Achievement Awards

The Achievement Awards offers the dedicated student of all levels and instruments an opportunity to compete for prizes in a closed-audition format. Prizes are awarded in four categories and four age groups. Honors Recital of Award Recipients is open to the public.

​

Entry Fee: $35 Members/ Non Members $55

​

Strings, Winds, and Vocal Audition: Saturday, February 15, 2025

Piano/Harp Audition: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Application Postmark DEADLINE: Friday, January 31, 2025

Winners' Recital: Sunday, February 23, 2025

Location: Graves Recital Hall,

5798 Karl Rd.

Columbus, OH 43229

Chair: Nina Polonsky, 614-475-0013

​

​

Categories:

1. Piano: Elementary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior
2. Strings: Elementary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior
3. Harp: Elementary, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior
4. Voice: Junior and Senior
5. Winds: Senior

​

Classifications:

Elementary - Any age up to 9

Intermediate - Ages 10 to 12

Junior - Ages 13 to 15

Senior - Ages 16 to 19

Awards:

Senior:

First place: $225

Second place: $150

Junior:

First place: $150

Second place: $110

Intermediate:

First place: $120

Second place: $60

Elementary:

First place: $75

Second place: $40

The Rita Roberts Award for Second Best Outstanding Piano Performance (including all ages in piano): $ 100

Michael Davis Award for Best Outstanding String Performance (including all ages and categories in strings): $100​

Green-Harrington Award for Best Outstanding Piano Performance (including all ages in piano): $100

Achievement Awards Rules for Entry

​

1. All entrants and teachers of entrants are responsible for reading and abiding by all rules and regulations pertaining to this audition.
2. Entrant must have been studying continuously with an active member of CMTA for at least six months prior to the auditions.
3. The quality of the repertoire will be considered by the judges in determining the awards.
4. The repertoire chosen may not have been performed by the student in any previous CMTA Achievement Award Audition.
5. All music is to be performed from memory. The only exception is in performing a string or wind sonata or sonatina.
6. Students may choose the order in which they perform their pieces.
7. Teachers may enter a maximum of three students in each classification.
8. Contestants must provide their own accompanists.
9. Minimum time limits will be STRICTLY observed. Maximum time limits may be observed at the judges’ discretion.
10. Auditions are closed to the public, including parents and teachers.
11. Teachers may NOT identify themselves to the judges.
12. Students will be auditioned by judges outside of CMTA Membership. All entrants will receive written comment sheets.
13. The contestant must provide the judges with ORIGINAL SCORES of the music in performance order. NO PHOTO COPIES WILL BE PERMITTED. Please number your measures!
14. There will be no splitting of First and Second Place prize money.
15. First Place award winners may not re-enter this contest on the same instrument until they reach the next age classification. Exception: Elementary First Place winners may re-enter after an absence of one year.
16. All Award Winners are required to perform in the Achievement Awards Recital. At this time the awards will be presented.
17. Elementary, Intermediate, Junior and Senior winners will perform one or more pieces at the discretion of the student, teacher, and chairman.
18. Judges will be given discretion to award prizes and/or Honorable Mentions. Usually a 1st & 2nd Place will be awarded in each category and classification. Judges may also award no prize or a 3rd prize at their discretion.
19. CMTA Board of Management reserves the right to deny participation if there are fewer than 2 applicants in a category.

​

​

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

​

Piano
All music selected must be originally composed for the piano. No transcriptions, arrangements, or simplifications are permitted.

​

Elementary - At least two contrasting pieces. Please choose literature appropriate to student’s level. Maximum time limit: 5 minutes

​

Intermediate - Two to four contrasting pieces representing at least two different historical periods. All selections must total 4 to 8 minutes of playing time.

​

Junior - Two to four pieces representing at least two historical periods, one of which must be a selection from the Classical period. Schubert Sonatas are accepted. All selections must total 8 to 12 minutes of playing time.

​

Senior - Two to four pieces representing at least two historical periods. All selections must total 10 to 18 minutes of time.

​

Strings and Harp

Special care must be taken when selecting transcriptions and arrangements.

​

Elementary - Two or three contrasting pieces. Maximum time limit: 7 mins

​

Intermediate - Two or three contrasting pieces representing at least two historical periods. Concerto, sonata*, sonatina* or variations are encouraged. All must total 4 to 10 minutes in playing time

​

Junior - Two to four contrasting pieces representing at least historical periods. Sonata*, sonatina* or movements are encouraged. All selections total 8 to 15 minutes in playing time.

​

Senior - Two to four contrasting pieces from at least two periods. A sonata* or concerto movement required. Time limit: 10 to 20 minutes.

​

Voice and Winds

​

Voice: Junior - Two or three pieces of contrasting style from at least two historical periods. Maximum time limit: 8 minutes.

​

Voice: Senior - Three or four pieces of contrasting style from at least three historical periods. Maximum time limit: 12 minutes.

​

Winds: Senior - Two to four contrasting pieces from at least two historical periods including the contemporary. A sonata* or concerto movement is required. Time limit: 10 to 20 minutes.

​

​

*Sonata and sonatina movements need not be memorized

Fill out the application form and send to:

Nina Polonsky

836 Eastchester Dr.

Gahanna, OH 43230

Telephone entries will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of the exact time of their audition.​