Northwest to host Sonatina-Sonata Festival for young students

Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts is hosting its first Sonatina-Sonata Festival to give pre-college students an opportunity to perform on a university campus, receive feedback from music faculty and potentially win awards and scholarships.

The festival consists of an Honors Recital at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will feature piano repertoire performed by select students in grades four through 12.

Students interested in performing can audition by video submission, which will be reviewed by Northwest music faculty and recital judges Dr. Anthony Olson and Dr. Jiwon Choi.

Students must submit their audition video by Monday, Jan. 1. Click here for more information about auditions.

The recital will provide students with the opportunity to receive performance awards and cash prizes. Additionally, high school juniors and seniors can compete for Northwest piano scholarships.

Olson said the festival is an opportunity for piano students to perform in an environment that is different from state and regional competitions.

“This is just another low-pressure place where they can go, they can play some pieces and enjoy it on a college campus where they’re with other people who are playing something they can sort of relate to,” Olson said.

For more information about the festival or audition requirements, contact Olson at aolson@nwmissouri.edu.