NSMTA Fall Festival
The NSMTA Fall Music Festival provides students of all levels - and all instruments - with an opportunity to perform in a positive and non-competitive environment.
NSMTA Fall Festival Chair: Heather Atagan, fallfestival@nsmta.org
Committee: Grace Juang · Heidi Mayer · Anthony Ty
EVENT DATE
Saturday,
November 14, 2026
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
LOCATION
New Trier Township High School
Winnetka Campus
385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka, IL 60093
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Saturday,
October 31, 2026
ENTRY FEES
NSMTA Member: $35
Non-Member: $45
About the Fall Festival
This festival is designed to meet the students where they are. Whether it's a beginner who loves Star Wars or a high school student preparing for college auditions. The Fall Festival is meant to motivate, encourage, and inspire!
Students will perform in small groups with appropriate age/levels and receive verbal feedback by a professional adjudicator. They will also receive brief written comments and a certificate of participation.
Fall Festival Rules & Guidelines
Please review the following guidelines before registering. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Fall Festival Committee at fallfestival@nsmta.org
Student Levels
Students will register in one of three general divisions:
Beginner: 0-3 years of study
Intermediate: 3-6 years of study
Advanced: 6 or more years of study
Teachers may use their discretion when selecting the most appropriate division for their student.
Repertoire & Performance Time
Students will perform one piece.
Beginner Division: Maximum performance time of 5 minutes
Intermediate & Advanced Divisions: Maximum performance time of 7 minutes
Teachers will provide the title and composer of the student’s piece during registration.
Memorization required?
Are arrangements permitted?
Solo piano only, or ensemble or other instrument performances permitted?
Performance Scheduling
The Fall Festival will take place from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM. During registration, participants may indicate a preferred performance window:
First Half: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Second Half: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
No Preference
Performance time preferences cannot be guaranteed, but the committee will take requests into consideration and make every effort to accommodate them.
Final performance times will be communicated in the Member Portal after registration closes.
Teacher Volunteers
Teachers may volunteer to assist with the Fall Festival. The registration form allows teachers to indicate their availability for one or more of the following shifts:
10:00 AM–12:00 PM · 12:00–2:00 PM · 2:00–4:00 PM
Confirm: volunteering is optional?
How to Register
Registration for the NSMTA Fall Festival is completed by the student’s teacher through the NSMTA Member Portal. Please complete registration for all participating students by October 31, 2026.
NSMTA Members
If you are a current NSMTA member, please log in to the Member Portal to register students.
The registration fee is $35 per student.
Not an NSMTA Member?
Non-member teachers are welcome to participate in the Fall Festival. The registration fee is $45 per student.
To register, please follow the instructions for non-member access to the Member Portal.