Audition Details
 

This event is  open to all students of NAMTA teachers who participated in the Performance Auditions and earned a rating of Superior.

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Event: Saturday, May 10 2025

Category Competitions: Piano, Strings, Woodwinds

8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Lipscomb University
   1 University Park Drive
   Nashville, TN  37204

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Winners Concerts: Saturday, May 10 2025

1:30 P.M. (Grades K-6) and 3:00 P.M. (Grades 7-12)

Lipscomb University

 

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2025

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Application & Payment: 

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Teachers are responsible for notifying their students and accompanists (if applicable) of the audition schedule.
Fee: $25 for all entries. Teachers can pay online by adding the amount of registrations needed to their cart from our Registration Page and pay directly on our site.

 

Or, teachers can write one check made payable to “NAMTA” with the memo "YAAA".  Send the check to NAMTA Treasurer:

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Allison Ernst

5503A Tennessee Ave.

Nashville,TN 37209

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Guidelines and General Information

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The Nashville Area Music Teachers Association established the Young Artist Achievement Awards in 1986 for the purpose of inspiring high achieving music students in the Nashville area and to give them recognition. Students can use YAAA as a system for continuously measuring achievement in music study. The awards offer opportunities for establishing the best possible standards in the art of teaching and performing. It is also excellent preparation for the state competition. All students and teachers benefit from hearing the Winners’ Concert performers!

Requirements
 

Winners of the previous YAAA competition are not allowed to enter in the following year. See the list of the 2024 winners.

1. This event is open to all students of NAMTA teachers who participated in the Performance Auditions, and earned a rating of Superior.

All participants must have studied with their teacher/co-teachers for a minimum of six months prior to the NAMTA auditions, and must still be with the same teacher/co- teachers at the time of YAAA.

2. Repertoire will include two pieces from DIFFERENT periods. One of the pieces must be selected repertoire performed at the most recent NAMTA audition. The second piece may be a new piece OR may be an old piece – that choice is at the discretion of the teacher. No changes will be made after the registration deadline.

3. Time of performance allowed reflects the TMTA requirements and will depend on entry level and scheduling. However, time is not the essence of the quality of the student’s performance.

Maximum Performance Times: Grades K-5: 10 minutes Grades 6-8: 15 minutes Grades 9-12: 20 minutes.

The judges may choose to start and stop any piece.

4. Each contestant must bring one copy of each selection to be played for the judges (see NAMTA policies regarding photocopied music) with measures numbered. The student may choose the first piece to perform. Students must be prepared to play all selections submitted, but must also be prepared to omit any section(s) at the judge’s discretion.

Winner's Concerts
The Winners’ Concerts will also be adjudicated. Category winners from each instrumental/age category will perform one selection from their earlier round at one of the two Winner’s Concerts. One winner from grades K-6 and one from grades 7-12 will
be chosen. We will make every effort to schedule instrumentalists’ auditions beginning early afternoon or late morning to help accommodate accompanists’ schedules.

Rules for Competition
Please refer to the section in the TMTA/MTNA Guidelines and Applications booklet “Rules Applicable to All Auditions.”

Eligibility
Students qualify by receiving a superior rating in performance of standard category.

Classifications
Piano and Strings Solo: There are six entry levels, determined by age and grade, beginning with Kindergarten and ending with Grade 12: K – 2, 3 – 4, 5 – 6, 7 – 8, 9 -10, 11-12. There is a string division and a piano division for each age level.

Awards
In addition to an opportunity for performance, each participant receives a critique from the judge(s). The winner(s) in each level will receive a certificate. Students compete only with other students within their grade division during auditions.

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WINNERS’ CONCERT AWARDS: One “Grand Prize” winner will be chosen for grades K-6 and one winner for grades 7-12. The winner in grades K-6 will receive a $150 gift card and the winner in grades 7-12 will receive a $300 gift card.

Judges have the right to declare “no winner” in any category. The judge’s decision is final. Those chosen as Winners in each of the six categories on the day of YAAA auditions will then perform in the Winners’ Concerts. Category winners will be announced at the start of the Winners’ concert, so all entrants should plan to attend the concert and stay for performances within their age division. They will choose their
selection for performance and announce it to the audience.

Performance Scheduling
The schedule for performance of students will be emailed to each teacher. Please limit changes to the schedule, if possible. ALL changes must be turned into the Scheduling Chairman two weeks before the event.

Performance Times
Maximum Performance Times: Grades K-5: 10 minutes Grades 6-8: 15 minutes Grades 9-12: 20 minutes.

The judges may choose to start and stop any piece.

Application and Late Registration Fees
Any forms turned in after the deadline will incur a $5 late fee, to be paid by the teacher. Fill out the online application in our Member Resources area.

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