A grand Tradition
MusicFest Northwest, formerly The Greater Spokane Music & Allied Arts Festival, was founded in 1945 by Spokane piano teacher Josephine Clark (left) to celebrate the end of World War II and to “promote the arts of peace”. Inspired by the great music festivals of Europe, it served as the premier event of its kind in North America.
Community Impact
MusicFest brings more than 3,000 people to the Gonzaga University campus and other locations throughout Spokane annually. At least half of these guests are non-residential to Spokane, generating more than $500,000 to support the local economy. This value is a significant portion of the approximately $34 million generated by all art organizations of Spokane County.
By the Numbers
Our Alumni
The Festival has been honored to have several internationally, nationally, and locally acclaimed alumni, including Thomas Hampson, Frank Hernandez, Kelly Farris, Stephen Drury, Greg Presley, Archie Chen, Jody Graves, Jason Moody, Karen Beardsley, and many others.
MusicFest Today
MusicFest Northwest is located in Spokane, WA, on the campus of Gonzaga University. Festival week traditionally takes place the second week of May. During the festival there are free concerts in addition to high-quality adjudication. The festival offers unique experiences in both performance and education, providing premier access to renowned artists and teachers throughout the United States. The festival engages in both competition and collaborative opportunities that encourage and create space for individual exploration, artistry, and community.
Catherine holds a B.M. from Shenandoah Conservatory and a M.M. from UNC Greensboro in Voice Performance, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate from the same school in musicology. She has recently become the Office and Social Media Manager for MusicFest Northwest and is so grateful to be able to assist in the organization’s efforts to engage a wider musical community.
Payton Ritchy, known affectionately as “Miss Ritchy” to her students, grew up in the rural town of Wilbur, Washington, where she developed her passion for both music and teaching. Determined to follow her dreams, she attended Eastern Washington University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She then earned her Masters in Teaching from Whitworth University, spending her student teaching year at Salk Middle School in Spokane Public Schools.
Dr. Nicole Sonbert, Mezzo-Soprano is recognized for work as a performer, clinician, guest presenter, adjudicator, and guest conductor. She has performed roles including Aunt Lou in Still’s Highway One, USA, Madame Flora in Menotti’s The Medium, Suzuki in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the Mother in Menotti’s The Consul, the ghost mother in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann, Buttercup in Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, and Bloody Mary in Rodger and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. She is also known for her orchestral performances as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah. 
Dr. Jody Graves has served on the MFNW Board of Trustees since 2017 and is honored to serve as president at this exciting time! Jody was a participant in MusicFest as a student in college and believes those early connections in MFNW were a major contribution to her successful career as a concert pianist, adjudicator and workshop clinician. She maintains an exciting and diverse performing career, and is recognized nationally as a distinguished concert artist and teacher of piano. Her recital engagements as a solo artist and collaborative pianist take her across the United States and abroad where she has served as a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. In October 2019 she was inducted into the Steinway Piano Teacher Hall of Fame by the Steinway Company in New York and was honored in New York City among 40 chosen from across the U.S. and Canada. Jody was named as a 2021 Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow in 2022.
Cheryl Carney, formerly Cheryl Drury, is a talented cellist who has been performing for over 51 years including several decades as a member of the Spokane Symphony. Cheryl won the Young Artist String Division of MusicFest in 1973 and was featured as a soloist performing Schelomo with the Spokane Symphony. She was also honored with another award in MusicFest Northwest that allowed her to attend the Congress of Strings in Los Angeles. Cheryl received her BA in Cello Performance from Eastern Washington University. Throughout her career Cheryl has been involved in numerous classical performing groups throughout the Northwest, including touring shows that come through Spokane, and has performed with the Northwest tour of Mannheim Steamroller for the past several years. Retired from the Spokane Symphony she still substitutes when needed and also teaches private cello lessons.
Karen Hughes – As Chief Executive Officer of Community Link Consulting, Karen leads a dynamic team of FQHC and finance experts, united in the vision to support health centers in their mission to bring quality health care to underserved individuals. She provides decisive and collaborative leadership, often working alongside consultants providing a broad range of financial services and guidance to health centers across the United States.
