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PMTA Keystone Chamber Music Competition

PMTA Keystone Chamber Music Competition

March 4, 2023

>Application Form (pdf)

A reminder that minor children at PMTA student events must be accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian.  The teacher is responsible for registering students on the site, and for informing the students and parents of the rules, date, time etc. This applies to the Sutton Festival at both the local and state levels, and equally to the Competitions and Concerto Festival, which occurs only at the state level.

GUIDELINES

  • There are two application categories, as well as two age categories in the Keystone Chamber Music Competition. For ensembles coached by a PMTA member-teacher, the membership dues must be paid by the application deadline; the entry fee is $100 per ensemble.  Non MTNA-PMTA member coaches will be charged a $50 nonmember teacher fee in addition to the $100 ensemble fee.
  • The two age categories are: Junior (11-15) and Senior (16-19). Eligibility rules stated below.
  • PMTA Teachers may enter more than one ensemble in each category, Junior and/or Senior. PMTA reserves the right to cancel a competition age category if there is insufficient statewide participation in that category.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

  • Application Deadline Postmark Date: February 1, 2023
  • Teacher entry fee (PMTA member coach): $100 per ensemble
  • Teacher entry fee: (non PMTA member coach): $100 per ensemble and an additional $50 teacher fee.
  • Teachers may divide the $100 fee among the students in the ensemble.
  • If a teacher enters several ensembles, each ensemble must pay the fee. There is only one $50 non PMTA member fee.

Make the check payable to: PMTA
Send application to and address all questions to:

PMTA Chamber Music Competition Coordinator:
Gloriana Sewell
P.O. Box 199
Milford Square, PA 18935
Gloriana.s@comcast.net
Studio: 215-536-8142
Cell: 267-221-6508 (call or text)

ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY

  • Junior Division: ALL performers must be under the age of sixteen, but at least eleven years old, as of March 5, 2023.
  • Senior Division: The AVERAGE age must be 16-18, with no performer older than 19 as of March 5, 2023, and no performer enrolled in college or university-level institutions.
  • A student performer may enter in more than one ensemble.

 

ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENTS

  • The ensemble must consist of at least three (3) performers and may have not more than six (6) performers.
  • During the course of a performance of at least two works, a larger ensemble may change in size, through the addition or subtraction of one person. (For example, a woodwind quintet might add a piano to perform a sextet, or a string quartet might be reduced to a string trio.) In this case, the ensemble should have a specific name (e.g. John Doe Wind Chamber Ensemble, etc.) and should certify their agreement to divide any prize equally among all players.
  • All parts required by the score must be performed. All players must meet the age/eligibility requirements.
  • Ensembles may be any combination of the following instruments: Brass (Trumpet, Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba), Piano, String (Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass) and Woodwind (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone).
  • Ensembles with piano only are not permitted.
  • Singers may participate as members of an ensemble including piano and at least one other obbligato instrument, as in trio songs of Schubert, certain arias of Mozart, etc. In such cases, the pianist must be counted a member of the group subject to the same age categories.
  • No changes in ensemble personnel may be made following submission of the application.
  • The performance is without conductor.
  • All performances must be live, and no part may be filled in by recorded performance.

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

  • No changes in repertoire are allowed, following submission of the application.
  • Maximum performance time: thirty (30) minutes
  • The program must contain compositions from at least two different periods of music (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Contemporary).
  • Cuts in the music are not permitted.
  • Repeats are left to the discretion of the performers, but the maximum performance time is not to be exceeded.
  • Single movements of larger works are permitted and encouraged.
  • Each ensemble must provide the judges one full score for each work listed on the application.

JUDGES

  • The decisions of the judges in each category will be final.
  • Results will be announced in each category shortly after the last contestant has played.

PRIZES

  • There will be one winner in each category, Junior and Senior. There is no further performance opportunity for the winning ensembles.
  • Junior: $150 per ensemble
  • Senior: $250 per ensemble

Transportation: Each contestant under 18 years of age must have transportation provided by his/her parent; PMTA will not be responsible.

Contact Information

PMTA Keystone Chamber Competition Coordinator
Gloriana Sewell
PO Box 199
Milford Square PA 18935
215-536-8142
Gloriana.s@comcast.net