Alabama School of the Arts Announces 7th Annual Piano Festival
MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� The 秋霞福利一区 announces the 7th annual Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival, a year-long series of master classes and workshops, recitals by guest artists and faculty, and special performances by university students and 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 piano ensemble.
The ASOTA Piano Festival was started by Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva, 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 Steinway Artist and director of piano studies. Along with retired music professor Becky Fox, Onalbayeva was instrumental in leading the university to gain the prestigious status of All-Steinway School.
鈥淭he annual Piano Festival combines educational and performance variety, not just for pianists, but also for other instrumentalists and vocalists. We also collaborate with 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 Art Department and ASOTA dance students. Our students who study composition have performances of their original works,鈥� said Onalbayeva.
Gaukhar Kenessova, a master鈥檚 student in piano performance, said, 鈥淢y favorite part of ASOTA鈥檚 piano festival is working together and sharing ideas, as well as the excellent feedback from our professors who are always ready to help us. Master classes and concerts are in a special place in my heart!鈥�
This year, there are workshops and master classes with international artists and educators from Israel, Costa Rica and several other countries.
鈥淢y favorite part of ASOTA鈥檚 Piano Festival is meeting and being mentored by world-class artists. Since 秋霞福利一区 is a smaller school, all students can participate in masterclasses instead of just watching the guest artist,鈥� said Christopher Conger, sophomore music performance major.
All Piano Festival events are free and open to the public and are held on campus in Moorer Auditorium. The full schedule is below and can be found on the university calendar at umobile.edu/calendar, or call the Alabama School of the Arts at 251.442.2383.
All-Steinway School Piano Festival
The university鈥檚 7th annual Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival includes an annual celebration of the university鈥檚 status as an All-Steinway School. Events include:
Master Classes will be held every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at Moorer Auditorium in Thomas T. Martin Hall on 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 campus.
August 23, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淔inding the Balance: Alexander Technique and Alignment for Pianists鈥� Workshop with Dr. Kathryn Hedlund, chair of graduate studies, director of vocal studies and professor of music at the 秋霞福利一区, Mobile, Alabama.
September 6, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淢usic Production Using Virtual Instruments and MIDI鈥� Workshop with Chris Springer, producer and arranger at the 秋霞福利一区, Mobile, Alabama.
September 26, 7 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淩agtime and Other Riches鈥� with Bobby van Deusen, three-time world champion of the Old Time Piano Competition, from Pensacola, Florida.
October 26, 7 p.m. 鈥� 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 Piano Ensemble 鈥淒ancing with Pianos.鈥�
November 1, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淧iano and Chamber Works by Kazakh Composers鈥� Workshop with Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva and students from the National University of Coast Rica and the 秋霞福利一区.
November 29, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Master Class with Dr. Uriel Tsachor, Steinway artist and professor emeritus of music at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
January 18, 7 p.m. 鈥� All-Steinway Seventh Annual Celebration piano department concert.
January 23, 7 p.m. 鈥� Guest Artist Recital with Faina Lushtak, Steinway artist associate and professor of music at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisianna.
January 24, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Master Class with Faina Lushtak.
February 10, 9 a.m. 鈥� Gulf Coast Steinway Society Music Competition IX
February 14, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淟atin American Piano works by Living Composers鈥� online workshop with Dr. Rebeca Ordonez Rodriguez, associate professor of piano at Escuela de Musica.
February 20, 7 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淔rom America to Kazakhstan鈥� ASOTA Piano Duet with Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva and Greg Wiggins.
April 2, 7 p.m. 鈥� 鈥淢usic from Baroque until Today鈥� chamber music concert by ASOTA students.
April 3, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Master Class and Workshop with Dr. Marian Lee, associate professor of music and head of piano department at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa.
April 18, 7 p.m. 颅鈥� 鈥淧ianos at an Exhibition鈥� concert by ASOTA鈥檚 Piano Ensemble
About the 秋霞福利一区
The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered university with a vision of 鈥淗igher聽
Education for a Higher Purpose,鈥� founded to honor God by equipping students for their聽
future professions in an environment where they are known.聽Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. The 秋霞福利一区 was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
For information about the 秋霞福利一区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit聽, connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Molly Grace Watkins is the Content Creator for the Office for Marketing and Public Relations at the 秋霞福利一区. She is a full-time student in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she is pursuing a degree in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and Broadcasting. A published author, Molly Grace loves writing and being in front of the camera. She is an active member and volunteer at Cottage Hill Baptist Church. She also enjoys listening to music, going on long walks and driving her friends around in her blue MINI Cooper.
