West MPA

 

Hello Directors,

I have updated the official 2026 MPA lists to reflect the recent additions made by the MPA Committee. There will be no further literature additions considered until summer. Additionally, no grade level changes were made. In our opinion, those types of edits should be considered in the summer and reported by the beginning of the school year.

***There were two mistakes on the list that were recently discovered and needed correcting. It did NOT affect the grade level of either piece.

On the Grade III list, the piece “Dorian Variations” has been updated to reflect its true composer, Mark Williams. Mozart did not compose that song.

On the Grade IV list, the piece “The Sprint,” by Alan Lee Silva, has actually been present for years. However, at some point it was erroneously edited to “The Spirit,” which is not the title of any piece composed by Alan Lee Silva, or any relevant piece of music.

As you find these types of errors, please contact me so I can put them on the list to fix for next fall.

There will be a virtual meeting of the ad hoc committee sometime in late May or early June. You are welcome to be a part of it; we are all volunteers. You can reach me at [email protected].

Yours,

Greg Murphy

LINKS:

NCMEA Western Region MPA
Registration Information and Requirements
2026

Kenneth Tysor- MPA Planning Chair- [email protected]

Please fill out the 2026 Google Registration Form prior to sending your check and eligibility form. Registration will close on January 20, 2026.

Make checks payable to:

NCMEA Orchestra
℅ Kenneth Tysor, MPA Planning Chair
Reagan High School
3750 Transou Rd
Pfafftown, NC 27040

It is YOUR responsibility to make sure your bookkeeper sends the check to the correct address, or be sure to have them place the check in your box so you can mail it to the correct address. Check with your bookkeeper ASAP that they will mail the check to my school. You may return the Certificate of Eligibility with your check or scan and email to [email protected] I will gladly accept checks and forms at WRO Auditions on Jan. 17th.

Scheduling and site location preferences will be honored in order of receipt and postmark of checks.

Be sure you read ALL of the linked documents in full.
Helpful MPA Documents:

All groups should perform TWO compositions chosen from the current North Carolina MPA Repertoire List. One must be from a classification as registered, and a second may be at the same level or one level above. A third may be of the director’s choice. A director may not repeat the same repertoire with the same ensemble during any four-year period for high school groups, or during any three-year period for middle school groups.

Groups receiving ratings for grades III – VI will sight read as part of their rating.

  • Sight-reading will be required for all groups performing in grades III-VI.
  • New This year: Groups performing in grades I and II may opt-in to sight-read, for comments only or for a score, according to the director’s choice at registration.
  • Sight-reading selections will be two grade levels below the grade level of the prepared selections for groups entering in grades III through VI. Groups entering in grades I and II who choose to sight-read will sight-read a grade I level.

Adjudicators cannot work with any ensemble participating in the same region that they are judging from the start of second semester to MPA. Any exceptions due to unusual/unforeseen circumstances must be approved by the State Orchestra Section Chair.

There are 3 MPA sites with 5 different dates. You will choose your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th preferences:

  • Directors must be current members of NCMEA and include proof in online registration.
  • Applications must be submitted by the director and checks must be postmarked no later than January 20th, 2026.
  • All groups must have 12 or more members. Directors may not perform with their group. Youth orchestras are not eligible.
  • No student may participate in more than one group unless they are enrolled in each group unless one group is a string orchestra and the other is a full orchestra.
  • If your group is performing for Comments Only, any combination of ages and schools is acceptable.
  • With the exception of accompanists, performers must not exceed the 12th grade.
  • All directors are required to furnish three original scores of each composition to be performed. Each score must have every measure numbered. Photocopies are not allowed unless written verification from the publisher is included with the scores.
  • Time limits: Grade I-II 25 minutes (includes set up and tuning)
    Grade III-IV 35 minutes
    Grade V-VI 40 minutes
  • Each group may enter the warm-up area one event ahead of their performance time.
  • Directors are responsible for providing a stage crew to assist in stage set-up. Piano, 3 timpani, bass drum, chairs, stands, and podium will be furnished by site schools. Please note that a harp is not available. You will need to bring your own bass stools.
  • Any group arriving late will perform only at the discretion of the event chair.
  • Groups are encouraged to stay and listen to other schools perform. Directors and students are reminded that no one is to leave, or enter, the performance area during another group’s performance. Please remind your students of proper concert etiquette. Each director will attend to the behavior of his/her students. Failure to stop disruptive behavior will result in the group being asked to leave the site and not being able to participate again.

Contact MPA Planning Chair Kenneth Tysor at [email protected] with any questions.