Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) is an American nonprofit professional organization for the support, growth, and development of music-teaching professionals, with more than 17,000 members in 50 states, and more than 500 affiliated local and state organizations. MTNA offers a wide range of member resources, from leadership, teaching and personal health support, to insurance, financial and legal services. It also comprises two subsidiaries, the MTNA Professional Certification Program, and the MTNA Foundation Fund, which supports a variety of programs that include music competitions and commissioning of composers. MTNA was founded in 1876, and is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization in Ohio, with headquarters located in Cincinnati.

History Music Teachers National Association is an American organization founded in 1876 by Theodore Presser, who was both a musician and publisher. MTNA is credited in helping to establish an international pitch scale in 1883 as well as promoting international copyright law and giving official recognition to the American composer.Ulrich, "A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association." 1976, 12-13 In 1967, MTNA approved the program for qualified teachers. MTNA is also known for commissioning compositions by American composers and presenting the annual Distinguished Composer of the Year Award. The association also holds annual competitions for young musicians at the local, state, and national level.Rita H. Mead “Music Teachers National Association.” In Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press, 2007-2013 – Accessed September 20, 2013. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/19451 Currently, the organization has approximately 17,000 members, including teachers, performers, and composers, and more than 500 affiliated local and state organizations.

MTNA's purpose is to advance the benefit of studying music and music making to society and to support the professionalism of music teachers. MTNA maintains two subsidiary programs: MTNA Professional Certification Program and the MTNA Foundation Fund. The Professional Certification Program exists to improve the quality of professionalism in applied music teaching and assists the public in identifying proficient music teachers in their communities. The MTNA Foundation Fund supports programs that financially assist teachers and students with educational objectives while supplying an opportunity for individual and corporate support of MTNA and its programs.

Awards and Special Programs

As an association of music teachers, MTNA's mission is to elevate the professional level and develop the standing of all its members. MTNA is responsible for disseminating many publications, including books, journals, and pamphlets that have greatly impacted the profession of teaching music. MTNA also perpetually seeks newly published music and other teaching materials to raise awareness among its members.Ulrich, "A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association," 1976, 156.

The Certification of Teachers

According to MTNA, "The National Certification Plan is one of the highest importance to the professional welfare of the music teacher, and it provides a means of measuring and recognizing his or her professional growth. It represents almost a century of consultation and deliberation on the part of America's musical leaders."Ulrich, "A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association." 1976, 161.

MTNA Forums

The independent music teachers forum of MTNA was the first established in 1972, at the MTNA Convention in Portland, Oregon. After this initial meeting, IMTF organized different committees on the local and state levels. Its purpose was "To investigate the role of the full time independent teacher in American society today: the problems, advantages, and practices of this group, with the goal of establishing a true profession in this decade."Ulrich, "A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association." 1976, 166.

Multiple forums now exist through MTNA. They provide an environment for open discussion and the expression of ideas. These forums meet annually at the MTNA conference. These forums include:

Arts Awareness & Advocacy Collaborative Performance College Faculty Collegiate Chapters Independent Teachers Local Associations Wellness

"Distinguished Composer of the Year" Award

First awarded in 1969, the terms of the Distinguished Composer of the Year Award state that an MTNA-affiliated state music teachers association could commission any composer of their choice to compose a work for their state convention. Recording and scores of these works could then be sent to the national headquarters in Cincinnati. From these commissions, one composer is selected each year by a panel of judges to receive the "Distinguished Composer Award," otherwise known as the "Composer of the Year" award.Ulrich, "A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association." 1976, 167.

Previous winners include:

Liliya Ugay (2024) Robert McClure (2023) Charles N. Mason (2022) Delvyn Case (2021) Peter Van Zandt Lane (2020) Bret Bohman (2019) Benjamin Krause (2018) Philip Schuessler (2017) David Gompper (2016) David von Kampen (2015) Christos Tsitsaros (2014) Michael-Thomas Foumai (2013) Thomas Osborne (2012) M. Shawn Hundley (2011) Seth Custer (2010) Pierre Jalbert (2009) William Price (2008) John McDonald (2007) David Froom (2006) Michael Djupstrom (2005) Stefan Freund (2004) Liduino Pitombeira (2003) Timothy Hoekman (2002) David Mullikin (2001) Elisenda Fábregas (2000) Laurence Bitensky (1999) Erik Santos (1998)

National Conference

The MTNA National Conference, which is held annually, brings together the constituents of the MTNA membership. National competitions highlights the performances of students in all instrument areas, including composition. The national conferences also include master classes, technology and informational sessions, pedagogy sessions, and evening concerts. Members have the opportunity to participate in the national conference by submitting proposals and papers for presentation.

