Midwest Piano Sonatas, the recent recording by Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor, UNO Associate Professor of Piano, has now garnered a total of five national and international awards. Released by Navona Records, the album features three contemporary piano sonatas by Joanne Baker, Mike McFerron, and Bryan Stanley.

The recording sessions took place in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The project was produced and engineered by the School of Music’s Music Production Manager, Wyndhem Ennaemba, who also undertook the editing, mixing, and mastering of the album.

Midwest Piano Sonatas has received recognition from multiple organizations for its artistic excellence, its contribution to the performance of contemporary American music, and its awareness of matters of social justice. Honors awarded to the album include:

The American Prize in Piano Performance

-Winner, Piano Performance 2025, Professional Solo Division (for Sonata No. 2 by Bryan Stanley)

-Third Place, Marian Anderson Award in Social Justice (for Sonata No. 2 by Mike McFerron)

-Honorable Mention, Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music 2025, Professional Soloist and Composer Division (for Sonata No. 2 by Mike McFerron)

Global Music Awards

-Silver Award Winner, Composer Category, 2024 (for Sonata No. 2 by Mike McFerron)

-Silver Award Winner, New Release Category, 2024 (for Sonata No. 2 by Mike McFerron)

More information about the album can be found at https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6653/.