VMTA FALL FESTIVAL
Contemporary and Historical Judged Music Festival
November 15, 2026
Deadline for me to register YOU for this event:  October 12, 2026
Location:  TBD Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101

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FALL FESTIVAL  
This is an all-day event and we may not request specific times, but usually are able to request a.m. or p.m. times.  Students perform for two judges who provide written comments and a grade of:
Superior, Excellent, Very Good, Needs Improvement
We will be informed if we need to provide judging sheets.  That is my responsibility to give to each student and I will be certain that all students are given the sheets, if required.  Students must take original copies of their performance repertoire for the judges' use.  When I receive the judging schedule the list will be posted below.

LEVEL & TIME LIMITS:
1-3 years study*5 minutes
4-7 years study7 minutes
8 or more years study10 minutes**
This festival is not recommended for those who have studied less than one year in total.


REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
  • Two memorized compositions:
  • One work in the contemporary idiom from the 20th or 21st century 
  • a second piece from any other period.
  • Both selections must be played from memory, unless a piece uses non- traditional notation.
  • No simplifications, transcriptions, or popular songs allowed.
  • Contemporary settings of folk songs are acceptable, especially for beginning students.
  • Multi-movement works are allowed if they fit the time limit.
  • Impressionistic pieces must fall into one of the contemporary idioms in order to be listed as the contemporary selection.

On the application, please substantiate that the contemporary composition reflects one of the following idioms by noting its number and letter.  

  1. Melody
    1. Melodies are fragmented, irregular, or disjunctive.
    2. Significant parts of the piece, or even the whole piece, lack melody.
    3. The melody is constructed by chance or serial technique.
    4. The melody is built from non-traditional scales such as modes, a scale with “blue” notes, etc.
  2. Harmony
    1. Chords are unrelated to a major-minor system—clusters, altered chords, quartal or quintal harmony.
    2. The composer makes simultaneous use of two chords or keys (bitonality).
    3. The piece is not in any definable key (atonality).
    4. Unresolved dissonance is common.
  3. Rhythm
    1. The piece or large parts of it contain no bar lines.
    2. The meter is irregular, such as 5/4.
    3. There are frequent meter or tempo changes.
    4. Cross rhythms (polyrhythms)—5 against 4, 7 against 8, etc.—are prominent.
    5. Jazz rhythms prevail.
  4. Other considerations
    1. Non-traditional notation.
    2. Knocking, tapping or plucking some part of the instrument not traditionally used in this way.
    3. Use of prepared piano.
    4. Use of extreme range on the instrument.

NVMTA supports the use of published musical scores. 

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FALL FESTIVAL AUDITION ASSIGNED TIMES & ROOMS:

    Student                                  Audition Time                                            Room
Will be announced around October 30th





  LOCATION TBD:
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Lewinsville Presbyterian Church​
1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101