Music Teachers’ Association of California
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT®
CM CALENDAR
2026-2027
Please refer to the MTAC Teacher Portal for more detailed information.
*Teachers and students should use the current syllabi for CM 2027
CM Registration OPENS on September 1
CM Registration CLOSES on September 30
CM Enrollment fees MUST BE PAID by October 5
CM Enrollment application online edit CLOSES on December 15
Online Evaluation Media Submission DUE on March 9
CM In-Person Evaluation Dates (Pre-Registration Required)
January 30 & 31, 2027 – CM In-Person Evaluations (Claremont Community School of Music, Claremont)
February 13 & 14, 2027 – CM In-Person Evaluations (Valley Christian Schools, San Jose)
Questions? Email: cminfo@mtac.org
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State Honors
Students are automatically considered if they:
- Pass both Performance Evaluation and Theory at their CM Level
- Earn a rating of Good or Excellent in Technique, Sight Reading/Singing, and Repertoire
- Score 80% or higher on the Theory Test
Senior Award
For graduating seniors who:
- Enroll in CM Level 7 or higher
- Participate in CM for three years in grades 9–12 (consecutive or not), including their final year
- Pass all components (Performance + Theory) each year
Note: Students playing two instruments must complete requirements for each instrument separately.
Young Artist Guild (YAG)
- Awarded by panel recommendation to the most gifted CM musicians
- 5-year membership with semi-professional paid performance opportunities at MTAC branch concerts
Convention Recitals
- Evaluators select students from the annual CM Performance Evaluations to perform at MTAC’s annual State Convention. Click here for more info.