The Honors Festival is an opportunity for music students of current MAME members and non-MAME members to audition for the Honors Recital. This is a competitive event adjudicated by a professional musician, although students may enter as “non-competitive.” The event is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. The Honors Recital will feature selected students to perform at the WYSO Center for Music in Madison, WI, on Sunday, February 2, 2025. The performance is free and open to the public.
Paper OR Online registration forms (linked below) and one check per teacher (payable to MAME) must be submitted and postmarked no later than January 2, 2025 via US Mail to:
Madison Area Music Educators Honors Festival,
c/o Daniel Kuzuhara
8107 Starr Grass Dr
Madison, WI 53719
Online Registration Forms:
2025 Honors Festival Student Registration Form
2025 Honors Festival Teacher Registration Form
Audition Fee: (2 pieces maximum – strict 8 minute limit)
• MAME Member $40 per student
• NON-MAME Member $55 per student.
Audition Date:
Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
WYSO Center,
E Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703.
Audition Information:
- Open to students Grade 5 through 12 of both MAME members and non-MAME members. Students in grades 3 and 4 may enter the non-competitive, “comments only” track.
- Entrants will be critiqued and ranked according to accuracy, musicality, musicianship, and performance ability. A limited number of those who audition will be invited to perform at the February 2nd recital.
- Students that enter “comments only,” instead of the competitive track, decline the opportunity to perform.
- Adjudicator: Dr. Kaju Lee, UW-Platteville. Adjudicator decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
- Repertoire: either one or two pieces, must be memorized and not exceed eight (8) minutes total. If a student enters two pieces, the judge will evaluate each one independently and may suggest only one for the recital. Students requiring accompaniment must provide their own accompanist.
- Please provide a legal score to the judge with measures numbered. A forgotten score automatically changes the status of the audition to “Comments Only.” Final decisions will be at the discretion of the adjudicator.
- All instruments may use the following as repertoire guidelines regarding minimum level:
-WSMA Solo and Ensemble: Lists A and B Repertoire
-NFMC Federation Lists: Medium Difficulty and above
-Jane Magrath’s Pianist’s Guide to Standard Performance and Teaching Literature: Level 6 or above
-Please contact co-chairs for repertoire questions before December 1, 2024. - Students requiring accompaniment must provide their own accompanist.
- Teachers who enter students in the MAME Honors Festival must volunteer on the day of the auditions. If the teacher is not able to attend, a reliable substitute must fulfill the work shift. Please provide as much advance notice as possible about any assigned work changes.
- If a teacher has been assigned to work and does not arrive, please know that MAME uses the state WMTA District Audition volunteer requirement guidelines: see here for details. This also applies if the teacher or substitute does not fulfill the entire assigned work shift. The event chairperson has discretion to waive the fine, based on extenuating circumstances.
Registration Format:
NEW this year: Paper OR online registration forms will be accepted for both teacher and student forms. If you wish to submit online, please use the following links:
Student form: Click here
Teacher form (submit only one per studio): Click here
Paper registration forms are available as well, on pages 3-5 of this document: Click here
Recital Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Tentative Recital Time(s): 2:00pm – watch Nuances (MAME’s monthly newsletter) for updates & details. Thanks to our sponsors, performances are free and open to the public. In recent years, both the Junior and Senior recitalists have performed on one program. If more than 30 students audition in either category, the event co-chairs reserve the right to schedule a second recital.
Honors Festival Co-Chairs: Lina Yoo Min Lee and Daniel Kuzuhara
honors@madisonmusiceducators.