Student Events
2025-2026 Dates and Locations
DMMTA Music at Blank Park Zoo
Chairs: Mary Beth Shaffer, NCTM
Cyndie Caruth, NCTM
Date: August 1, 2025
Location: Blank Park Zoo
Iowa MTNA Performance Competitions
Chair: Diane Smith, NCTM
Date: October 18 – 19, 2025
Location: Central College
DMMTA Festival
Chair: Rosa Scott
Date: December 6, 2025
Registration Deadline: November 7, 2025
Locations: Grand View University
DMMTA Auditions
Chairs: Cyndie Caruth, NCTM
Timothy LaFleur
Date: January 24, 2026
Registration Deadline: December 27, 2025
Location: Drake University
DMMTA Honors Recital
Date: March 8, 2026
Recital Time: 1:00pm
Location: St. Paul Presbyterian Church
6426 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA 60131
IMTA State Auditions
Date: March 14, 2025
Location: University of Northern Iowa
MTNA National Conference - 150th Year Anniversary Celebration
Dates: March 21 – 25, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL
DMMTA Camp Scholarship Auditions
Date: April 11, 2026
Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
Chair: Anna Attig
Location: Grand Living at Tower Place - West Des Moines
DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival
Date: April 11, 2026
Chair: Bonnie Strong
Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
Location: Grand Living at Tower Place - Ankeny
IMTA State Conference
Dates: June 7 – 9, 2026
Location: The University of Iowa
DMMTA Music at Blank Park Zoo
Chairs: Mary Beth Shaffer, NCTM
Cyndie Caruth, NCTM
Date: August 1, 2025
Location: Blank Park Zoo
Iowa MTNA Performance Competitions
Chair: Diane Smith, NCTM
Date: October 18 – 19, 2025
Location: Central College
DMMTA Festival
Chair: Rosa Scott
Date: December 6, 2025
Registration Deadline: November 7, 2025
Locations: Grand View University
DMMTA Auditions
Chairs: Cyndie Caruth, NCTM
Timothy LaFleur
Date: January 24, 2026
Registration Deadline: December 27, 2025
Location: Drake University
DMMTA Honors Recital
Date: March 8, 2026
Recital Time: 1:00pm
Location: St. Paul Presbyterian Church
6426 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA 60131
IMTA State Auditions
Date: March 14, 2025
Location: University of Northern Iowa
MTNA National Conference - 150th Year Anniversary Celebration
Dates: March 21 – 25, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL
DMMTA Camp Scholarship Auditions
Date: April 11, 2026
Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
Chair: Anna Attig
Location: Grand Living at Tower Place - West Des Moines
DMMTA Duet & Chamber Music Festival
Date: April 11, 2026
Chair: Bonnie Strong
Registration Deadline: March 11, 2026
Location: Grand Living at Tower Place - Ankeny
IMTA State Conference
Dates: June 7 – 9, 2026
Location: The University of Iowa
IMTA Piano Festival:
The Festival is held in December for the purpose of promoting confident performance. This event is a non-competitive, non-rated performance before a state certified adjudicator who conducts the session as a lesson. It gives students of all ages and abilities an opportunity to perform and receive written or oral constructive suggestions and tips from the judge.
IMTA District Piano Auditions:
Students of DMMTA members may participate in District Auditions, IMTA-sponsored competitive events which rates performances on a scale of 1–4 (one being highest). This event takes place in December or January.
Students receiving the designation of "Winner" at the district level are eligible to compete in the IMTA State Auditions, usually held in March.
MTNA Competitions:
There are various student competition opportunities sponsored by Music Teachers National Association, all of which begin at the state level. Detailed information may be found at the following links:
The Festival is held in December for the purpose of promoting confident performance. This event is a non-competitive, non-rated performance before a state certified adjudicator who conducts the session as a lesson. It gives students of all ages and abilities an opportunity to perform and receive written or oral constructive suggestions and tips from the judge.
- Registration fees are due at the registration deadline.
- Festival is not a competition, so there are no age limits or previous study requirements.
- Entrants will play one or more selections from the current IMTA Syllabus, and may also perform one selection not on the list (including original compositions).
- All selections must be from memory, and a copy of each selection (with music measures numbered) must be given to the judge. No reproductions of copyrighted music may be used.
- There are no theory or keyboard proficiency test.
- For more information see the Festivals tab on the IAMTA.org website.
IMTA District Piano Auditions:
Students of DMMTA members may participate in District Auditions, IMTA-sponsored competitive events which rates performances on a scale of 1–4 (one being highest). This event takes place in December or January.
Students receiving the designation of "Winner" at the district level are eligible to compete in the IMTA State Auditions, usually held in March.
- Detailed guidelines and rules may be found by clicking on the "IMTA Auditions - District and State Auditions" tab at IAMTA.org .
- For repertoire selection, IMTA members please refer to the online IMTA Repertoire List which is available after login at IAMTA.org. **Note: the online iamta.org repertoire list is the ONLY source for current selections and additions. No hard copies available as of 2025.** For more information, please see the Repertoire List Order Form on the IMTA website, or email [email protected].
- Registration fees are due at the registration deadline
MTNA Competitions:
There are various student competition opportunities sponsored by Music Teachers National Association, all of which begin at the state level. Detailed information may be found at the following links:
- General Competition Guidelines
- State Competition
- Division Competition
- Two Piano Competition