Hoosier Auditions

Hoosier Auditions is a statewide performance competition where students showcase their skills before expert judges and receive written evaluations. Entries are accepted in Strings, Winds, Piano, Voice, and Piano Duet.

The competition includes District and State rounds. Students who achieve a qualifying score at the District round advance to the State round, where winners receive cash awards and the opportunity to perform at the annual IMTA State Conference.

Students who prefer not to compete may participate for comments only; simply indicate this preference on the entry form.

 


For questions regarding Hoosier Auditions, please contact Hyeseon Jin, Hoosier Auditions Chair.

 Rounds

There are two rounds of the Hoosier Auditions – District and State. There are nine District Round sites across the state held in March or April. See “District Entry” for a state-wide districting map.

Students must participate in the district in which their teacher resides. Any exceptions must be made through a petition (email or letter) by the teacher on behalf of the student, clearly stating the intent and reason(s) for the change. 

Contestants who have successfully scored 90% or above (designated as “State Finalists”) at the District Auditions will be eligible to compete at the State Competition. There is neither a maximum nor a minimum number of contestants that can be admitted to the state competition. Honorable Mentions may also be awarded to those who did not advance to State.

Requirements for the State Round are identical to those of the District Round. Contestants need not perform the same pieces they played in the District Round.

Performance Categories

Students may enter in one or more of the following instrumental categories: Piano, Voice, Strings, Winds, Classical Guitar, and Piano Duet.

Non-Competitive Option

Students have the option of participating at the District Round as a non-competitor, only to receive comments from the adjudicator. These students may declare themselves ineligible to win or place in the competition by checking the “non-competitive status” box on the entry form. Non-competing entrants pay the same fees and are subject to the same requirements as competing entrants.

Eligibility

Students of current IMTA members and non-members who reside in Indiana or within a 50-mile radius of the state borders are eligible to enter.

Non-member teachers may enter any number of students for a $75 fee.  The fee will only be collected once for the year.

Accompanied Performances

Teachers may accompany their students at both the District and State Round. Recorded accompaniments are allowed at the District Round ONLY. Students are required to bring their own accompanist. Unaccompanied instrumental pieces may be performed in a solo format.

Repertoire Requirements

  • Students enter a level based on their age as of January 1 of the same year of the competitions they are ending. Duet entries should enter based on the age of the oldest student.
  • Contestants are not limited to specific repertoire but do have time limits—see below. A list of repertoire performed within recent years is available from your District Chairperson.
  • At all levels other than the Collegiate level, memorization is required for piano and voice; it is optional for all other instrumentalists and piano duettists.
  • Pianists and piano duettists are not permitted to perform arrangements, simplifications of repertoire, concerti, or any other two-piano piece.
  • Cuts in the score are only permissible in accompaniments.
  • Students must provide one copy of each audition piece for the judges. No names of persons, libraries, schools, etc., may be visible anywhere on the judge’s copy. It is not necessary to erase teaching marks. No photocopied music is to be given to the judge or used by an accompanist or soloist without showing written permission from the publisher. Soloists and accompanists may, without written permission, photocopy passages for use with the printed score to facilitate inconvenient page turns.
  • Page turners are permitted for duets. If needed, the teacher may fulfill this role.

Levels

  • Pre-Early Elementary (ages 5-6) competitiveTwo or more contrasting pieces from different composers, not to exceed 4 minutes.
  • Pre-Early Elementary (ages 5-6) non-competitive – Two or more contrasting pieces from different composers, not to exceed 4 minutes.
  • Early Elementary (ages 7-9) – Two or more contrasting pieces from different composers, not to exceed 5 minutes.
  • Elementary (ages 10-11) – Two or more contrasting pieces from different composers, not to exceed 6 minutes.
  • Middle (ages 12-13) – Two or more pieces by composers from two contrasting historical style periods, not to exceed 8 minutes.
  • Junior (ages 14-15) – Two or more pieces by composers from two contrasting historical style periods, not to exceed 10 minutes.
  • Senior (ages 16-18) – Two or more pieces by composers from two contrasting historical style periods, not to exceed 15 minutes.
  • Collegiate (undergraduate ages 18 and over) – Maximum audition time is 20 minutes. *Please see repertoire requirements below for each instrument.

*Collegiate Repertoire Requirements

Piano: pieces must represent three style periods. Memorization of all pieces required.

