Sonatina Festival

25th Annual Sonatina Festival

November 8, 2025

The 25th Annual Sonatina Festival aims to raise awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonata and Sonatina musical forms.  As many music auditions and competitions are held in the spring, this festival encourages musical preparation during the fall semester by providing a performance goal for musicians of all ages and levels. We hope you’ll participate in this exciting music-making event!

Now entering its 25th year, the Sonatina Festival is a beloved musical tradition in the Madison and southwestern Wisconsin communities. Each fall, this event welcomes students ages 4–18, adult learners, duet teams, and even teaching professionals in both competitive and non-competitive categories. Teachers, entrants, parents, volunteers, and community members come together to create a welcoming, diverse musical environment. Participants receive detailed written feedback from adjudicators with advanced degrees and national certification.

This year’s commissioned Sonatina will deepen the festival’s cultural and artistic significance while celebrating the festival’s silver anniversary. The premiere of a brand-new work composed especially for the occasion elevates the experience for performers and audiences alike. The addition of a community-wide cover art contest further opens the event to public participation and creativity.

By commissioning a new work and encouraging artistic contributions from the broader community, this project honors the past, supports living composers, and invites new people to join in making, hearing, and appreciating music.

More information will be available after July 1. That’s when the cover art contest opens, registration for the festival opens, and you can learn more about the commissioned three-movement sonatina.

Information

Information about the 2025 festival is here!  Entry forms and fees are due by October 22. Happy Practicing!

The Welcome Letter for Entrants, Parents, and Teachers will be posted after Nov 1.

Sample Adjudication Form

 
Judging concludes around 5:00pm. Results from the 2025 Festival will be posted after/by 5:30pm on Saturday, November 8. 

2025 Results Placeholder

 
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If you’d like to receive emailed information about the festival, please request it on the contact form. Thank you!