.png)
Various musicians representing Strathmore Performing Arts achieved awards at the Alberta Music Festival Association’s 2025 Provincial Music Festival.
Strathmore musicians Soren Peterson, Wynn Phung, and Penny Wiley were among the performers in the festival that ran from May 22 to 29 at the Macewan University Allard Hall.
Peterson placed first in Chamber Music 17 and Under with his Animato Piano Trio and second place in Piano II Solo Grades 8/9. He also received a $300 scholarship for the chamber music group.
"It just feels fulfilling," reflected Grade 9 student Peterson.
He performed Sonata in C Major, K545 (I. Allegro) by W.A. Mozart and Sunshower by Martha Hill Duncan for his solos.
Peterson and Phung with their Animato Piano trio performed Carmen Overture by George Bizet and Arnoldo Satorio as well as Valse by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
"It's just a really good experience and getting to that point really shows that you've improved from where you've started," Peterson added, reaching six years of piano playing.
Penny Wiley placed third in Composition 13 and Under and earned recognition in Vocal Solo 13 and Under and Piano Duet Grades 6 and Over.
Wiley started vocal and piano lessons at around age six.
"I always just enjoyed singing, it just felt like me," Wiley said.
She performed Shroeder from Charlie Brown, Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier by Johann Sebastian Bach, and The Rose by Ola Gjeilo.
"I want to thank my partner for being my partner," she added, expressing gratitude for her piano duet partner Catherine Rochford.
Wiley aspires to reach level seven theory and level eight in piano.
Wynn Phung placed third in Piano I Solo 13 and Under, second in Piano Duet 1 13 and Under with Lisa Zhang, and first place with Soren in the Animato Piano Trio. He also got recognition for his performance in Piano Solo - Concerto - 1 Movement.
As a result of his achievements, Phung is going on to perform in the Canada West Performing Arts Festival in Piano 13 and Under.
"It's really fun and I hope to do it again," 12-year-old Phung said. He performed musical numbers Hungarian by composer Edward MacDowell and Nocturne in E-flat major, op. 9, No 2 by composer Frederic Chopin.
"One day I got plopped on a piano. I didn't know why I wanted to play it, but now I realize that it is my dream. I'm very inspired by the piano," he reflected. He has been playing the piano for seven years.
Phung's future goals are to compose piano pieces, teach piano, or become a concert pianist.
He will be performing again in the Canada West Performing Arts Festival from July 24 to 26 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
