Music Festival
Be a part of this annual event!
Every year, the Department of Music at Southwestern Adventist University has the pleasure of hosting an exclusive festival for high school and academy musicians. The festival features a variety of opportunities for instrumentalists and vocalists, including the opportunity to perform in a world premiere at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.
In addition to the festival ensembles, elite musicians have the opportunity to audition for a chance to win a music scholarship. Students that audition have the chance of being selected as a scholarship finalist, the opportunity to perform in a showcase recital, and will be reimbursed for their transportation, food, and lodging.
Every year, the Festival continues its tradition of bringing both musical masterworks and new music to the stage. The Southwestern Music Festival has featured artists such as Eriks Esenvalds, Kim Andre Arnesen, Craig Courtney, and American composer Brandon A. Boyd.
View Images from last year's festival.
View album from 2023
Festival Ensembles
Ensemble audition deadlines are now January 26, 2024.
How do I apply for a Festival Ensemble?
Applicants for a festival ensemble must submit high-definition, landscape video recordings of their audition. Please submit "Public" or "Unlisted" YouTube links only.
Vocal auditions
Audition Requirements
Submit Vocal Audition
Instrumental auditions
Audition Requirements
Submit Instrumental Audition
Teachers and chaperones
Festival Ensembles
Ensemble audition deadlines are now January 26, 2024.
How do I apply for a Festival Ensemble?
Applicants for a festival ensemble must submit high-definition, landscape video recordings of their audition. Please submit "Public" or "Unlisted" YouTube links only.
Vocal auditions
Audition Requirements
Submit Vocal Audition
Instrumental auditions
Audition Requirements
Submit Instrumental Audition
Teachers and chaperones
Weekend Schedule
Thursday
10:00 a.m. - Main Registration (Mabee Center Lobby)
11:00 a.m. - Rehearsal
12:30 p.m. - Lunch
2:30 p.m. - Rehearsal
4:30 p.m. - Orchestra to Cafe
5:00 p.m. - Choir to Cafe
5:00 p.m. - Full Orchestra Rehearsal
6:30 p.m. - Full Choir Rehearsal
Friday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - Rehearsal
12:00 p.m. - Lunch
1:30 p.m. - Rehearsal
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
7:30 p.m. - Music Vespers (Keene SDA Church)
Sabbath
9:15 a.m. - Breakfast (Gathering Place)
10:00 a.m. - Elevate (Keene SDA Church)
12:30 a.m. - Festival Lunch
1:00 p.m. - Depart for Fort Worth
2:00 p.m. - Rehearsal
4:00 p.m. - Southwestern Hymn Festival (St Stephen Presbyterian)
5:45 p.m. - Depart for Southwestern
6:30 p.m. - Dinner
7:30 p.m. - Rehearsals
Sunday
10:00 a.m. - Big Brunch (Pick Up Sack supper)
11:00 a.m. - Rehearsal
1:00 p.m. - Load
1:30 p.m. - Depart for Dallas
2:45 p.m. - Arrive at Meyerson
3:00 p.m. - Dress Rehearsal
5:30 p.m. - Doors Open
6:00 p.m. - Concert
What is a Festival Scholarship?
Each year the Department of Music at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) awards thousands of dollars in scholarship money to elite musicians. Music Festival Scholarships are awarded to talented high school juniors and seniors selected by faculty from the Department of Music. The faculty selects a number of students from submitted auditions to be scholarship finalists.
Scholarship finalists are featured as soloists at Southwestern Adventist University’s Festival Showcase Concert and are eligible for a scholarship toward their first year of study at SWAU. Southwestern Adventist University covers travel, food, and on-campus lodging costs for each student finalist.
How do I apply for a Festival Scholarship?
Applicants for a Festival Scholarship must submit high-definition, landscape video recordings of their audition pieces. Please submit "Public" or "Unlisted" YouTube links only.
Music requirements for vocalists and instrumentalists
*Scholarship applicants looking to participate in the music festival must also submit an Ensemble Application separately.*
A Night at the Meyerson
Join us for this annual night of grandeur
We invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening of promoting musical achievement and benefiting scholarships for the program's young musicians.
