Presenters - Adjudicators - Artists
2026 Keynote Presenter
Keith Snell, Composer
Keith Snell began teaching piano at the age of fifteen under the guidance of his pianoteacher mother, Carol Snell. Since that time, he has maintained an independent piano studio, driven by his passion for teaching. Keith is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). He is a member of the MTNA, the National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT), and the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC).
In 1993, Keith began his association with the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, publisher, and has over 300 titles in the Kjos catalogue, ranging from music and methods for beginners to advanced repertoire and theory. He is well-known to piano teachers as co- author of Piano Town and the highly acclaimed Fundamentals of Piano Theory; as editor of the Master Composer Library and the Piano Repertoire series; and creator of the Keith Snell Piano Course for the Adult Beginner. He has shared his insights about piano teaching in hundreds of workshops and master classes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Keith received Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he studied with John Perry. Significant pre-college studies include work with Boston University professor Maria Clodes. A successful performing career began for Keith after he won the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, which provided his London debut in 1984. He subsequently signed with Columbia Artist Management and recorded for Virgin Records.
In 1993, Keith began his association with the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, publisher, and has over 300 titles in the Kjos catalogue, ranging from music and methods for beginners to advanced repertoire and theory. He is well-known to piano teachers as co- author of Piano Town and the highly acclaimed Fundamentals of Piano Theory; as editor of the Master Composer Library and the Piano Repertoire series; and creator of the Keith Snell Piano Course for the Adult Beginner. He has shared his insights about piano teaching in hundreds of workshops and master classes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Keith received Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he studied with John Perry. Significant pre-college studies include work with Boston University professor Maria Clodes. A successful performing career began for Keith after he won the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, which provided his London debut in 1984. He subsequently signed with Columbia Artist Management and recorded for Virgin Records.
2026 Recital Artist
Anton Nel
Anton Nel Winner of the 1987 Naumburg International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall, Anton Nel continues to tour internationally as recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and teacher. Highlights in the U.S. include performances with the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle, and Detroit Symphonies as well as recitals coast to coast. Overseas he has appeared at the Wigmore Hall in London, the ConcertgebouwinAmsterdam, SuntoryHall in Tokyo, and major venues in China, Korea, Canada, and South Africa. Much sought after as a chamber musician he regularly appears with some of the world’s finest instrumentalists and singers on four continents.
A gifted and dedicated teacher, Anton Nels is the Head of the Division of Keyboard Studies and holder of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at Austin; in September 2025 he also joined the faculty of the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. During the summers he is on the artist-faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School, and regularly teaches at the Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival and the Orford Music Academy in Quebec. He also performs as harpsichordist and fortepianist each season.
His recordings include numerous solo CDs, chamber music recordings (including the complete Beethoven and Brahms cello/piano works with Bion Tsang) , and works for piano and orchestra by Franck, Fauré, Saint-Saens and Edward Burlingame Hill. The Johannesburg-born Mr. Nel is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, where he studied with Adolph Hallis, and the University of Cincinnati where he worked with Bela Siki and Frank Weinstock. He was inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame in New York in 2019 and the Austin Arts Hall of Fame in 2025. His website is antonnel.com
A gifted and dedicated teacher, Anton Nels is the Head of the Division of Keyboard Studies and holder of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at Austin; in September 2025 he also joined the faculty of the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. During the summers he is on the artist-faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School, and regularly teaches at the Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival and the Orford Music Academy in Quebec. He also performs as harpsichordist and fortepianist each season.
His recordings include numerous solo CDs, chamber music recordings (including the complete Beethoven and Brahms cello/piano works with Bion Tsang) , and works for piano and orchestra by Franck, Fauré, Saint-Saens and Edward Burlingame Hill. The Johannesburg-born Mr. Nel is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, where he studied with Adolph Hallis, and the University of Cincinnati where he worked with Bela Siki and Frank Weinstock. He was inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame in New York in 2019 and the Austin Arts Hall of Fame in 2025. His website is antonnel.com
2026 Adjudicators
Mark Neiwirth - Piano |
Jason Bell - Strings |
Mark Neiwirth,
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Jason Bell
Maxine Ramey - Woodwinds
Maxine Ramey - Woodwinds
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Conference Presenters
Steven Hesla
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Amelia R. T. Sears, M.A., M.M., B.M. is a multi-genre violin and viola instructor, freelance performer, and recording artist. She founded Artwork Music Studio in Missoula in 2015 and provides music lessons alongside her husband, Adam Sears. She is passionate about supporting others as they define and enact their life goals, which also drew her to the realm of real estate. Amelia is proud to serve her Western Montana community as a Realtor® with Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty.
An active member of the western Montana arts community, Amelia performs with String Orchestra of the Rockies and is frequently featured as a guest artist with the John Floridis band and other incredible local talent. She recently joined the Board of Directors for the Montana Youth Symphony and looks forward to generating more support for this high-level workshop and performance opportunity for young artists from Montana. In 2023, Amelia completed a Master of Arts in Music Psychology in Education, Performance and Wellbeing from University of Sheffield, UK. She also holds a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Ohio University. She earned her Bachelor of Music Business degree at University of Puget Sound. Her longstanding interest in Scandinavian culture led her to apply for the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America adult student instrument loan program in 2018 and was awarded a two-year loan of a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. In their non-musical time, Amelia and Adam like to garden, work on house projects, and forage for culinary mushrooms. Their dog Bowie prefers frisbee to all other forms of entertainment. |