The 2025 edition of Maverick PianoFest took place at the University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Music on Saturday and Sunday, November 8–9, celebrating a weekend of artistry, learning, and exciting performance.

Maverick PianoFest is a dynamic annual event that gives student pianists exceptional academic and artistic opportunities. On Saturday, participants engaged in a series of masterclasses with guest artist Dr. Kristian Klefstad (Belmont University) and UNO Associate Professor of Piano Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor, exploring a wide range of repertoire and performance techniques. Klefstad and Taylor performed a Saturday evening recital devoted to the works of Chopin. The festival culminated in Sunday’s competition, which highlighted the students’ growth and musicianship, featuring both Young Artist (pre-collegiate) and Collegiate divisions.

Competition Results:

Young Artist Division
Winner: BingYi Wang
Alternate: Carter Nash
Honorable Mentions: Junya Duan, Harriet Kulwicki, and Zisheng Qian

Collegiate Division
Winner: Natalie McNamara
Alternate: Harmon Moss
Honorable Mention: Bennett Lambelet

The School of Music congratulates all participants for their dedication and artistry, and extends special thanks to Dr. Klefstad and the faculty team who made this year’s PianoFest an inspiring success.