MTNA National Conferences

+National Conference of The Music Teachers National Association Conference Conference Site Year1st Delaware, Ohio 18762nd Chautauqua, New York 18783rd Cincinnati, Ohio 18794th Buffalo, New York 18805th Albany, New York 18816th Chicago, Illinois 18827th Providence, Rhode Island 18838th Cleveland, Ohio 18849th New York, New York 188510th Boston, Massachusetts 188611th Indianapolis, Indiana 188712th Chicago, Illinois 188813th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 188914th Detroit, Michigan 189015th Cleveland, Ohio 189216th Chicago, Illinois 189317th Saratoga Springs, New York 189418th St. Louis, Missouri 189519th Denver, Colorado 189620th New York, New York 189721st New York, New York 189822nd Cincinnati, Ohio 189923rd Des Moines, Iowa 190024th Put-in-Bay, Ohio 190125th Put-in-Bay, Ohio 190226th Asheville, North Carolina 190327th St. Louis, Missouri 190428th New York, New York 190529th Oberlin, Ohio 190630th New York, New York 190731st Washington, D.C. 190832nd Evanston, Illinois 190933rd Boston, Massachusetts 191034th Ann Arbor, Michigan 191135th Poughkeepsie, New York191236th Cincinnati, Ohio 191337th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 191438th Buffalo, New York 191539th New York, New York 191640th New Orleans, Louisiana 191741st St. Louis, Missouri 191842nd Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 191943rd Chicago, Illinois 192044th Detroit, Michigan 192145th New York, New York 192246th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 192347th St. Louis, Missouri 192448th Dayton, Ohio 192549th Rochester, New York 192650th Minneapolis, Minnesota 192751st Cleveland, Ohio 192852nd Cleveland, Ohio 192953rd St. Louis, Missouri 193054th Detroit, Michigan 193155th Washington, D.C. 193256th Lincoln, Nebraska 193357th Milwaukee, Wisconsin 193458th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 193559th Chicago, Illinois 193660th Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 193761st Washington, D.C. 193862nd Kansas City, Missouri 193963rd Cleveland, Ohio 194064th Minneapolis, Minnesota 194165th Cincinnati, Ohio 194266th Cincinnati, Ohio 194467th Detroit, Michigan 194568th Detroit, Michigan 194669th St. Louis, Missouri 194770th Boston, Massachusetts 194771st Chicago, Illinois 194872nd San Francisco, California 194973rd Cleveland, Ohio 195074th Washington, D.C. 195075th Dallas, Texas 195276th Cincinnati, Ohio 195377th St. Louis, Missouri 195578th Chicago, Illinois 195779th Kansas City, Missouri 195980th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 196181st Chicago, Illinois 196382nd Dallas, Texas 196583rd St. Louis, Missouri 196784th Cincinnati, Ohio 196985th Miami Beach, Florida 197086th Chicago, Illinois 197188th Portland, Oregon 197289th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 197390th Los Angeles, California 197491st Denver, Colorado 197592nd Dallas, Texas 197693rd Atlanta, Georgia 197794th Chicago, Illinois 197895th Seattle, Washington 197996th Washington, D.C. 198097th Phoenix, Arizona 198198th Kansas City, Missouri 198299th Houston, Texas 1983100th Louisville, Kentucky 1984101st Dearborn, Michigan 1985102nd Portland, Oregon 1986103rd New York, New York 1987104th Salt Lake City, Utah 1988105th Wichita, Kansas 1989106th Little Rock, Arkansas 1990107th Miami, Florida 1991108th Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1992109th Spokane, Washington 1993110th Washington, D.C. 1994111th Albuquerque, New Mexico 1995112th Kansas City, Missouri 1996113th Dallas, Texas 1997114th Nashville, Tennessee 1998115th Los Angeles, California 1999116th Minneapolis, Minnesota 2000117th Washington, D.C. 2001118th Cincinnati, Ohio 2002119th Salt Lake City, Utah 2003120th Kansas City, Missouri 2004121st Seattle, Washington 2005122nd Austin, Texas 2006123rd Toronto, Ontario 2007124th Denver, Colorado 2008125th Atlanta, Georgia 2009126th Albuquerque, New Mexico 2010127th Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2011128th New York, New York 2012129th Anaheim, California 2013130th Chicago, Illinois 2014131st Las Vegas, Nevada 2015132nd San Antonio, Texas 2016133rdBaltimore, Maryland2017134thOrlando, Florida2018135thSpokane, Washington2019136thChicago, Illinois (virtual)2020137thAtlanta, Georgia (virtual)2021138thMinneapolis, Minnesota (virtual)2022139thReno, Nevada 2023140thAtlanta, Georgia 2024141stMinneapolis, Minnesota 2025

MTNA Presidents