Annual MMTA State Contest and Solo Festival

The following information applies to the Piano Contest/Solo Festival and Young Artist.

Quick Links to the 2026 Honors Concert:

Bravo Ad Submission – deadline has passed Honors Concert Video Honors Concert Photos – deadline has passed Honors Concert Tickets – no longer available on line. Purchases will be available on concert day at the convention center.

Purpose of Piano Contest
To encourage high performance standards, MMTA sponsors an annual Piano Contest. Pianists select repertoire from an annual
list. Students with the highest scores in the Final Contest are invited to an ensemble performance in the Honors Concert. The
concert is a gala event involving around 500 young performers playing on 20 grand pianos in ensemble groups.
Challenge Awards
When students participate in the piano contest, they earn challenge award points as follows:
● 100 points for participating in the preliminary contest.
● 100 points for participating in the finals contest.
● 100 points for participating in the honors concert.

More information can be found in the Handbook beginning on page 26.

Purpose Of Solo Festival
To encourage performance for all ages by using the State Contest repertoire, MMTA sponsors an annual Piano Solo Festival.
Students who cannot or do not wish to compete in Piano Contest may perform for written comments from a judge. Students
who participate in Piano Solo Festival are not eligible to participate in Piano Contest FInals with their Piano Solo Festival piece.
Challenge Awards
Students receive 100 challenge award points for participating in the Solo Festival

More information can be found in the Handbook beginning on page 29

PIANO CONTEST REPERTOIRE

2026 Piano Contest Repertoire List 2026 Piano Contest List Errata, Clarifications Digital Downloads and Online Purchasing information Playlists for 2026 Contest Repertoire

PIANO CONTEST DATES

PIANO CONTEST PRELIMS
1/24/2026	TC-SAT	Bethel University	12/01/2025
1/25/2026	TC-SUN	Bethel University	12/01/2025
1/25/2026	Virtual	Virtual (Pre-Recorded)	12/01/2025
1/31/2026	C	College of St. Benedict (CSB)	12/01/2025
1/31/2026	SE	RCTC	12/01/2025
1/31/2026	Alexandria	Calvary Lutheran Church	12/01/2025
1/31/2026	NE	College of St Scholastica	12/01/2025
2/1/2026	SW	St. Stephen Lutheran Church – Marshall, MN	12/01/2025
PIANO CONTEST FINALS
3/7/2026	STATE-SAT	U of M, Ferguson Hall	02/01/2026
		deadline for greater MN	02/08/2026
3/8/2026	STATE-SUN	U of M, Ferguson Hall	02/01/2026
		deadline for greater MN	02/08/2026
HONORS CONCERT REHEARSALS and CONCERT
4/18/2026	Twin Cities	Schmitt Bloomington – Rehearsals	03/08/2026
5/2/2026	Twin Cities	Schmitt Bloomington – Rehearsals	xx
5/16/2026	Twin Cities	Schmitt Bloomington – Rehearsals	xx
6/06/2026	Twin Cities	Mnpls Convention Center – Rehearsal & CONCERT	xx
YOUNG ARTIST CONTEST
3/14/2026	Prelims	Twin Cities – TBD	01/04/2026
3/15/2026	Callbacks	Twin Cities – TBD	—-

YOUNG ARTIST CONTEST

Purpose of Young Artist Contest
To encourage high performance standards, MMTA sponsors a Young Artist Contest. Competition categories include Junior
(recommended grades 7-9), Senior (grades 9-12), and College
Challenge Awards
Students receive 200 points for participating in the Young Artist Piano Contest.

More information can be found in the Handbook beginning on page 33

YOUNG ARTIST PIANO CONTEST REPERTOIRE

■ Junior Young Artist: A solo 7-minute program that consists of at least two pieces from different musical
eras.
■ Senior Young Artist: A solo 15-minute program that consists of at least two pieces from different
musical eras.
■ College Young Artist: A solo 30-minute program that consists of at least two pieces from different
musical eras