Valley View Students Invited to Apply for Southwest Suburban Piano Festival

Interested student pianists in Valley View School District 365U have until Jan. 26 to apply for a spot in the Southwest Suburban Piano Festival.

Scheduled for April 11 at Bolingbrook’s First Presbyterian Church of DuPage, the event for students ages 8 to 18 currently enrolled in private piano instruction is being coordinated by the Southwest Suburban Harmony Project. Participants do not need to attend Valley View schools.

This year’s festival format will differ from previous more competitive formats in that each entrant will perform before a judge and will receive both written and verbal critiques based on the piece and scales being performed.

“In keeping with the goals of the Southwest Suburban Harmony Project, the event will give students a chance to grow in their artistry at their own level and pace,” said SSHP Director Linda Kurtz, who is a VVSD guest teacher and longtime piano instructor. “Younger beginners to more advanced students preparing for competitive performance can benefit from this experience.”

Participants who earn a gold medal will be eligible to perform in the 4 p.m. Meda Thompson Honors Recital named after the former VVSD administrator who passed away several years ago. Dr. Thompson’s family members will present the honor students with their gold medals after the performances.

Registration forms are available by contacting Kurtz at sshpmusic@gmail.com or 630-759-8843. The non-refundable registration fee is $40. Registrations are limited to the first 125 applicants.