Goshen College will host its inaugural Sherer Violin and Piano Competition on Friday and Saturday at the Music Center.
The competition is named after Lon and Kathryn Sherer, former professors emeriti of music at Goshen College. Throughout their nearly 40-year legacy, the Sherers created a compassionate and supportive environment surrounding music.
The competition is aimed toward young, disciplined musicians in grades 8-12 who are not currently enrolled at a university.
“What is very exciting for us is that we could draw … young people who are very accomplished in their field, who put a lot of effort into music and into practicing,” said Dr. Solomia Soroka, professor of music and the artistic director of the event.
Competitors from the area and different parts of the country, like Minnesota and Pennsylvania, will perform.
The competition will have three winners and prizes in violin and piano. Additionally, two of the three winners will get the chance to perform concerto movements during the 2022-2023 year. One person will perform with the Maple City Community Orchestra and the other with the Livonia Symphony Orchestra, based in southern Michigan.
“On Friday, the competitors will arrive, and we will have rehearsal … at 7:30 p.m., we will have a judges showcase recital.” said Soroka. “The winners’ concert is going to happen at six o’clock [on Saturday] in Sauder [Concert Hall],”
This showcase recital will feature Goshen College’s very own faculty members. The Sherer Trio will perform, which includes Matthew Hill (piano), Dato Machavariani (cello), and Soroka (violin).
The event also gives those from the music department the opportunity to showcase Goshen College’s campus and music program.
“We will show them our campus and our music center … they will get to play in this state-of-the-art facility,” says Soroka. “Part of this competition is to encourage music studies in youth, but we want to promote Goshen College, so people know that we exist and for people to see what we have and to start talking about our music program.”
Goshen College put the 2020 recital on hold due to COVID-19. This year, Soroka and other music department members have worked hard to ensure this event is possible and are excited about the fewer restrictions.
The event will be in-person and continue to follow COVID-19 protocols, such as indoor mask requirements, while taking extra precautions, like thoroughly cleaning before and after each performance.
“I would like to invite everybody to support our competition, to support the musicians,” says Soroka. “We are hoping it is going to be a very exciting event on our campus.”
Upcoming events
Faculty and Retired Faculty Art Gallery Exhibit
Sunday, September 19, 2021 through October 29, 2021
Hershberger Gallery
Peace Play
7:00 pm, Friday, October 1, 2021
Umble Center
Oct. 1 at 7 pm, Oct. 2 at 4 pm, and Oct. 3 at 2 pm.
Homecoming Music Gala 2021
7:30 pm, Saturday, October 2, 2021
Music Center, Sauder Concert Hall
