The Winkler Festival of the Arts wrapped up Saturday evening with an adjudicated piano competition at the P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall in Winkler.

Piano students ranging in age and experience played for Tanya Derksen, the executive director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra who grew up in Winkler.

"I stayed here until I was 17 years old," said Derksen. "I competed in the festival as a young kid and have many fond memories of that."

Derksen won a piano competition in high school which inspired her to pursue a career in music.

Part of the competition was to determine which pianists would be recommended to play at the provincial level. There were three students from Winkler who received the nod: Elias Mierau, Sara Onischuck, and Jayden Wall who was recognized for playing a Canadian composer, Clifford Poole.

Elias Mierau (pic submitted)

"I like [playing piano] because you have to have skill," said Mierau.

"I like it when you play the fast pieces."

Mierau started playing piano when he was only five and continued until his family moved to Winkler from Germany. He stopped for a few years, but picked it up again recently.

Jayden Wall with his mother, Nita