NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University is set to host its second annual Sonatina-Sonata Festival, providing pre-college students with a platform to perform on a university campus. The event offers participants the chance to receive feedback from music faculty and compete for awards and scholarships.

The festival will feature an Honors Recital at 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2025, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. This recital is open to the public and will showcase piano performances by selected students from grades four through twelve.

Interested students can audition via video submission, which will be evaluated by Northwest music faculty and recital judges. The deadline for video submissions is Monday, January 1.

"The recital performances will provide students with the opportunity to receive performance awards and cash prizes," said Dr. Slawomir Dobrzański.

High school juniors and seniors also have the opportunity to compete for Northwest piano scholarships. Guest pianist Dr. Slawomir Dobrzański, a professor of piano at Kansas State University, will select award winners and perform an evening recital during the festival.

Dr. Dobrzański has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in over 20 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. He has released several world-premiere recordings of piano music by various composers and authored a biography of Maria Szymanowska published by the Polish Music Center at the University of Southern California.

Following Northwest's Bach Family Festival in September, which encouraged students to study J.S. Bach's works, this event continues Northwest's tradition of offering unique performance opportunities beyond state and regional competitions.

For further details about the festival or audition requirements, contact Olson.