MOBILE, Ala. – University of Mobile Professor of Music and Steinway Artist Kadisha Onalbayeva has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame.
The director of piano studies and professor of music in the university’s Alabama School of the Arts was nominated by the Steinway Piano Gallery in Spanish Fort, Alabama.
“Your passionate commitment to teaching and inspiring young people in their study of piano music is commendable and rare,” said Steinway & Sons Americas President Gavin English.
The induction took place at the historic New York Steinway factory Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Onalbayeva is the first pianist from Kazakhstan to be named a Steinway Artist and is the founder and currently serves as president of the Gulf Coast Steinway Society, promoting the study of piano in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Onalbayeva started the Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival, a yearlong series of special events spotlighting ASOTA’s undergraduate and graduate programs in piano performance. Now in its fifth year, the Piano Festival is going strong with over 10 events featuring ASOTA’s piano ensemble Elite 88, as well as guest artists and professors.
For more information about the Piano Festival V and for a full list of events, visit umobile.edu/news.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Avery Wilhite is an alumnus of the University of Mobile. Avery graduated from the School of Business in 2022 where he earned his Bachelor of Science in digital media and advertising. He is an active member at East Pointe Baptist Church and has a passion for helping churches better understand and communicate to their audiences. In his free time, Avery enjoys photography/videography, as well as spending quality time with friends.