The South Bay Branch of the Music Teachers' Association of California offers a number of programs for the benefit of its teacher members and their students. You may scroll down to view all the programs we offer, or click on a link below to jump to the description for a particular program.

Adult Recitals

Adult students (beyond high school age) of members are presented in three evening recitals during the year. Memorization is not required, and an informal, supportive studio setting prevails. Two pianos are always available at each recital, and other instrumental/vocal ensembles are encouraged.

Artists of the Future

In collaboration with the Beach Cities Symphony, the South Bay Branch sponsors an annual concerto competition for a performance on the symphony's spring concert. Up to four student winners of branch members are featured as soloists, playing a single concerto movement or singing three songs with the orchestra.

Bach Festival

The annual Bach Festival Auditions, in which original works of Johann Sebastian Bach are performed, are held by the South Bay Branch in February. All students of active and provisional members of the MTAC Branch are invited to participate. Instrumentalists to the age of nineteen years and vocalists to twenty-five years are eligible. Winners of the branch auditions are then asked to participate in the regional Honors Festival. Those winners participating in the Honors Festival may go on to Complete Works Auditions if their compositions are listed on the year's list of Complete Works or to the Final Events Rectitals.

Baroque Recital

Instrumentalists and vocalists may perform original works of any Baroque composer, including Johann Sebastian Bach, at the Junior Baroque Recital which is not adjudicated.

Certificate of Merit

Provides a systematic and comprehensive program of performance, sight-reading, technique, theory and ear-training that can be accomplished by the majority of students.

• Annual evaluation includes performance, technique, sight-reading, written theory and ear training.
• Awards include: annual certificate, Senior Awards, Honors Recitals, and Convention Programs.

For more information, visit the State Website using the link at left.

Composers Today

The purpose of the Composers Today program is to encourage teachers and students to use their knowledge and skills to compose music and foster creativity. The Composers Today program provides the following opportunities to be evaluated by state approved adjudicators:

• Young Composer's Guild (YCG) for students 19 years of age and older
• Composition Evaluations for students and teachers
• State Contest for stdents and teachers
• Convention Symposium for students and teachers
• Branch Composers Today Recitals for students of branch members

Scholarship Auditions

The South Bay Branch awards up to twelve scholarships annually. Auditions are held in the spring. Students of all Active and Provisional members of the South Bay Branch are eligible to compete for these scholarships. No student is permitted to win any award more than once. The winners of these scholarships are selected solely on the basis of performance by a nonmember jury of distinguished musicians. The winners appear in recital before our branch membership.

Student Recitals

Each year the branch presents four or five recitals. The most outstanding students of each studio are encouraged to participate in these recitals. Beginning, intermediate and advanced students are all welcome to participate. They should present numbers of a classical nature, well memorized, for parents and friends. Recitals are open to the public.

Teacher Referrals

Those teachers with studio openings may request inclusion on the teacher referral list by submitting an application. (Use Teacher Referrals link at left.)

VOCE

VOCE was started in 1971 to provide an opportunity for vocalists, orchestral instrumentalists, and chamber music ensembles to be evaluated on a non-competitive and competitive basis. Winners at the statewide level perform at the Convention and receive cash awards.