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State Conference 2024- June 7-8, University of Oklahoma

Junior Competition

Junior Competition

Competition Date: April 13, 2024
Entry Deadline: March 23, 2024
Location: Edmond Music, 3400 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK

The decision was made at the 2021 OMTA Conference Board Meeting for the Junior competition to occur as one, state-wide competition with one set of winners. The number of winners will be a percentage based on the number of entrants.

For any questions, notify Jr. Competitions Coordinator, Michael Dean, mdeanpianostudio@gmail.com

Rules and Requirements 

The purpose of the Junior Competition is to give students who exhibit a sufficient level of performance skill the opportunity to perform in a competitive event. It is the responsibility of the teacher to select repertoire suitable both to the needs of the student and for the competition. 

Teacher Eligibility

  • A first time OMTA teacher must pay state and national dues by the entry deadline of the Junior Competition.
  • Continuing OMTA teachers paying dues by June 30 are eligible to enter students.
  • Continuing OMTA teachers paying dues after June 30 will be required to pay a one-time $50 late fee (CLICK HERE) to enter students. This fee must be paid with submission of entry forms.

Teacher Responsibility

  • It is the responsibility of each OMTA teacher to abide by the printed rules of the competition.
  • Failure to abide by the printed rules will result in the disqualification of the entrant.
  • The teacher may not attempt to manipulate competition results by revealing their competing student’s identity to the adjudicator(s) or by discussing or promoting their competing student with the adjudicator(s) before, during, or after a competition. Doing so will result in disqualification.
  • The teacher must inform students and parents of their obligation to abide by the printed rules of the competition.
  • The parent and/or student may not have contact with the adjudicator before, during, or after the competition. Doing so will result in disqualification.
  • The parent and/or student may not have contact with the Vice-President for Auditions and Competitions or any OMTA Board Member.
  • Audio and video taping violates copyright laws and is not permitted.

Student Eligibility

  • Students must be in school grades 3-8 at the time of the competition.
  • Student may enter in piano, voice, and/or orchestral instruments.
  • Students studying in a multi-teacher school or studio must be entered under the name of the primary teachers.
  • A student may enter for critique only.

Entry Fee and Entry Deadline

  • The entry fee is $30.00 for each performance category entered. The teacher must enter all students using the online form. The form will accept multiple students and can be submitted as many times as necessary until midnight the day of the entry deadline for each respective site.
  • Entry fees are non-refundable.
  • Entries submitted after the deadline will not be accepted and entry fees will not be refunded.
  • Entries will not be accepted by telephone or email.

Performance Time

  • The entrant is allowed a brief warm-up (1 minute maximum) in the competition room before performing for the adjudicator.
  • Maximum performance time is:
        – Grades 3-4: 4 minutes
        – Grades 5-6: 6 minutes
        – Grades 7-8: 7 minutes 
  • Students will not be disqualified for exceeding time limitations in timed events, although they will be stopped when the time limit expires. 

General Repertoire Requirements 

  • Repertoire suitable for the student and for presentation on a Winners’ Recital should be selected.
  • Multi-movements from a multi-movement work will be accepted as one composition.
  • A group of pieces taken from a collection by the same composer is not considered a multiple movement work and only one piece will be accepted on the entry form.
  • All variations must be performed in a theme and variation work.
  • A composition must be at least 16 measures in length without repeats.
  • Compositions may not be cut or altered except for dot repeats. First endings may be cut following a D.S. or D.C. repeat.
  • A student may not enter a composition performed on a previous OMTA conference program.
  • Repertoire changes will not be accepted after one week past the entry deadline.
  • Pieces for prepared piano will not be accepted.
  • Non-piano instrumentalists need not memorize repertoire. Memory is required for pianists and vocalists.

Piano Repertoire Requirements

  • Only solo (no concerto) repertoire accepted
  • Only original piano repertoire accepted
  • Memorization is required
  • The following repertoire will not be accepted:
    -Simplified arrangements of original solo repertoire
    -Arrangements, transcriptions, and/or adaptations of original solo repertoire
    -Popular music, hymns, folk songs, orchestral reductions, concerto written for any instrument, and vocal arrangements
  • See General Repertoire Requirements

Vocal Repertoire Requirements

  • Students must be in the 7th or 8th grade to enter the voice category of Junior Competition
  • Vocal repertoire requirements- Click Here
  • Repertoire written with accompaniment must be performed with an accompanist. The teacher may accompany their students.
  • Computer generated audio files and pre-recorded accompaniments are not permitted.
  • Repertoire should be memorized.
  • See General Repertoire Requirements

Instrumental Repertoire Requirements

  • Repertoire written with accompaniment must be performed with an accompanist. The teacher may accompany their students.
  • Computer generated audio files and pre-recorded accompaniments are not permitted.
  • Repertoire for non-piano instrumentalists need not be memorized.
  • See General Repertoire Requirements

Score Requirements

  • Entrants must provide the original score for the adjudicator. Identifying names of the teacher/student on the score should be covered or removed from the music. Measure numbers should appear at the beginning of each line.
  • Computer generated scores must have proof of purchase or written permission from the composer. This letter of permission must be presented at the competition.
  • Photo copies of the score or transpositions by hand/machine may not be used by performers or accompanists and may not be provided for the adjudicator. The only exception to this rule is for music which is out of print or still in manuscript (not published). In this instance, the teacher must provide the student with a letter of permission from the publisher or copyright holder to copy the music. This letter of permission must be presented at the competition.
  • Reproduction of single pages may be used by an accompanist to facilitate page turns. (The original score must be visible on the music stand and/or music rack.) A monitor may examine all music of each entrant and the entrant’s accompanist prior to the performance. 
  • Entrants who do not comply with the rules mentioned above will be permitted to perform for “critique only”, provided all other competition requirements have been met.

Performance Winner

  • The ratio of winners in each group will be determined by the Coordinator for Junior Competitions.
  • Following the competition, the critique sheet and music must be picked up by the student, the teacher, or another designated person. The materials cannot be mailed at a later date.
  • Winners selected will have the option of performing on a Winners Recital at the State Conference in June.
  • For those choosing to perform at the State Conference, it will be necessary for the student’s teacher to complete the online form with required information about the student and repertoire to be performed. 
  • For the winners in the Junior Competition, a $50 cash award will be given. 

Adjudicators

  • The decision of the adjudicator(s) is final.
  • The quality of the performance will determine the selection of the winner rather than the length or difficulty of the composition.
  • The adjudicator(s) have the prerogative not to declare a winner, alternate, or honorable mention.

Policy

No refund will be given for entry fees if an OMTA audition or competition must be cancelled due to inclement weather.

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