Case Study: Pennsylvania Music Educators Association achieves streamlined virtual audition reviews and increased participation with Submittable

Listening to Thousands of Music Auditions, Anytime and Anywhere

The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), a nonprofit that evaluates thousands of individual and ensemble music auditions each year, struggled for decades with a paper-and-tape workflow—VHS tapes, CDs, mailed paperwork, in-person marathon review sessions, and heavy volunteer coordination. Looking to eliminate hard copies, reduce administrative overhead, and make the process accessible to volunteers with varying technical skills, PMEA adopted Submittable’s cloud submission and review platform in 2015.

Using Submittable, PMEA moved auditions online so reviewers can listen anywhere without downloading files, use collaborative submissions, and run customized reports and email automations. The change supported 14,500+ submissions and 300+ reviewers, increased participation and diversity, helped retain volunteers, and cut tasks that once took days down to hours; Submittable’s support also enabled a smooth pivot to remote auditions during COVID.

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

Abi Young

Executive Director