Festival

LMTA hosts a noncompetitive NMTA Lincoln District Festival at Nebraska Wesleyan University each year in spring. Students play memorized pieces for a rating and also take an ear training and theory test.  Olympic type medals are awarded for a Superior (I) performance rating and an Honorary Theory Certificate for a theory/ear training grade of 90% or above. Students with a performance rating of Excellent (II) or better and a passing theory score advance to the NMTA State Festival level where they may earn a trophy. An Honors Recital is offered at the Lincoln District level for those who receive a I-, I or I+ performance rating.

Pre-college students may enter in the fields of piano, orchestra strings, voice, woodwinds, brass, percussion, plectrum guitar and classical guitar. 

Festival Date: April 11, 2026

On-line Entry Begins:  February 2, 2026  

Registration Deadline: March 2, 2026

Location: Nebraska Wesleyan University

Last day to change student times: March 15, 2026 

Last day to change repertoire: April 1, 2026

Online Registration Form : 

Username: your full email address

Password: your MTNA membership number

Steps for Online Registration

NMTA Festival Information: https://nebmta.org/district-festivals/

Here you will find:

• Student Festival and Competitions Manual – revised 2022

• Sample theory tests to help students study and prepare

• Links to register students for the festival

Theory and ear training will be administered online, under the supervision of each student’s teacher. The testing window will
open on March 27th and close on April 17th. Please plan ahead to administer the tests to your students within this 3 week
window. Scores will be available immediately upon completion of the test. Actual results (answers to the test questions) will
be made available after April 17th. More details about how to access the tests will be sent closer to the testing window.

You can add students to your student list whenever you want, and that list will be ready when you’re ready to enter them. It
will make entering the students much quicker if you’ve updated your list ahead of time. If you have students who don’t
participate this year, they can stay on your list for possible entry another time. Students stay on your list for future years, so
you only have to enter a new student once!

Nebraska Music Teachers Association Festival Information and Theory Tests Samples

Festival Information and Tips

Nebraska State Festival

NMTA sponsors a non-competitive State Festival in the fall of each year. In order to qualify for the NMTA pre-college performance festival, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Receive a Superior or Excellent rating in a Nebraska District Festival

• Complete the sight reading requirements at a District Festival

• Receive a passing score on the theory (60% and above) and musicianship test (performance rating of II or above) at a District Festival

• Observe suggested repertoire requirements

• Study with a teacher who is an active member of MTNA (teachers must be an active member by August 31 with all association dues paid)

• Participate at the proper level in the District Festival to qualify for State Festival

This is a non-competitive performance opportunity. Students receive ratings on their performances, general evaluations of their scales, and scores on the test on theory and musicianship.