Musically talented students in Conway Springs have limited outlets for their passion, but once a year the Cardinal Piano Festival is hosted to give these students a chance to perform. The festival gives the younger piano students experience and the older students a chance to show what they have learned and prepare for upcoming recitals.

The Cardinal Piano Festival is an annual event open to all piano students in the surrounding area. The festival is in its 10th year and is always hosted by Conway Springs High School. It will take place in the Conway Springs High School Auditorium, Jan. 30. The first performer will begin at 8 a.m.

Students, after performing, will have a chance to speak with a judge who will critique their work to help them get better. This year, the performers will have the chance to meet Sally Buxton, who is a past president of the Wichita Piano Teachers League.

Senior Brenna Leahy has been taking lessons since third grade and currently takes lessons from Karen Lange. For several years, Leahy has participated in this same festival and is excited to attend again after being a foreign exchange student for a year.
“I like playing on the grand piano,” Leahy said.

Beginners, with as low as a couple months of experience, will also be performing. Students of all ability levels are given a chance to perform at this festival so parents and other students can see and hear what they have learned.

“I like watching other students my age play at the festival because it helps me get an idea of what I could learn,” sophomore Makenna Beesley said.

Beesley and Leahy, both veterans of this piano festival, represent only a small group of experienced performers.

Mrs. Lange, music teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School, is in charge of organizing the festival this year.

“We have many outstanding pianists in our community and consider ourselves very lucky to have so many players,” Mrs. Lange said.