Certificate of Merit

MTAC Certificate of Merit

Certificate of Merit is no longer offered in-person at the Branch level; for more information, teachers may login to their mtac.org portal.

MTAC Santa Monica Bay
CM Branch Honors Festival

Deborah H. How, Co-Chair (Piano)
dhhow.music@gmail.com

Emily Senchuk, Co-Chair (Strings, Winds, Voice)
emsenchuk@gmail.com

Students/Parents are asked to please communicate with the Chair through your Teacher.

CM Branch Honors Festival
March 23, 2025 (SUN)

• 2:00pm–6:00pm (exact recital times will depend on the number of students eligible for Branch Honors)

Westside Music Conservatory
12424 Wilshire Blvd Ste 100
(SE corner of Wilshire at Centinela Ave)
Los Angeles (Brentwood) 90025
https://westsidemusicconservatory.com/location-directions-parking/

Branch Honors • Rules & Guidelines

•  ALL INSTRUMENTS & VOICE: Levels Prep (NEW) – Advanced/Panel

• Student may be in any school grade

• Students must receive Excellent overall rating on Repertoire

• Teachers will choose piece for Branch Honors Recital

• Piece must fit within the time limit guidelines for MTAC State Convention Festival Recitals

• Teachers may make cuts to piece to fit time limit

Branch Honors • Memorization Requirements

• PIANO/STRING/VOICE: students must have all pieces memorized

• WIND/BRASS: students are not required to play pieces by memory

• Technique AND Sight Reading must receive a Good or Excellent rating from the CM Evaluator

• Theory score must be 80% or higher

Branch Honors • Time Limit per Student

• Piano, Voice, Harp: 5 minutes

• Strings

  • Preparatory Level–Level 5: 5 minutes

  • Levels 6–8: 7 minutes

  • Levels 9–Advanced: 10 minutes

• Winds

  • Levels 1–7: 5 minutes

  • Levels 8–Advanced: 8 minutes