Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival

Students of any age, level, or instrument!

April 28, 2024 @ 2:00 and 3:45pm

Registration runs through the SMTA website, on this page. Registration will be open March 11- April 12 (note: registration may close early if programs fill up- register early!)

● Time limits:

○ SMTA Members are restricted to registering 15 minutes of total performance time per studio.

○ Non-members are restricted to 10 minutes of total performance time per studio.

○ Teachers who wish to register more students may contact the Festival chairs to be placed on a waitlist. Students on the waitlist may be able to register later if there is room.

● Fees:

$15 students of SMTA members, and $25 for students of non-SMTA members

● Since the registration form asks specifically for parent permission for both a health release and photo/video release, we encourage participating teachers to direct each of their student’s families to register themselves.

● Teachers should provide parents with the necessary information about their pieces (including title, composer, opus numbers, movement titles, and approximate timing of the piece) so that they can register accurately.

● **IMPORTANT** After you have filled out the registration form, please make sure to finish the registration process by completing the checkout and entering payment information (click on the “cart icon” at the top right-hand corner of the website). Your registration will not go through until you have submitted payment!

Performing procedures:

● Memorized performances are encouraged, but not required

○ If a performance is not memorized, it is up to each performer to arrange for their own page-turner (such as a family member or teacher) if needed. If this isn’t possible, please email the Festival chairs in advance, so we can arrange for one.

● No repeats, please

● All student performers should be prepared to introduce themselves and their pieces

○ Students are also encouraged, if comfortable, to say a few words about their piece to help the audience better engage with their performance. No big speech needed-- just a couple sentences is enough! This is very open-ended, but here are some ideas:

■ Is there a neat or special compositional feature in this piece? Unusual rhythms? An unusual key change? An odd time signature, or a change in time signature?

■ Was the piece dedicated to or written for someone in mind?

■ What attracts you to this piece? Or does it remind you of a scene, image, or experience?

■ Or anything other interesting tidbit they’d like to share!

*Additional information and instructions may be sent closer to the date of the event. For any questions, please reach out to Festival co-chairs:

● Ondine de Mer: odemerpiano @ gmail.com

● Thomas Lee: thomaslee.pf @ gmail.com

The Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival is held every year to celebrate the sonatina form and the incredible range of expressive possibilities that can be explored in its brief, unassuming form.

Accepted repertoire:

We welcome any composition entitled “Sonatina”/”Sonatine” and encourage students and teachers to help us traverse the whole breadth of the sonatina repertoire from all styles and periods, including works written for solo piano, duets, as well as other instruments and ensembles.

Excluded repertoire:

● We cannot program any full-fledged sonatas, however, as they are beyond the scope of this event.

● Rondos, variations, and other stand-alone pieces that are not part of a sonatina will not be accepted.

Exceptions:

The following “sonatas” are acceptable and welcome at the Festival, as they largely exhibit the essential qualities of a sonatina, despite their varying nomenclatures:

● Haydn: Keyboard “Divertimenti”

Various earlier multi-movement keyboard works, sometimes interchangeably referred to as “Sonatas” or “Divertimenti,” will be accepted. In general, these shorter pieces account for roughly the first dozen-or-so works cataloged in the Hoboken category “Hob. XVI.” Please double check with the Festival chairs if you are interested in entering a student playing one of these for approval of a specific work.

● Mozart

Piano Sonata in C, K.545 (“Sonata facile”)

● Beethoven

Two Piano Sonatas, Op. 49 (“Leichte Sonaten”)

Piano Sonata in G, Op. 79 (“Sonatine”)

● Schumann

Three Piano Sonatas for the Young, Op. 118

If you have questions or are unsure about repertoire requirements, please contact one of the Festival co-chairs at smtasonatinafestival@gmail.com.

Please contact co-chair Tom Lee at smtasonatinafestival@gmail.com.