SUITE AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Registration has closed.
We are in the process of scheduling students. Emails will be sent to teachers this week (before November 6).
Questions?
Email: thestudio615@gmail.com
〰️
〰️
Here’s how the Suite Autumn Festival will work
On Saturday November 15 - students will begin to arrive between 8:15-8:45 am. Auditions will be scheduled based upon repertoire choices, and duration. Ensembles will be scheduled in the later morning or early afternoon.
Students perform in a closed audition. Only the adjudicator and the performer(s) will be permitted in Studio 4 during their repertoire presentation.
Performers must bring a print copy of the music they will be performing. Legal downloaded copies are permitted - a copyright form must be signed by a parent/guardian for all students - this must be handed to the judge at the audition.
After your audition, please pose for a photo in front of our Suite of Seasons poster and receive your participation certificate.
The judge will make recommendations for competitive performers. Because there are multiple entries performing the same repertoire, only one performer for each piece will be selected.
Teachers will be notified about the results within 24 hours following the audition. All performance comments will be scanned as a JPEG and either emailed or texted to participating teachers within 24 hours following the audition. If requested, teachers will also receive the hard paper copy of the comments.
Selected performers will be invited to perform on the Showcase Recital to be held in Studio 4, by invitation only.
Since Studio 4 has limited seating, each performer will be allowed 3 guests to attend as part of the audience. Requests for additional reserved seats will be accommodated as seats are available - please email Shad at thestudio615@gmail.com before December 5 to request additional seats.
The Showcase Recital will be held on Saturday, December 13 beginning at 6:30 pm. Students will be invited to warm up before the recital starting at 6:00 pm.
Each Showcase Recital performer will receive a trophy, in addition to 2 free tickets to a 2026 Suite of Seasons Recital Series performance.
This festival is designed mindful of the importance of introducing youth musicians to the many facets of the baroque era.
Enter as non-competitive or competitive. Competitive students will be considered for a showcase performance in mid-December.
Teachers are inspired to guide students through the nuances of baroque ornamentation, as well as modern and contemporary repertoire that indexes the baroque in all of its counterpoint, fancy.
For instance, consider this about the use of ornaments in Music History
When the “pianoforte” was introduced at the end of the Baroque era, loud and soft dynamics and the use of the pedal changed the entire character of keyboard music. With the introduction of such an expressive instrument, the use of many additional ornaments became “out of fashion”. The Classical era, as we have come to know it, is marked (in part) by this change of expression.
As a music educator who champions the piano and the voice, strings, and small ensembles - I love the idea that the performer is in part a collaborator with the composer. This impulse remains at the heart of music - its inception began with baroque performance practice.
I hope you will encourage your students to be part of the dynamism that is baroque and baroque-inspired repertoire.
Shad Wenzlaff - music educator, independent pianist, founder & administrator for the Suite of Seasons Festival and the Suite Autumn Music Festival. Email Shad: thestudio615@gmail.com