VI Music Teachers Associations, including Broward County, Miami, Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast MTA’s.

      5. If a student auditioning for the Honors Recital is also auditioning for a scholarship, one of the scholarship audition pieces may also be played for the Honors Recital audition. In this case, the scholarship audition will be evaluated for both categories. A second audition will not be scheduled.

      6. If two applications are submitted for the same work, the earlier postmarked or emailed application will be accepted. The other applicant will be contacted and given the opportunity to submit a different work.

      7. A list of students chosen to participate in the Honors Recital will be e-mailed to teachers as soon as possible after the auditions. Results will not be given by telephone.

      8. Students selected to perform in the Honors Recital will not be eligible to audition for the Honors Recital the following year but may apply again in two years.


      4. Pat Simpson Concerto Competition
      Find Application form in our Calendar of Events 

      Age Limit: Participating students should be under the age of 18 by the registration deadline
    • Instrument: The competition is open to students of ANY instrument

      Repertoire: One movement of a concerto suitable to play with a string quartet reduction or arrangement. For example, Concerti by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven 1 and 2, Chopin 1 and 2, Hummel, Field, etc., no more than 30 minutes.

      To Register:

      Teachers: Please email forms and video directly to the chairperson listed in the event. Mail one check or send a Zelle transfer with the total due for all of your students.

      Fees:

      MMTA members: $35 per student

      Non-members: $65 per student

      Payment Methods:

      • Check from the teacher – make payable to MMTF, write “Concerto Competition” in the memo line, and mail to current treasurer (listed in the executive board on the website miamimta.org)
      • Zelle from the teacher using: miamimtainformation@gmail.com

      Video Recording:

      • ONE movement of a concerto, video recorded with piano accompaniment, no more than 30 minutes long. The introductory and large orchestral parts may be reduced from the video recording.
      • The video should clearly show the student’s face and hands and should be unedited.
      • The students are responsible for the piano accompanist. If you need assistance finding someone to play with the student, please contact miamiMTAinformation@gmail.com
      • The link to the video (please make sure the link works and is accessible – any broken links will disqualify the student from the competition)

      Live Auditions:

      • Selected students will be advanced to the live audition round. They will be notified within a week after the registration deadline.
      • The students will perform live their ONE concerto movement with piano accompaniment.
      • The selection must be the same with the one submitted in the recorded round.
      • All auditionees must provide three copies of the score for the competition judges.
      • Performers must provide their own accompanist.
      • The concerto must be performed by memory.

      Awards:

      All three winners will be featured by performing their concerto movement at the Winners Concert, to be scheduled in the Spring following the competition. There will be up to three monetary awards:

      • 1st Prize: $300
      • 2nd Prize: $200
      • 3rd Prize: $100

      *All decisions made by the judges are final. At the judges’ discretion, the number of winners can be modified.

      MMTA Winners Concert:

      • The winners will perform with a String Quartet.
      • The repertoire selection will be the same as the video submission and the live audition.
      • The students are responsible for providing the String Quartet with the orchestra adaptation of their piece, no later than a month after winners are announced. MMTA is not responsible for providing the quartet accompaniment to the concerto. If the winner students are unable to provide the quartet arrangement by the time requested, they will be disqualified (they will not receive the monetary price if they are unable to perform with the quartet)
      • The concerto must be performed by memory.

  16. 5. Zelda Jensen Sight Reading Award:
    This award is geared towards the beginning piano student through 5th grade in school. Teachers are encouraged to develop good habits in tackling new material, by using sight reading materials on a regular basis.

    Evaluations will take place during the performance audition at FSMTA District 6 Student Day in Miami. Students will need to enroll in the Student Day program to be eligible. No other application is needed.

    Students receiving a bonus point for sight reading by a Student Day judge will have a second and final round of evaluations that same day.

    One winner will be awarded in each of the following categories:

    1. Primary through Level 3
    2. Levels 4 through 5

    The winners will receive an award at the Student Day Honors Recital.


    State Level Competitions:
    Florida State Music Teachers Association
    For updated information, please visit: http://www.fmta.org/fsmta-competitive-events.html

    1. Concerto Competition
    2. Byrd Memorial Piano Ensemble Competition (Pre-college and College levels)
    3. Gray Perry Young Collegiate Piano Competition
    4. Pre-College Chamber Music Competition
    5. Pre-College and Collegiate Guitar Competition
    6. Community Service Awards
    ● Local and District Presidents’ Community Service Award for Ninth Graders
    ● FSMTA Community Service Award for 12th Graders
    7. King Music Education Scholarship