The MTNA National Competitions are the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition.
The purpose of the Music Teachers National Association Competitions is to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence.
It consists of Performance Competitions and Composition Competitions.
Performance Competitions
The three-tiered Junior, Senior, and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with State Competitions. The winners/representatives of each state’s competitions advance to a video-only Division Competition. Division winners compete in the National Finals at the annual MTNA National Conference. The State Competitions are considered the primary educational level, with the division and national levels showcasing outstanding performance and honoring significant pedagogical achievement. Competitions include Piano, Piano Duet (Senior only), String, and Woodwind.
Brass and Voice (Senior and Young Artist only) Performance Competitions are 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. Seven finalists will be selected in both the Brass and Voice categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round.
The Chamber Music Competitions are two-tiered competitions: the preliminary round, by video submission only; and the final round, live at the MTNA National Conference. Ensembles will compete without regard to the state or division in which they live or take lessons, and seven ensembles will be selected in both the String and Wind categories from a nationwide pool of applicants to compete in the final round.
In Fall 2017, MTNA launched the MTNA-Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition for pianists ages 19–29.
The MTNA–Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition differs from the MTNA student performance competitions because it consists of only two rounds: a Preliminary Round, by video submission only; and a Final Round, which takes place live at the MTNA National Conference.
For more details, visit the Two Piano Competition page on the MTNA website.
Composition Competitions
Composition Competitions, for Elementary, Junior, Senior, and Young Artist levels, are also three tiers. The winners/representatives of each state’s competition advance to the Division Competition. Division winners compete in the National Finals. The national winners have their compositions performed at the annual MTNA National Conference.
Competition Guidelines
For competition guidelines and the most up-to-date information for entering any of the MTNA Competitions, please visit the MTNA Competitions page on the MTNA website.
Questions regarding the state round may be directed to the IMTA state chairs (details below).
2026 State Round Details
Registration Deadlines
Composition: September 9, 2026 — 3:00 pm Eastern
Performance (Piano, Strings, Woodwinds): September 9, 2026 — 3:00 pm Eastern
Performance (Brass, Voice, and Chamber Music): December 2, 2026 — 3:00 pm Eastern (registration for these competitions opens November 1.)
State Audition Dates: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Location: Ball State University
Online Registration Entry Deadline: September 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Winners/Representatives will advance to the East Central Division Online-Only Video Competitions.
State Chair: Jim Helton
Indiana’s MTNA Performance Competition Committee / Coordinators
Junior (Piano, String, Woodwind) — Leon Harshenin
Senior (Brass, Piano, String, Voice, Woodwind, Piano Duet) — Pedro Medeiros
Young Artist (Brass, Piano, String, Voice, Woodwind) — Jim Helton
Site Coordinator — Ray Kilburn
Online Registration Entry Deadline: September 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
State Chair: Michael Seregow
Past Winners
MTNA Performance Competitions (Indiana State Round)
Coming soon…
SENIOR
Composition – 3 entries
Winner: Carter Jackson, student of Caroline Ahn
Honorable Mention: Xinlang Fan, student of Clara Woolley
Piano – 6 entries
Winner: Ignatius Caro, student of John Blacklow
Alternate: Tara Kim, student of Minju Choi Witte
Honorable Mentions: Allen Qian, student of Chun Chi An; Andrew Lee, student of Chi Ho Han
Strings – 2 entries
Winner: Catherine Yang, cello, student of Austin Huntington
Alternate: Sejune Kang, violin, student of Patrick Yim
YOUNG ARTIST
Piano – 4 entries
Winner: Hyerim Cho, student of Spencer Myer, Indiana University
Alternate: Eric Yu, student of Spencer Myer, Indiana University
Honorable Mentions: Bibiana Miskolciova, student of Kate Boyd, Butler University; Shiu Chung Wong, student of Spencer Myer, Indiana University
The following students were single entrants in their categories, and we wish them all the best as they represent Indiana in the East Central Division. All the performers played beautifully for judges’ comments on October 26.
ELEMENTARY
Composition: Wallace Ausborn, student of Elizabeth Yao
JUNIOR
Composition: Robbie Guo, student of Catherine Kling
Piano: Zoe Cha, student of Robert Palmer
Strings: Abigail Kang, violin, student of Patrick Yim
SENIOR
Piano Duet: Jein and Jeik Park, students of Phoenix Park-Kim
Woodwind: Draco Qiao, student of Scotty Stepp
YOUNG ARTIST
Composition: Caleb Endres, student of Don Freund, Indiana University
Woodwind: Eric Ratliff, saxophone, student of Scotty Stepp, DePauw University
JUDGES
Dr. Hannah Roberts, Assistant Professor of Piano, The University of Alabama
Dr. Anna Vayman, Professor of Violin, Ball State University
Dr. George Wolfe, Professor of Saxophone, emeritus, Ball State University
Many thanks to…
Dr. Leon Harshenin, Junior Performance Competitions Coordinator
Dr. Hamilton Tescarollo, Senior Performance Competitions Coordinator
Dr. Ray Kilburn, Sight Coordinator
The Ball State Chapter of MTNA, Dr. Lori Rhoden, advisor, for help with registration and door monitorin
Elementary:
Representative: Elijah Fan, Student of Caroline Ahn
Junior:
Senior:
Winner: Noah Strawhacker, Student of Amanda Cornet
Honorable mention: Henry Olson, Student of Caroline Ahn
Honorable mention: Srikar Vaasan, Student of Jessica Dorman
Young Artist:
Representative: Miles Carroll, Student of Don Freund
Many thanks to our judges:
Eleanor Trawick
Many thanks to our competition coordinators:
James Helton, Indiana Composition Coordinator
(765) 285-5517
[email protected]
Christopher Goldston, National Composition Coordinator
(773) 580-7301
[email protected]
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Past Winners
MTNA Composition Competitions (Indiana State Round)
Coming soon…
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Coming soon.