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

Marilyn Witcher Junior Honor Competition

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of the competition is for OMTA teachers to enter 5th & 6th grade pianists and instrumentalists aspiring to be young artists to build confidence in performing repertoire needed to prepare and enter the MTNA Junior Performance Competitions in the following years.

NEW for 2024:

To stay in compliance with MTNA’s rules and guidelines for competitions, the Marilyn Witcher Competition will be open to all OMTA members who wish to enter their students. There is no longer a requirement for teachers to be NCTM to enter your students. We will still continue to honor Marilyn Witcher’s legacy and passion for the NCTM program by recognizing teachers who are NCTM on the programs.

Entry Fee: $30.00
Competition Date: Same date as OMTA Senior Competition April 20, 2024
Location: Gilliam Music Norman, 2280 W. Main, Norman, OK 73069
Online Entry Deadline: April 05, 2024- Midnight

Chair: Mary Sallee
mksallee@icloud.com
2721 Tropicana Ave., Norman, OK 73071 Phone:405-361-9811

TEACHER ELIGIBILITY 

  • OMTA teachers paying dues by June 30, 2023 are eligible to enter students. 
  • OMTA teachers paying dues after June 30, 2023 will be required to pay a one-time late fee of $50.00 (CLICK HERE) and must be paid with submission of entry form(s) to enter students.
  • A first time OMTA/MTNA teacher must pay state and national dues by the entry deadline.

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 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.
    • The parent and/or student may not have contact with the Competition Chair or the Vice President for Auditions and Competitions. 
    • Audio and video taping violates copyright laws and is strongly discouraged.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

  • Entrants must be a full-time student in school grades 5 or 6 at the time of the competition.
  • Students studying in a multi-teacher school or studio must be entered under the name of the primary teacher.
  • A student who wins the Marilyn Witcher Junior Competition in the 5th grade is not eligible to enter in the 6th grade.

ENTRY FEE and ENTRY DEADLINE

  • The entry fee is $30.00 for each performance category entered.
  • The teacher must complete all entry forms online and either pay online or send one check payable to OMTA to the competition chair by the entry deadline.
  • Entry fees are non-refundable.
  • Entries received without the correct entry fee will not be accepted.
  • The fee for a check returned marked insufficient funds is $25.00. An entrant will not be permitted to perform in the competition until the entry fee and returned check fee have been paid by money order to the OMTA Treasurer.

PIANO REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

  • Only original solo repertoire (no concerto repertoire) will be accepted.
  • Maximum performance time is 15 minutes.
  • Minimum performance time is 8 minutes.
  • Repertoire must include two works from at least two of the three classifications:
    • Baroque or Classical (including Beethoven)
    • Romantic
    • Contemporary or Impressionistic
  • All repertoire must be performed by memory.
  • Each piece must be performed completely and may not be cut except for dot repeats or first endings.
  • Multiple movements from a multiple-movement work will be accepted as one composition.
  • Arrangements, transcriptions and/or adaptations of original solo repertoire will not be accepted.
  • To define style, consult the MTNA Repertoire List, The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Edition by Maurice Hinson and/or Maurice Hinson and Wesley Roberts, or The Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature by Jane Magrath.
  • Repertoire cannot be changed after one week after the entry deadline.
  • The entrant is allowed a 10-minute brief warm-up in a warm-up room prior to the performance, and a brief warm-up (one minute maximum) in the competition room before performing for the adjudicator.
  • The entrant will not be disqualified if more than 15 minutes of repertoire is submitted. Only the maximum performance time will be adjudicated.
  • A student may not enter repertoire he/she has previously performed on an OMTA State Conference Program.
  • Pieces for prepared piano will not be accepted.

INSTRUMENTAL REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

  • Repertoire must include two works from at least two of the three classifications:
    • a. Baroque or Classical (including Beethoven)
    • b. Romantic
    • c. Contemporary or Impressionistic
    • d. Once the above repertoire requirements are met, the student may complete the time requirement with other repertoire from the periods listed above.
  • Instrumentalists need not perform repertoire from memory.
  • Instrumental repertoire may include concerti.
  • Repertoire written with an accompaniment must be performed with an accompanist. The teacher may accompany their students.
  • Computer generated audio files and pre-recorded accompaniments are not permitted.
  • Maximum performance time is 15 minutes. Students will not be disqualified for exceeding time limitations in timed events, although they will be stopped when the time limit expires.
  • Minimum performance time is 8 minutes.
  • Each piece must be performed completely, and may not be cut except for dot repeats or first endings.
  • Multiple movements from a multiple-movement work will be accepted as one composition.
  • To define style, consult the MTNA Repertoire List or The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
  • Repertoire cannot be changed after one week after the entry deadline.
  • The entrant is allowed a 10 minute warm-up in a warm-up room prior to the performance, and a brief warm-up (one minute maximum) in the competition room before performing for the adjudicator.
  • A student may not enter repertoire he/she has previously performed on an OMTA State Conference Program.

REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC

  • Reproduction of music, including transpositions by hand or machine may not be used by accompanists and may not be provided for the adjudicator(s).
  • The only exception to this rule is for music which is out of print or still in manuscript (not published). In this case, the teacher must:
    • provide the student with a written letter of permission from the publisher or copyright holder to copy the music 
    • the letter of permission must be presented at the competition.
  • Reproduction of single pages may be used by the accompanist to facilitate page turns but must be attached to the music. 
  • Computer generated music must have proof of purchase.

EXAMINATION OF MUSIC

  • A monitor may examine all music prior to the performance of each entrant and the entrant’s accompanist.
  • Entrants must provide original scores for the adjudicator(s). Entrants without an original score for the adjudicator will be permitted to perform for critique only. 
  • Identifying names must be removed from the music.
  • Measure numbers not printed in the music must appear at the beginning of each line.

PERFORMANCE WINNERS

  • The winner will be mailed a monetary award and will be invited to perform on a Winners Recital at the OMTA State Conference. 

COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS

  • The competition performance is open to the public.
  • Critique sheet and music must be picked up by the student, the teacher or another designated person. These materials cannot be mailed at a later date.

ADJUDICATORS

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