DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival:
A Collaborative Celebration!
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Grand Living at Tower Place Forum Theater
540 S. 51st St, West Des Moines
New this year!
Competitive and Non-Competitive Divisions
Adjudicator: Dr. Kristin Jonina Taylor (University of Nebraska, Omaha)
Chair: Bonnie Strong
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Des Moines Music Teachers Association Duet & Chamber Music Festival is to
promote the joy of making music together.
ELIGIBILITY
Participants in the DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival must be students of teachers holding
membership in DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA or students of teachers holding collegiate membership in IMTA &
MTNA.
Students must have studied with the teacher who presents their student in the festival for a minimum of
three months immediately prior to the festival. A student may not be registered under two teacher
names. However, each student in the ensemble may study with a different teacher as long as at least
one of the teachers is a DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA member in good standing.
For non-members, a non-member fee may be submitted if DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA dues are not paid by
November 1 for the current membership year for any teacher to be eligible to enter their students in the
festival. This fee is in addition to the student registration fee. The non-member fee of $100 must be
submitted to the DMMTA treasurer one month prior to the registration deadline.
All teachers entering students will be required to assist with the festival.
AGE REQUIREMENTS & TIME LIMITS
Open to students ages 5 thru 18
Elementary: (Time limit of 8 minutes total)
Intermediate: (Time limit of 14 minutes total)
Advanced: (Time limit of 20 minutes total)
FESTIVAL FORMAT
Each ensemble will perform in an open recital, master class format, and will receive coaching from a
professional clinician. We highly encourage all participants to remain for the entire event.
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
Two contrasting pieces or movements.
*Competitive Division – Memorization required.
*Non-Competitive Division – Memorization encouraged but not required.
*Students will be allowed to use public domain scores but must provide evidence that their use
represents fair use as required by copyright law. Any use of music not printed by the publisher must
include the required documentation such as printed receipt, permission page (for digital copies
authorized for use) or the link page verifying that the music is in US public domain (for IMSLP or other
free public domain scores). Verification information should be paper clipped to the printing so that it can
be removed by the judge’s assistant once verification has been completed.
REGISTRATION & FEES
Registration deadline: March 11, 2026 (postmark deadline)
Registration fees:
Competitive Division per student: $30
Non-Competitive Division per student: elementary $20; intermediate $25; advanced $30
Applications & payment by check, made payable to DMMTA, must be sent to:
Bonnie Strong, DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival Chair
610 NE 47th St
Ankeny, IA 50021
Interested in participating? Please complete the Registration Form.
(Please complete 1 form per team. If there are more than 2 students in the chamber ensemble,
complete 2 forms and staple together.)
View photos below!
A Collaborative Celebration!
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Grand Living at Tower Place Forum Theater
540 S. 51st St, West Des Moines
New this year!
Competitive and Non-Competitive Divisions
Adjudicator: Dr. Kristin Jonina Taylor (University of Nebraska, Omaha)
Chair: Bonnie Strong
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Des Moines Music Teachers Association Duet & Chamber Music Festival is to
promote the joy of making music together.
ELIGIBILITY
Participants in the DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival must be students of teachers holding
membership in DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA or students of teachers holding collegiate membership in IMTA &
MTNA.
Students must have studied with the teacher who presents their student in the festival for a minimum of
three months immediately prior to the festival. A student may not be registered under two teacher
names. However, each student in the ensemble may study with a different teacher as long as at least
one of the teachers is a DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA member in good standing.
For non-members, a non-member fee may be submitted if DMMTA/IMTA/MTNA dues are not paid by
November 1 for the current membership year for any teacher to be eligible to enter their students in the
festival. This fee is in addition to the student registration fee. The non-member fee of $100 must be
submitted to the DMMTA treasurer one month prior to the registration deadline.
All teachers entering students will be required to assist with the festival.
AGE REQUIREMENTS & TIME LIMITS
Open to students ages 5 thru 18
Elementary: (Time limit of 8 minutes total)
Intermediate: (Time limit of 14 minutes total)
Advanced: (Time limit of 20 minutes total)
FESTIVAL FORMAT
Each ensemble will perform in an open recital, master class format, and will receive coaching from a
professional clinician. We highly encourage all participants to remain for the entire event.
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
Two contrasting pieces or movements.
*Competitive Division – Memorization required.
*Non-Competitive Division – Memorization encouraged but not required.
*Students will be allowed to use public domain scores but must provide evidence that their use
represents fair use as required by copyright law. Any use of music not printed by the publisher must
include the required documentation such as printed receipt, permission page (for digital copies
authorized for use) or the link page verifying that the music is in US public domain (for IMSLP or other
free public domain scores). Verification information should be paper clipped to the printing so that it can
be removed by the judge’s assistant once verification has been completed.
REGISTRATION & FEES
Registration deadline: March 11, 2026 (postmark deadline)
Registration fees:
Competitive Division per student: $30
Non-Competitive Division per student: elementary $20; intermediate $25; advanced $30
Applications & payment by check, made payable to DMMTA, must be sent to:
Bonnie Strong, DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival Chair
610 NE 47th St
Ankeny, IA 50021
Interested in participating? Please complete the Registration Form.
(Please complete 1 form per team. If there are more than 2 students in the chamber ensemble,
complete 2 forms and staple together.)
View photos below!