Voice: an Italian art song, a French or German art song, a 20th-century work in English; Minimum time requirement of 15 minutes; Memorization of all pieces required.

Strings: pieces must represent three style periods. Memorization of at least one piece is required.

Winds: pieces must represent three style periods. Memorization of at least one piece is required.

Classical Guitar: three pieces in contrasting styles. Memorization of all pieces required.

Piano Duet: pieces must represent three style periods. Memorization of at least 1 piece is required.

For historical style period verification, click here.

Fee Details

  • Fees are the same for both District and State rounds.
  • Entry fees for piano duet should be split between the duo.
  • All fees are non-refundable.

Student Entry Fees

Students enter a level based on their age as of January 1 of the same year of the competitions they are ending. Duet entries should enter based on the age of the oldest student.

Pre-Early Elementary (ages 5-6) – $14
Early Elementary (ages 7-9) – $14
Elementary (ages 10-11) – $18
Middle (ages 12-13) – $20
Junior (ages 14-15) – $23
Senior (ages 16-18) – $30
Collegiate (undergraduate ages 18 and over) – $36

Teacher Entry Fees

IMTA members may enter students at no cost.

Non-member teachers may enter any number of students for a $75 fee.  The fee will only be collected once for the year.

District

Students scoring 90% or higher advance to the State Round.

State

A cash award appropriate to their level (see below), and an invitation to perform on the winners’ recital at the IMTA State Conference in the following Fall season.

Early Elementary:  $35
Elementary:  $40
Middle:  $50
Junior:  $75
Senior:  $100
Collegiate:  $150 

 


Award Rules

  • Piano duet awards are divided between partners.

  • If a winner cannot perform at the recital, the alternate for that level will be invited.

  • A student who wins the State Round at a particular level may not re-enter the following year at the same level in the same instrument category.

Students must participate in the district in which their teacher resides.

Any exceptions must be requested by the teacher on behalf of the student through a petition (email or letter) to the IMTA Hoosier Auditions State Chair, Hyeseon Jin, clearly stating the intent and reason(s) for the change. 

Entry deadlines vary by district.

Please choose your district below.

District A —
District B —
District C —
District D —
District E —
District F — No auditions due to an ongoing search for a chairperson.
District G —
District H —
District J —

All DISTRICT auditions are complete for 2026.

District Information & Registration

District A

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Valparaiso University Center for the Arts
Duesenberg Recital Hall 
1709 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso, IN  46383
 
DATE
Saturday, April 11, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District B

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Zook Choral Hall MC153
Goshen College
1700 S Main St, Goshen, IN 46526
 
DATE
Saturday, March 28, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Saturday, March 14, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District C

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Franklin College
Johnson Center for Fine Arts
211 Branigin Blvd, Franklin, IN 46131
 
DATE
Saturday, March 21, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Saturday, March 7, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District D

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Anderson University
York Performance Hall
1100 E 5th St. Anderson, IN 46012 
 
DATE
Saturday, April 18, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Saturday, April 4, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District E

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Indiana State University
Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts: Margaret L. Boyce Recital Hall 
300 N 7th St, Terre Haute, IN 47809
 
DATE
Saturday, April 18, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District F

Due to an ongoing search for a chairperson in this district, auditions in this district will not take place this year.

District G

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
University of Evansville
Wheeler Concert Hall 
1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47722
 
DATE
Saturday, April 18, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Monday, April 6, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District H

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Rhinehart Music Center and Recital Hall
Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805 
 
DATE
Saturday, April 18, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Saturday, April 11, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

District J

CHAIRPERSON
 
VENUE
Covenant Church
211 Knox Dr.
West Lafayette, IN 47906
 
DATE
Saturday, March 7, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

State Entry

COORDINATOR
Hyeseon Jin, IMTA Hoosier Auditions Chair

VENUE
Indiana Wesleyan University
Philippe Performing Arts Center.  
4201 S. Washington St. Marion, IN 46953
 
DATE
Saturday, May 9, 2026
ENTRY DEADLINE
Thursday, April 23, 2026
THIS FORM IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TEACHER ONLY

See a listing of past winners here.

"In addition to the valuable experience Hoosier Auditions has provided for my students, I -- as a teacher -- have enjoyed watching other participants' skill/performance grow on a yearly basis...in particular, those students who have participated from elementary level through high school. Their sequence of repertoire throughout the years is a pedagogy lesson in itself...hence, a win-win for everyone!"
Liz Seidel
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