Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026*
*Performance time by request
Location: Johnson County Community College (view map)
Registration Deadline: February 17, 2026
Registration Fee: $25 per entry
Co-Chairs: Jan Holthus, janholthus3@gmail.com
Leslie Newlin, leslie@lesliesmusicstudio.com
The annual OMTA Solo Festival allows students to demonstrate their performance skills and theory knowledge in an encouraging environment. Each student will perform one selection for an adjudicator and complete a written theory quiz.
Performance Element: Evaluators will give ratings and written comments to each student. All students earning a Superior Rating will receive medals. Students receiving Excellent and Very Good ratings will receive ribbons.
Theory Element: Following their performance, students will complete a theory-knowledge quiz appropriate to their level of study. All students scoring 90% or above will earn a Superior Rating and receive medals. Other students will receive participation ribbons.
Divisions: Students may enter any of the following divisions:
- Keyboard
- Voice
- Strings
- Percussion
Teacher Info
Festival documents are available for download below:
Solo Festival Guidelines 2026
Solo Festival Performance Levels 2026
Solo Festival Theory Levels 2026
Performers Guide 2026 (PDF)
Performers Guide 2026 (.docx)
Theory Practice Tests
Theory practice tests are available for download below:
Level Primer Keyboard
Level 1 Keyboard
Level 1 Treble Voice
Level 1 Violin
Level 2 Keyboard
Level 2 Treble Voice
Level 2 Violin
Level 2 Viola
Level 3 Keyboard
Level 3 Treble Voice
Level 3 Violin
Level 3 Viola
Level 3A Keyboard
Level 3A Treble Voice
Level 3A Violin
Level 3A Viola
Level 4 Keyboard
Level 4 Treble Voice
Level 4 Violin
Level 4 Viola
Level 4A Keyboard
Level 4A Treble Voice
Level 4A Violin
Level 4A Viola
Level 5
Level 5A
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9
Level 10
Press: “OMTA’s Gem”
By Jennifer Lacy, Festival Adjudicator
Review of the 2009 OMTA Solo Festival; Printed in the April 2009 Newsletter of the Kansas City Music Teachers Association
Teachers know that students need the experience of performing, so we find places for them to do so. Olathe Music Teachers Association has created a gem of a local performance opportunity for pre-college piano students. On February 28, OMTA produced their third annual Solo Festival, which was held at the Bell Cultural Events Center on the MidAmerica Nazarene University campus.
As a seasoned adjudicator, I cannot recall ever witnessing such a microcosm of everything wonderful, special, and promising in the arena of piano competitions. It wasn’t just the quality of performing that I heard consistently throughout that luminous afternoon; it was the overall abundance of excellence that a well organized and devoted group of teachers pulled together, imbued with humility.
Under the direction of Phaedra Miller and Jennifer Fink, the Solo Festival’s objective is to help motivate students by building their self-esteem. From prom dresses to little bow-ties, from nuance to crescendo, these kids surpassed all expectation. I was coined “The Dear Abby of Adjudicators” because of the encouraging and one-to-one style of reaching the student through my written commentary and well deserved it was. Lori Clark, Brenda Simmons, Heidi Wiens, Julie Bosworth, and Diane Koker were among teachers who participated. The competition also included a ten-level theory test as well as performance sections in the areas of clarinet, harp, piano, and voice; followed by the Festival Recital and Awards Ceremony the following afternoon. It isn’t any wonder so many students received superior scores and medals because of meticulous teaching.
Someone told me recently, “Humility is not thinking less about yourself, but thinking about yourself less.” That is the mantra engraved on OMTA’s halo.
Olathe Music Teachers Association 