Dakota Sky Festival Underway In Sioux Falls

Paul Sanchez is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Dakota Sky International Piano Festival in Sioux Falls and Andrew Reinartz is the Executive Director. The Dakota Sky Festival's Seventh Annual Season takes place from July 20 - August 3 at the Belbas Center of the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. During the two weeks, there are 7 evening recitals, 4 free Children's Concerts, 4 free-lunch-time seminars, and a Young Artist Program, all featuring some of the world's foremost pianists and educators. To celebrate their seventh season, the closing gala performance will feature Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Jose Feghali. The Spotlight Series will feature two unique performances. The first is Tony Caramia, a jazz and classical pianist who will perform solo and will be joined later in the program by Allison Nash on voice and Andrew Reinartz on bass. The series concludes with a chamber music recital featuring pianists Lucille Chung and Peter Klimo joining John Pennington and Ryun Louie, two percussionists from the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. The Dakota Sky Young Artist Program, now in its third year, features auditioned students from around the country who come to Sioux Falls to participate in private lessons, master classes, seminars, and discussion sessions with festival staff and guest artists. They also have two performance opportunities, which are free and open to the public. The Young Artists Program is the first and only of its kind in the area, furthering their goal to be a center for music education in the region.