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 and PNW landscapes. 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.
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.
Premieres & Concert Works
World Premiere: May 2026 in Boston (Methuen Memorial Music Hall) — Performed by the Sempre Musick Orchestra, conducted by Mark Latham, as a part of Sempre Musick Festival 2026.
Pacific Northwest Premiere: October 2026 in Seattle (Highline Performing Arts Center) — Performed by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Spain, as part of the "Sounds of the American West" concert series.
Note: For the performance with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, the piece is presented under the expanded title "Sketches of the Northwest" at the orchestra's request to specifically highlight our Pacific Northwest region (this is the exact same work as "Sketches of the North").
Awards:
- Seattle Music Teachers Association Composition Competition 2026: Award Recipient
- Washington Teachers Music Association Young Composers Project 2026: First Place for solo version
As a composer, Nina Iorik deeply believes in the importance of supporting authentic, human-created art - especially when it comes to inspiring the younger generation.
The local PNW premiere of Sketches of the Northwest (also known as Sketches of the North) took place at the Highline Performing Arts Center in the Seattle area. The composer performed as a piano soloist accompanied by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra as part of a major program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary (following the work's successful world premiere this spring in Boston, bringing this music home to Seattle).
While writing the score, the composer drew deep inspiration from the wild beauty of Washington state, brilliant autumn colors, majestic Mount Rainier, and the region's waterfalls and forests.
Nature's Inspiration and Collaboration with Lota’s Art Studio
An essential part of the project was the continuation of a creative collaboration with Lota’s Art Studio - a wonderful woman-owned creative learning center in Bellevue that has been nurturing children’s imagination through art since 2019. Students from the studio previously participated in the cover art competition for the release Blue Velvet Cake and joined the unforgettable premiere at Benaroya Hall.
Inspired by the new music and the nature of their home state, the students created a special series of artworks dedicated to Washington’s landscapes, capturing the very same scenic places that echo through the symphonic piece.
See Young Artists Art Gallery Below:
Tulip fields, Boris K.
Lonely house at the shore, Chloe B.
Mount Rainier, Alice K., Lota's Art Studio
Emilia K., Mount Rainier, Lota's Art Studio
Pacific Northwest Cascades, Rita I.
Mount Rainier, Samira A., Lota's Art Studio