35th Annual Piano Festival to Feature Guest Artist Bob Frink

The 35th Annual Piano Festival will feature two performances on Sunday, February 22, in the Milbank High School Theater. The first presentation will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m. Admission is Free and everyone is welcome to attend. The festival is sponsored by Milbank area piano teachers and is designed to showcase the talents of area piano students. A guest artist is highlighted to encourage the students in their studies. Bob Frink will be the 2026 guest artist.

Frink was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Schenectady, New York. He started piano lessons when he was seven years old, and by the time he was ten, he was accompanying his third- grade choir. During high school, he also played the saxophone and the bassoon. While attending Bowling Green State University in Ohio, he directed the ROTC band at BGSU basketball games. Frink also served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Frink stepped away from the piano for many years while pursuing his career in the carpet industry,. He returned to music to play for a singing group at church, to play alto sax with the Etowah Jazz Band, and to accompany a church-based praise band. He now plays piano for worship services at the Central Methodist and Living Word churches in Milbank.

Frink and his wife Judy moved to Milbank in 2014. They have two grown children –Brad and Brianna – and three granddaughters.

Students scheduled to play in the 1:30 performance: Caroline Arlt, Quinn Pederson, Ivy Pederson, Ian Radermacher, Natalie Jimenez, Millie VanMeter, Gareth Rausch, Paige German, Amelia Pederson, Bella Radermacher, Landon Athey, Uziel Nonoal Mendoza, Alexa Martinez, and Royce VanMeter.

Students scheduled to play in the 2:30 performance: Isabelle Karels, Claire Schwandt, Connor Buttke, Adelyn Cordingley, Suttyn Krakow, Maddie Dashiell, Oscar Folk, Kami Dashiell, Elliot Sovell, Oliver Folk, Tabitha McFaden, Brody Ninneman, Camryn Sovell, and Kaitlyn Brandenburger.

Milbank area piano teachers with students performing in this year’s recital include Sheila Dailie, Susan Karels, Deb Rausch, Kristy Seehafer, and Renae Wollschlager.