MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Mobile presents the eighth annual Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival, a year-long series of special events spotlighting the Christian university’s undergraduate and graduate programs in piano performance.
The 2024-2025 piano festival series includes recitals by students, faculty and guest artists; master classes and workshops; and special performances by the university’s premier piano ensemble.
Piano Festival events are held in Moorer Auditorium at Thomas T. Martin Hall or in the Burnett Event Center. Both locations are on the University of Mobile campus, 5735 College Pkwy. The Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival is open to the public and admission is free to most performances. See the full schedule of events at umobile.edu/pianofestival.
University of Mobile: An All-Steinway School
The University of Mobile is an All-Steinway School, a prestigious designation for universities that demonstrate a commitment to excellence by providing students with the best equipment possible for the study of music. Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva is professor of music and director of piano studies in the university’s Alabama School of the Arts.
Known to her students as “Dr. O,” Onalbayeva is an acclaimed Steinway Artist who has garnered international recognition and accolades as a composer, performer and competition organizer. In addition, she is founder and president of the Gulf Coast Steinway Society, a non-profit organization that encourages the development of piano students of all ages and sponsors competitions that result in Carnegie Hall appearances for the regions’ top students.
‘New Musical Perspectives’
“The ASOTA Piano Festival VIII offers unique opportunities for our students and faculty, and a variety of experiences for the community,” says Onalbayeva. “With a diverse lineup of lectures, performances, master classes and workshops, it provides invaluable learning experiences and a chance to explore new musical perspectives for everyone in the guest audience.”
For more information about the eighth annual Alabama School of the Arts Piano Festival, visit umobile.edu/pianofestival or call the Alabama School of the Arts at 251.442.2383.
Piano Degrees Offered at University of Mobile
The University of Mobile offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance or music education:
- Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
- Bachelor of Science in Music (P-12 teacher certification)
- Bachelor of Science in Music Education (non-certification)
- Master of Music in Piano Performance
- Master of Music in Music Education (non-certification).
To learn more about these and other bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees offered in the Alabama School of the Arts, visit umobile.edu/asota or call 251.442.2222.
2024 – 2025 Piano Festival Events
- Sept. 10, 5 p.m. – Piano Pedagogy Workshop: Injury Prevention in the Beginner Piano Lesson/Dr. Stephanie Archer, NCTM, director of music education and assistant professor of music, University of Mobile. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Oct. 1, 5 p.m. – Master Class/Dr. William Price, professor of music and coordinator of music theory and composition, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Oct. 1, 7 p.m. – Aural Graffiti: An Evening of Electronic Art Music presented by Dr. William Price, professor of music and coordinator of music theory and composition, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Oct. 15, 5 p.m. – Guest Artist and Master Class/Natsuki Fukasawa, Steinway Artist; Talis Festival and Academy artist faculty; lecturer, University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music and UX Davis. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Nov. 5, 7 p.m. – University of Mobile Piano Ensemble presents “Piano Pops.” Location: Burnett Event Center. Admission $11 at the door or in advance at umobile.edu/pianofestival.
- Dec. 3, 7 p.m. – IX Annual All-Steinway School Celebration Concert featuring students from the Alabama School of the Arts. Location: Moorer Auditorium. Admission $11 at the door or in advance at umobile.edu/pianofestival.
- Jan. 14, 5 p.m. – Guest Artist and Master Class/ Dr. Donna Lee, Steinway Artist, professor of music and coordinator of piano division, Kent State University. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Feb. 1, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Gulf Coast Steinway Society Competition X. Winners are invited to perform at Carnegie Hall on June 4, 2025. Location: Martin Hall. For more information and to register for the competition, visit gulfcoaststeinwaysociety.org.
- Feb. 3, 5:30 p.m. – Master Class and Pedagogy workshop/Dr. Marian Lee, professor of music, head of piano department at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- Feb. 4, 7 p.m. – Guest Artist Recital/Dr. Marian Lee, professor of music, head of piano department at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- March 11, 5 p.m. – “Sound Weight” Piano Pedagogy Workshop/Barbara Laurendine. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- March 18, 7 p.m. – An Evening of R&B featuring Dr. Kadisha Onalbayeva and Maggie Stith, visiting professor of music, Alabama School of the Arts, University of Mobile. Location: Moorer Auditorium.
- April 8, 7 p.m. – Chamber Concert: “Thinking Together” featuring students from the Alabama School of the Arts. Location: Moorer Auditorium
- April 22, 7 p.m. – University of Mobile Piano Ensemble presents “Piano Goes to the Movies” spring concert. Location: Burnett Event Center. Admission $11 at the door or in advance at umobile.edu/pianofestival.
All proceeds for the ticketed events will support The Young Artists Program for Alabama School of the Arts. This restricted gifts account for the Alabama School of the Arts’ Young Artists Program serves as a designated fund to support the emerging exceptional talents of students studying in ASOTA’s undergraduate and graduate programs.
This account facilitates the cultivation of artistic talents, fosters creativity among students and provides resume building experiences, empowering them to excel academically, spiritually and artistically, which in return prepares them for successful careers in the arts.
Donations made to this account are to cover various expenses associated with the students who are accepted into the Young Artists Program, such as travel for specialized performance opportunities or auditions, scholarships, guest artists fees and program development costs.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university with a vision of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,” founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The University of Mobile was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
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.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.