A Night at the Meyerson
Join us for this annual night of grandeur
We invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening of promoting musical achievement and benefiting scholarships for the program's young musicians.
Dr. Devon Howard
Devon Howard began piano and organ studies in Colorado at the age of 8. After earning a BS degree in Organ Performance with Judy Glass at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, he went to The Netherlands on a Fulbright scholarship to study organ performance and improvisation with Aart Bergwerff and Sietze de Vries. In 2012, he completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree under Dr. Kimberly Marshall at Arizona State University. His dissertation was titled, "Organ Improvisation in Context." Currently, Devon serves Southwestern Adventist University as the Director of Keyboard and Theory Studies and Chair of the Department of Music.
Johnathan E.L. Wall
Since arriving at Southwestern Adventist University in 2009, Jonathan Wall has provided unparalleled music opportunities to the Southwestern community. He is the director of choral and vocal studies, working with students to help them develop into talented and professional musicians.
Under Jonathan’s guidance, the Southwestern University Singers have grown into an elite international touring ensemble, known for their variety-filled programs, exquisite harmonies, and expressive interpretation of text. In addition, Jonathan is the founder and director of the Southwestern Recital Series, a concert series designed to feature students, faculty, and guest musicians, hosted on the Southwestern campus. The series has produced more than 70 concerts since its premiere.
Dr. Rogério Nunes
Brazilian violinist and violist Rogério Nunes holds a DMA in violin performance, with a minor in viola from the University of Georgia, where he was awarded a graduate assistantship. He also worked in his DMA in viola performance at the University of North Texas, where he was awarded the MDF (Master and Doctoral Fellowship) from the Toulouse Graduate School.
In Brazil, Rogério was a concertmaster and soloist of many orchestras and recorded as soloist of the Astor Piazzola’s Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas, among others.
At the University of Georgia, he was awarded the March Moody Scholarship in Violin and the Director’s Award. Rogério has performed, recorded, and toured in the US and Brazil as a soloist with the ARCO Chamber Orchestra. He also has toured with the University of Georgia faculty quintet and taught master classes in Brazil.
Dr. Devon Howard
Devon Howard began piano and organ studies in Colorado at the age of 8. After earning a BS degree in Organ Performance with Judy Glass at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, he went to The Netherlands on a Fulbright scholarship to study organ performance and improvisation with Aart Bergwerff and Sietze de Vries. In 2012, he completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree under Dr. Kimberly Marshall at Arizona State University. His dissertation was titled, "Organ Improvisation in Context." Currently, Devon serves Southwestern Adventist University as the Director of Keyboard and Theory Studies and Chair of the Department of Music.
Johnathan E.L. Wall
Since arriving at Southwestern Adventist University in 2009, Jonathan Wall has provided unparalleled music opportunities to the Southwestern community. He is the director of choral and vocal studies, working with students to help them develop into talented and professional musicians.
Under Jonathan’s guidance, the Southwestern University Singers have grown into an elite international touring ensemble, known for their variety-filled programs, exquisite harmonies, and expressive interpretation of text. In addition, Jonathan is the founder and director of the Southwestern Recital Series, a concert series designed to feature students, faculty, and guest musicians, hosted on the Southwestern campus. The series has produced more than 70 concerts since its premiere.
Dr. Rogério Nunes
Brazilian violinist and violist Rogério Nunes holds a DMA in violin performance, with a minor in viola from the University of Georgia, where he was awarded a graduate assistantship. He also worked in his DMA in viola performance at the University of North Texas, where he was awarded the MDF (Master and Doctoral Fellowship) from the Toulouse Graduate School.
In Brazil, Rogério was a concertmaster and soloist of many orchestras and recorded as soloist of the Astor Piazzola’s Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas, among others.
At the University of Georgia, he was awarded the March Moody Scholarship in Violin and the Director’s Award. Rogério has performed, recorded, and toured in the US and Brazil as a soloist with the ARCO Chamber Orchestra. He also has toured with the University of Georgia faculty quintet and taught master classes in Brazil.