CHAIR: Dr. Wojciech Kocyan (Email: )
DATE: Saturday May 22, 2027 (Please allow 1 PM – 5 PM for scheduling)
LOCATION: Murphy Recital Hall at Loyola Marymount University
REGISTRATION OPEN: April 22, 2027
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 9, 2027
PAYMENT & DOCUMENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 12, 2027
WINNERS’ CONCERT: Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 3 PM at Loyola Marymount University
PURPOSE
To encourage the highest level of Chopin piano performance for pre-college (ages 18 and under) students of all MTAC members. This competition is open to ALL MTAC branches in the state of California. This event honors the legacy of Kathryn Gawartin, a respected teacher in the West Los Angeles Branch of MTAC.
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
All works must be performed from memory. Entrants may choose from any of the solo piano works of F. Chopin. Entrants may select one of the following:
1. One long work in its entirety (not including multi-movement works)
2. One movement or multiple movements from a single sonata (time limit: 10 minutes)
3. A collection of shorter pieces from the Chopin solo piano repertoire (time limit: 10 minutes)
ELIGIBILITY
1. Student must currently be studying with a current MTAC teacher member from any branch. Said teacher must be student’s primary piano instructor for at least six months immediately prior to the Competition.
2. Each teacher is allowed to enter up to three students in each division.
3. Previous first place winners in a division may not enter in the same division again.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Proof-of-age documents are required for all entrants. Acceptable types of documents include: birth certificate, passport, and driver’s license. Documentation must prove student’s age as of the Competition Date.
CATEGORIES & AWARDS*
| Student Categories | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division I | Age 10 and under | $250 | $200 | $150 |
| Division II | Age 13 and under | $400 | $300 | $200 |
| Division III | Age 18 and under | $600 | $500 | $350 |
*Grand Prize of $1000 for exceptional performance and talent, to be awarded at the discretion of the judges, across all three divisions.
WINNERS’ CONCERT
The Awards Ceremony and the Winners Concert will take place at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 3 PM. The winners must be present and must perform in order to receive the cash prizes.
REGISTRATION
Teachers must submit the online registration form on the branch website. Login is required for the West LA Branch member teachers to access the registration form. Non-WLA teachers may use a Non-Member registration form which will be made available our website: www.mtacwestla.org. After the online registration form is submitted, parents will be sent a link to the payment form which must be completed by the parents before the Payment Deadline. The registration fees are non-refundable. Late registration is not allowed.
REGISTRATION FEES
Division I – $80 (Age 10 and under)
Division II – $90 (Age 13 and under)
Division III – $100 (Age 18 and under)
JUDGING
Decisions of the judges are final. All participants receive written comments from the judges, who are recognized for their expertise in the field of Chopin performance. Judges are not obligated to select a winner in each division. Any teacher who at any time contacts a judge regarding this Competition and/or its results may have his/her student disqualified from the Competition. Any parent who at any time contacts a judge regarding this Competition and/or its results may have his/her child disqualified from the Competition.
SCHEDULING
The Competition will take place at Murphy Recital Hall at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Saturday May 22, 2027, approximately from 1 – 5 PM. The performance schedule will be made available to the participants one week prior to the Competition.
Teachers must login to view the student registration instructions and to access the registration form below.