NW Missouri Times

Students from grades four through 12 will participate in the annual Bach Family Festival at Northwest Missouri State University, where they will demonstrate their piano abilities. The event is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, beginning at 3 p.m. in the Charles Johnson Theater within the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building.

The festival opens with a welcome and a masterclass, followed by an honors recital at 4 p.m., after which awards will be presented. All performances are open to the public and can also be streamed online.

“Students will have the opportunity to submit a video audition, and we’ll provide a video response, coaching them depending on their pieces,” Dr. Anthony Olson, a Northwest professor of music, said. “It’s a great way to connect them to campus and encourage them in their music.”

Participants are invited to study works by J.S. Bach or his family members under their teachers’ guidance. Performances may feature piano, organ or harpsichord; collaborative works are encouraged.

“The whole festival is also a great opportunity for the public to come support the students and view the performances,” Olson said. “Our Northwest piano students will also be helping, coordinating traffic and really help out with the whole service.”

A $75 prize may be awarded for outstanding solo or collaborative performances. High school juniors and seniors taking part in the festival have an opportunity to earn a piano scholarship to Northwest Missouri State University based on performance quality and composition difficulty.

Guest pianist Dr. Hyeyeon Park from the University of Nevada-Reno will assist with judging awards and perform her own recital at 7 p.m. Park has performed internationally as both soloist and chamber musician in countries including Mexico, Italy, and Japan. She is also Artistic Co-Director of Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City.

For more information about participation or attendance, interested individuals can visit Northwest Missouri State University's website.