New Sherer Competition established for high school violinists and pianists

Goshen College is hosting a new competition this spring for classically-trained high school violinists and pianists.

The Sherer Violin and Piano Competition for Young Musicians, which will take place May 15-16 in the college’s Music Center, is open to violinists and pianists in grades 8-12, who are not currently enrolled in a degree program at a college or university.

“We want to bring talented youth to the Goshen College campus, have them perform in our beautiful halls and reward them for their great work in music,” said Solomia Soroka, Goshen College professor of music and the competition’s artistic director.

» Learn more at goshen.edu/sherercomp

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, April 1, 2020, and requires a $75 application fee and a video entry.

Repertoire should include selections from at least two of the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Contemporary, and be less than 30 minutes in length.

Prizes for the top three finishers are $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $300 for third place. Winners will also perform in a closing concert on May 16.

Judges include Dr. Penny Thompson Kruse, professor of violin at the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University; Dr. Lee Joiner, associate professor of music and chair of the string area at the Wheaton (Illinois) College Conservatory of Music; Phoenix Park-Kim, professor of music at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana; and Matthew Hill, DMA, professor of music and chair of the Goshen College Music Department.

The competition is named after two legendary Goshen College music professors emeriti, the husband-and-wife team of violinist Lon Sherer and pianist Kathryn Sherer, who taught thousands of Goshen music students and are credited for their part in making Goshen College a popular music destination for students and performers alike.

 

Competition Schedule

*Schedule is subject to change

Friday, May 15

• 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  – Student arrival, registration, rehearsal and practice time
• 7:30 p.m. – Concert, Sherer Piano Trio & guest artists, Sauder Concert Hall
• 8:30 p.m. – Reception for judges and competitors

Saturday, May 16

• Morning – Warm-ups for violinists with accompanists, and pianists
• 10 a.m. – Piano adjudication, Sauder Concert Hall
• 10 a.m. – Violin adjudication, Rieth Recital Hall
• 7:30 p.m. – Competition winners concert, Sauder Concert Hall