MTNA Composition Competitions 

National Coordinator:

Christopher Goldston
5415 N. Sheridan Rd. #604
Chicago, IL 60640
Telephone: (773) 580-7301
goldston@hotmail.com

Elementary:

• Age: 5–10 as of January 1, 2011
• Entry Fee: $50

Junior:

• Age: 11–14 as of January 1, 2011
• Entry Fee: $70

Senior:

• Age: 15–18 as of January 1, 2011
• Entry Fee: $100

Young Artist:

• Age: 19–26 as of January 1, 2011
• Entry fee: $100

National Awards

Awards made possible by Morty and Iris Manus.

• Elementary Winner: $500
• Elementary Second Place: $250
• Teacher of Winner: $200

Awards made possible by Morty and Iris Manus.

• Junior Winner: $1,000
• Junior Second Place: $500
• Teacher of Winner: $200

Awards made possible by Hal Leonard Corporation.

• Senior Winner: $2,000
• Senior Second Place: $1,000
• Teacher of Winner: $200

Awards made possible by the MTNA Foundation Fund

•   Young Artist Winner: $3,000
•   Young Artist Second Place: $1,500
•   Teacher of Winner: $200
  
  

Teacher and Student Eligibility Information

All submissions must meet the “Teacher Eligibility Requirements” and “Student Eligibility Requirements.”

Competition Rules

• A student may submit only one (1) entry.
• A student may enter the competition in only one (1) state.
• Only one (1) student per entry is allowed.
• All entry fees are nonrefundable.
• Decisions of competition judges are final.
• A national first-place MTNA winner may not enter again in the same Composition Competition Category (Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist).
• Audio or video recording and photography of the Winners Concert is strongly discouraged.
• The score of each national winner will be kept by MTNA.
• MTNA is not responsible for lost or damaged manuscripts or parts.
• Scores will not be returned to entrants.
• A composition may be in any style.
• Entrants must have prepared the composition with the teacher listed on the application.
• The performance time must not exceed 10 (10) minutes.
  
• Only compositions for nine performers or less will be accepted. Electronic realizations of larger scale works are not allowed.
• If a composer uses a text, one of the following must be included with the copies of the scores: (1) copyrighted text must have a written statement from the copyright holder giving permission to use text or (2) text that is in the public domain must have a statement signed by the student and the teacher indicating this fact.
• State and division winners/representatives will advance to the next level of the competition.
  
• If there is only one (1)entrant in a State-level category, there will be NO State Competition. The entrant will be named the State Representative and that composition will advance directly to the Division Competition.
• If there is only one (1)entrant in a Division-level category there will be NO Division Competition. The entrant will be named the Division Representative and that composition will advance directly to the National Finals.
• If there are seven (7) or fewer entrants nationwide in a category at the state level, those entrants will advance directly to the National Competition.
• Primary communication is via e-mail. The application must have e-mail addresses for student, teacher and parents.

Submission Requirements

• The application must be submitted online. Go to www.mtna.org, and select “2010-2011 Competition Guidelines” from the Competitions menu. Follow the online directions.
• Print two (2) copies of the online application: one (1) copy for your records and the second to mail with four (4) copies of your score to the appropriate state coordinator. The addresses of the state coordinators can be found on the MTNA website. From the home page click on Competitions and select State Competition Coordinators from the pull-down menu.
• Materials must be postmarked by midnight, September 14, 2010.
• No recordings of the score will be accepted.
• The manuscript must be in the composer’s handwriting or in the form of a computer printout produced by the composer.
• Measures of the composition must be numbered, preferably at the beginning of each system.
• All materials must be labeled with the name of the composition, the name of the student and the category (Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist). The name of the teacher or any reference to school/institution must not appear on the score.
No change may be made to the manuscript once it has been submitted with the application.
• Compositions for prepared piano are not permitted at the request of competition hosts and piano companies providing instruments.

Performance Requirements

• The composition of each national composition competition winner must be performed at the Winners Concert at the 2011 MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 26–30.
• Performances must be on the instrument(s) for which the submitted composition was written.
• Winners must be present at this concert in order for their compositions to be performed and to receive the monetary award.
• Winners must provide their own musicians for this concert, and only live performances are allowed.
• Teachers may perform a student's composition at any level.
• Competition financial obligations are the responsibility of the entrant.
  
• If the first-place winner is unable to attend the National Conference and arrange for a live performance of their composition:
  1. the first-place ranking will be retained, but cash awards for student and teacher will be forfeited and
  2. the second-place winner will be given the opportunity to attend the National Conference and have their composition performed.
• If the second-place winner accepts this opportunity:
1. the student will receive the first-place cash award in lieu of the second-place cash award and
   
2. that student’s teacher will receive the first-place teacher award.

Competition Agreement

It is the responsibility of the teacher, coach, entrant and parent or guardian to abide by all rules and regulations for the MTNA Student Competitions. Failure to meet this responsibility will result in the disqualification of the entrant at the level of competition where the discrepancy is discovered.