Student Events at a Glance

PMTA Conference

Save the date for the 2026 PMTA State Conference! June 12-14, 2026 at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
For more information, visit: https://www.pamusicteachers.org/conferences/pmta-conference-general-info/

PMTA Keystone Chamber Music Competition

March 8, 2026
https://www.pamusicteachers.org/activities/pmta-chamber-music-competition/

MTNA National Conference

March 21-25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota

April 2–6, 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri

For complete information, visit: https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Engage/Conferences/Conferences.aspx

Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival

NOVEMBER 8, 2025

Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival and Keystone Concerto Festival

The 2025 PMTA Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival Showcase Recitals will occur on Saturday, November 8, at Messiah University.

For complete information, visit: https://www.pamusicteachers.org/activities/pmta-keystone-concerto-festival/

PMTA Keystone Concerto Festival

The Concerto Festival, part of the State-level Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival, will be held Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Messiah University. Registration instructions, updated for 2025, will be forthcoming soon.

For complete information, visit: https://www.pamusicteachers.org/activities/pmta-keystone-concerto-festival/

Past events:

Pennsylvania MTNA Competitions

The 2025 Pennsylvania state MTNA performance competitions will take place on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA.  Applications open in August for all categories and levels must be submitted online at the MTNA website prior to Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Click here the following link to visit the MTNA competitions website: MTNA website

PMTA Keystone Composition Competition 

April 1, 2026
Eligibility: 

Students must reside in Pennsylvania or study with a teacher with an established studio in Pennsylvania. Non MTNA-PMTA member teachers welcome, though an additional fee will be charged.

Elementary – Age 5-10 as of January 1

Junior – Age 11-14 as of January 1

Senior – Age 15-18 as of January 1

Young Artist – Age 19-25 as of January 1

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Entry requirements:

The following length requirements apply: 

Elementary & Junior – 16 measures minimum

Senior & Young Artist – 32 measures minimum

Total performance time will not exceed 15 minutes. For all classes, the composition may be in any recognized tonal or atonal style for any instrument or style.

For complete information, visit: https://www.pamusicteachers.org/activities/pmta-keystone-composition-competition/