Competitions › MTNA Chamber Music Competitions
MTNA Chamber Music Competitions
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- National finals 2–6 April 2027 (chamber competition 2 April)
- Location
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Registration deadline
- 2 December 2026, 3:00 pm ET
- Fee
- USD 160 per ensemble
Source: mtna.org
Overview
Annual US national chamber music competition for ensembles of three to six performers aged 18–29, with string and wind categories. Entrants advance from state to division (video) rounds to the in-person national finals.
- Organiser
- Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
- Instruments
- Chamber music - String division, Chamber music - Wind division (incl. woodwind, brass and saxophone ensembles)
- Category
- Saxophone in chamber music, Brass ensembles, Wind & brass ensembles, Other ensembles
- Age limits
- 18–29 on 1 January 2027
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
- Register and upload all repertoire to Acceptd by 2 December 2026 at 15:00 US Eastern (21:00 in Germany). Provide accurate entrant and teacher or coach email details. The public instructions do not list a recommendation letter. Active MTNA membership dues for the teacher/coach must be paid first, or a $200 nonmember teacher fee applies.
- Each member is 18–29 on 1 January 2027. Submit a group photo and a group biography of up to 75 words. Fee US$160 per ensemble, including US$25 Acceptd fee. Personnel cannot be changed after submitting.
Rounds & time limits
Video preliminary · up to 40 min heard
- Use 3–6 performers with no conductor. String and wind divisions are determined by the majority, with piano counted as string. Permitted instruments are trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and saxophone; up to two singers with instruments. All-piano or all-voice groups are not eligible. Register a core group that plays on most pieces.
- Choose equal-part chamber works. Separate complete movements are allowed, repeats optional, no cuts, orchestral concerto reductions or solo-with-continuo sonatas. There is no two-period requirement. Transcriptions are permitted for instrumental works only. Any work with voice must come from the linked official chamber list. Registration may include up to 50 minutes.
- Submit all registered works by direct video upload. No cuts within recordings, no spoken introductions, no YouTube links, and show each performer from head to toe. Label each with composer and title. For solo videos, use live piano for music written with accompaniment.
Live final · up to 40 min
- Use the same programme as video screening. Bring one score or complete set of parts for every registered work. Entrants choose the first selection and the jury sets the remaining order, hearing portions as time allows. At the national conference in St. Louis, 2–6 April 2027.
Source: Official chamber music rules and voice repertoire · General application rules
Jury & prizes
Jury
Not published on the official pages we could check.Prizes
Not published on the official pages we could check.Past editions
- 2026 source
Wind 1st: Synchrony Quartet (saxophone); Wind 2nd: Novus; Wind 3rd: Bar Before Quintet; String 1st: Skyline Piano Quintet; String 2nd: Canelé String Quartet; String 3rd: Cantilène Trio
Summarised from official sources, last checked 14 Nov 2026. Main source