Sketches of the North

Three Preludes for Piano and Small Orchestra

Comissioned composition for Sempre Musick Festival 2026

Originally conceived for solo piano and later expanded into a lush setting for piano and ensemble, Sketches of the North is a triptych of autumnal reflections. The work was composed under the stylistic influence of the Baroque and Romantic masters - Bach, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff - while drawing its emotional landscape from the shortening days and shifting foliage of the Pacific Northwest.

Sempre Musick Festival 2026

This award-winning composition follows a deliberate emotional and tonal arc:

I. Prelude (A minor): A somber opening that captures the onset of autumn. The orchestra expands upon the piano’s harmonies to create a sense of vast, chilling space. While threads of hope emerge in the inner voices, a prevailing melancholy persists, ending on a haunting, wistful note.

II. Dance (C major): A brief departure into the light. This movement offers a rhythmic, kinetic energy that mirrors the swirling of falling leaves, providing a bright contrast to the surrounding movements.

III. Chorale (G major): The finale brings a sense of grounded resolution. Drawing on the "Chorale" tradition of Bach and Schumann, the ensemble moves with a solemn, communal warmth, offering a peaceful conclusion to the seasonal journey.

Through these three scenes, the orchestra does not merely accompany the piano but enriches its voice, adding layers of color and "foliage" to the harmonic structure.

Awards:

- Seattle Music Teachers Association Composition Competition 2026: Award Recipient

- Washington Teachers Music Association Young Composers Project 2026: First Place

  • "Nina’s Sketches of the North is a rich, Romantic era-inspired work that showcases a truly impressive sense of lyricism and drama. The piece is masterfully structured... demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of orchestration, skillfully utilizing different instrument combinations to create the impression of ever-shifting colors and motion. It is a fantastic achievement."

    — Seattle MTA Composition Competition 2026

  • "Nina Iorik's work features gorgeous melodies and lovely harmonic progressions throughout, where the chromaticism is well handled and successfully adds expressive color. The rhythmic language is consistent and cohesive, offering a nice balance of unity and variety. Well done. The imagery throughout the work is vivid, creating a very nice, strong contrast between the different preludes."

    — WSMTA Composition Competition 2026