GMTA AUDITIONS
(PRE-COLLEGE PIANO COMPETITION)
CFMTA LOCAL AUDITIONS (FIRST ROUND)
(PRE-COLLEGE PIANO COMPETITION)
CFMTA LOCAL AUDITIONS (FIRST ROUND)
Registration Deadline:
January 15, 2025 Event Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 Event Location: Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church 101 N. Peachtree Pkwy Peachtree City, GA 30269 Local Auditions Fee: $40 ($25 Fee + $15 Theory Test) Regionals Fee: (Due only if student moves on to Regionals) $30 State Fee: $0 State Round Date: Saturday, April 5, 2024 State Round Location: Piedmont University |
The GMTA Auditions Competition is the biggest piano competition in the state of Georgia. Students begin at the local level by participating at the CFMTA Local Auditions, where they compete against peers of the same grade. Students must memorize two piano pieces: one selection from standard Baroque or Classical piano literature and one selection from Romantic or 20th Century piano literature. No arrangements are allowed.
Grades 2-3 may participate for experience and judge's comments, but only Grades 4-11 may qualify for Regionals. High School Seniors (Grade 12) go straight to the State Level. A theory exam is also required and students must pass with an average of 80% or higher in order to proceed to Regionals. How the competition works: Participants are evaluated and given a rank of: Outstanding Performance (OP)
Award of Excellence (AE) Honorable Mention (HM) Students who receive an OP rating move on to the second round of the competition (Regionals) where they will be evaluated once again. Regionals will be a virtual round with video submissions. Participants will have to receive another OP rating to proceed to the State Auditions. Please be aware that travel is required for the State Round, which is usually held at a Georgia campus facility. The competition is much tougher at the state level. Students from each grade will be awarded the following honors: Conference Recitalist (1st Place)
1st Alternate (2nd Place) 2nd Alternate (3rd Place) Outstanding Performance (1/3 of students) Award of Excellence (1/3 of students) Honorable Mention (1/3 of students) |
Why compete?
The competition in Georgia is pretty remarkable, but there is no such thing as losing. The benefits are incredible and no matter the outcome, students come out better musicians (with deeper character) on the other end. By creating a goal and striving for it, students accumulate life-lessons that go beyond their piano playing. It's so important for students to test their capabilities in a large arena where their strengths and weaknesses can be quickly highlighted. From there, we can reinforce those strengths while properly adjusting any missing elements.
Furthermore, students will be evaluated by some of the most accomplished musicians and Doctors of Musical Arts in our state. Their input is invaluable.
Healthy competition, whether in piano or other areas, is a great tool for creativity and balance. As with most traits of value, finding the right perspectives and intentions takes practice. In a perfect world, this would be easily acquired through the wisdom of others, but these lessons are often best experienced firsthand and encouraged through constant application. In other words, there is never an inopportune time to learn how to stumble, dust off, and keep going.
With the right spirit, competing is good old-fashioned fun, and healthier than video games to boot!
It also looks great on college applications.
I encourage all of my students to compete, no matter their level of playing.