Call for Proposals
Proposal Submission Deadline: September 25, 2026, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
The MTNA Collegiate Symposium Planning Committee is seeking proposals from collegiate chapters, college students, and newly graduated young professionals to present at the 2027 MTNA Collegiate Symposium, January 16–17, 2027, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, in Kansas City, Missouri. MTNA welcomes submissions from individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and education levels to provide a broad spectrum of ideas for program consideration.
Proposals are invited that:
- Reflect innovation and cutting-edge content
- Stimulate and provoke audience discussion
- Pertain to young professionals
- Explore building a diverse teaching studio and community
- Use multimedia approaches to enhance learning
- Explore pedagogical and performance issues important to all levels
Topics may include:
- Current technology trends
- Inclusive teaching
- Musicians as entrepreneurs
- Current state of scholarship in the music field
- International pedagogy
- Historical performance and pedagogy
- Underrepresented composers and underserved populations
Presenter Eligibility:
- Current college students
- Newly graduated young professionals (less than 3 years post graduation)
- Open to presenters of all instruments and genres including piano, voice, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, classical, jazz, and contemporary.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
General Sessions are presentations up to 25 minutes in length that showcase current Collegiate Chapter research in presentation-style or lecture-recital format. Group and individual sessions are permitted.
Keyboard Lab Sessions are interactive workshops up to 25 minutes in length that utilize the digital keyboard lab classrooms at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Group and individual sessions are permitted.
Lightning Sessions are brief, 5-minute versions of elevator pitches that focus on a single topic, example, idea, project or technique. They do not attempt to cover all aspects of their subject matter, but present one facet of the idea clearly and succinctly that will allow attendees to immediately apply to their teaching/learning. Individual submissions recommended.
Poster Sessions showcase research, projects or outreach. All posters must include pertinent information in a manner that is visible from three to four feet away. Presenters applying for the Poster Session must additionally submit a computer-generated sample in PDF or JPEG format. For guidance, please see this article on How to Create a Research Poster as well as this sample poster from a prior Symposium. Group or individual submissions are permitted.
Symposium Recital features attendee performances of selections five minutes or less in length. Open to performers of all instruments and voice. Repertoire may be a solo, duet, or ensemble work. Original compositions are welcome. Performers will have an opportunity to briefly introduce their piece(s).
Proposal Submission Requirements
| General Sessions |
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| Keyboard Lab Sessions |
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| Lightning Sessions |
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| Poster Sessions |
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| Symposium Recital |
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