Northwest to host third annual Sonatina-Sonata festival for young students

Northwest Missouri State University's School of Fine and Performing Arts is hosting its third annual Sonatina-Sonata Festival, giving pre-college students an opportunity to perform on the University campus, receive feedback from music faculty and potentially win awards and scholarships.

The festival includes an Honors Recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, 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.

"This festival is about supporting young musicians," Olson said. "We want students to feel motivated, challenged and welcomed here at Northwest. The Honors Recital is always a highlight; we're consistently amazed by the quality of performances."

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

Guest pianist Peter Miyamoto, a professor of piano at the University of Missouri, will select award winners and perform an evening recital at the festival.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Miyamoto has performed in more than 12 countries in Asia, Europe and North America and released several critically acclaimed recordings of piano music. He was the first Gilmore Young Artist and serves as the executive director of the Plowman Chamber of Music Competition. Miyamoto holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music, Yale University School of Music, Michigan State University and the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In addition to its Sonatina-Sonata Festival, Northwest hosts a Bach Family Festival in the fall. The annual events give piano students opportunities to perform in an environment that is different from state and regional competitions.

For more information about the festival or audition requirements, contact Olson at [email protected].