Pre-College Auditions

The KMTA Honors Auditions are proudly sponsored by Capitol Federal®

The following is a brief guide to the Plan B, C, and D auditions. It is recommended that teachers refer to the official rules and guidelines in the Audition Handbook, available under the Auditions Tab.

KMTA Pre-College District and State Auditions Plans B and C

Teacher Responsibility – Deadlines, Fees, Applications

Submit your online registration, teacher work form, and District Audition fees by the District deadline. The entry fee is $35.00 per solo entry, $40.00 per duet entry, and $20.00 per member for chamber music groups. Send one check to cover all fees.
After your District Auditions, register your students online for the KMTA State Honors Audition and submit your Teacher Work form. State Auditions fees are $35.00 per solo entry, $40.00 per duet entry, and $20 per student for chamber music groups. Pay online or send a single check to cover all students’ fees. The state registrations must be completed by October 5, 2026, at 12:00 pm. No late entries will be accepted.
State Honors Auditions are on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Because all students in one category must be heard together, no special requests can be honored.

Eligibility

Students of all ages are eligible.
Entries must begin at the District Audition at all levels.
Students must be studying with a teacher who maintains a studio in the State of Kansas and whose KMTA-MTNA dues are paid by the District Audition deadline date, OR non-KMTA members must pay the $35.00 per solo entry, $40.00 for duet entry, and $20 per student for chamber music groups, and a $100 non-member fee per student per event, once for the district audition and once for the state competition.
Students may not enter both MTNA and KMTA Honors Auditions in the same year with the same performing medium.
Students receiving state-eligible status (“I” rating) at the district audition may proceed to the State Auditions on October 31, 2026.

Repertoire Requirements

Please refer to the following sources for composer classification: Guide to Pianist’s Repertoire by Maurice Hinson and Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature by Jane McGrath.
The repertoire may not be changed from District to State Auditions. Students must provide a reasonably clean copy of the music with numbered measures. Teacher and student names must not be on the music.
Plan C Piano, Strings, Piano Duet, and Chamber Music require the performance of two compositions of contrasting styles or periods by two different composers.
Plan B Piano requires the performance of three compositions of contrasting styles or periods by three different composers chosen from Guide to Pianist’s Repertoire by Maurice Hinson and Pianist’s Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature by Jane McGrath. Composers not listed in these books must be approved by the VP for Auditions.
Method book pieces, including pieces from supplemental books that accompany method books, pop tunes, show tunes, piano concerti, and simplified arrangements, are not allowed in this audition.

Grade Groupings and Time Limits

Plan C Piano

Grades PreK-Kindergarten 8 minutes
Grades 1-2 8 minutes
Grades 3-4 8 minutes
Grades 5-6 8 minutes
Grades 7-8 10 minutes
Grades 9-10 10 minutes
Grades 11-12 10 minutes

Plan B Piano

No Plan B for Grades PreK through 2
Grades 3-4 10 minutes
Grades 5-6 10 minutes
Grades 7-8 15 minutes
Grades 9-10 15 minutes
Grades 11-12 20 minutes

Strings

Grades 1-3 6 minutes
Grades 4-6 8 minutes
Grades 7-9 10 minutes
Grades 10-12 15 minutes

Piano Duet

Grades 1-3 8 minutes
Grades 4-6 8 minutes
Grades 7-9 10 minutes
Grades 10-12 10 minutes

Chamber Music

10 minutes (No concerti are allowed)

Memorization Requirements

All solo piano music must be memorized. Memorization is not required for piano duets, chamber music, and strings.

Downloaded/Computer-generated Music

A release form must be signed for copied music. NO REPRODUCTIONS of copyrighted music may be used by either the soloist or the ensemble members. Written permission from the publisher for works no longer published is acceptable. Violation of the rule will cause disqualification.

Open Auditions

All KMTA District and State Auditions are open to the public.

Judging

Judges’ decisions are final and may not be questioned by participants, parents, or teachers.
Judges will write an evaluation for each student.
In all grade groupings, students will be given a rating of I or II. A plus or minus may be used with the ratings. The judge will select one Winner, one Runner-up, and one or more Honorable Mentions.
Awards: All students will receive a certificate. The Winner, Runner-up, Honorable Mentions, and students with an I rating will receive an award.

KMTA Pre-College District Plan D

Rules and Repertoire Requirements for KMTA Non-Competitive Audition Track

Eligibility

All general rules of KMTA audition eligibility will apply.
Any student may participate at any age level.

General Rules

Plan D is open to brass, strings, woodwinds, percussion, voice, and piano.
Entrants may perform solo or ensemble works.
All students will be judged by one adjudicator on their general musicianship and quality of performance.
Technical suggestions of a general, not necessarily instrument-specific, nature will be made by the adjudicator.
Ratings will be I (Superior musicianship with a polished performance); II (Very good musical understanding and quality of performance); III (Good musicianship overall and quality of performance); IV (Fair musicianship or quality of performance).
A plus or minus may be used by the adjudicator to further define the rating.
Written comments supporting the rating will be given; verbal comments, also, if time allows.
This performance category will be for the District level only.
Award ribbons for “Special Recognition” will be given at the adjudicator’s discretion.
There is no required number of awards, nor is there a limit to the number of awards that can be given.

Time Requirements

Up to 8 minutes will be allotted for adjudication at all levels.
If the length of the piece exceeds 8 minutes, the adjudicator will choose which portion of the piece to hear.
Performance time for ensembles must include set-up time within the allotted 8 minutes.

Repertoire Requirements

All grade groupings may perform one or two pieces.
Two pieces must contrast in style.
Pedagogical pieces are acceptable at all levels.
Equipment provided for this audition track will be one acoustic piano and one music stand.
NO REPRODUCTIONS of copyrighted music may be used by either the soloist or the ensemble members. Written permission from the publisher for works no longer published is acceptable. Violation of the rule will cause disqualification.
Students are to provide measured numbers (if not preprinted) for the adjudicator.
Students will not be required to present an extra copy of the music, but they must notify the adjudicator and allow the adjudicator to look on during the performance.

Please refer to the Audition Handbook.

For more information, contact Emily Yeh at musicblossom@yahoo.com.