The Mobile Music Teachers Association will hold its 36th annual sonata contest from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Thomas T. Martin Fine Arts Building on the University of Mobile campus.

Vincentine Williams, sonata contest coordinator, estimates that about 400 piano students from both Baldwin and Mobile counties will participate in the event.

A panel of six will judge the event. They are Barbara Tracy, Joan Henderson-Leese and Brenda Wilder, all from Mississippi; Shearon Horton and Cara McCool from New Orleans; and Kevin Chance of New York.

Tracy holds a master's degree from Mississippi State University and is the organist at First Presbyterian Church. She maintains a private studio where she teaches piano and organ, and serves as the chairman for the National Piano Guild auditions. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists, a past president of the Vicksburg Music Teachers Association and is beginning a term as vice president for public relations with the Mississippi Music Teachers Association.

Henderson-Leese received her education at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and at Mississippi College. She is an active adjudicator, having judged for the National Federation Festivals.

Wilder is a music specialist, piano teacher, church pianist and serves as coordinator of adult ministries at First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Mississippi. She holds a doctorate from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a state officer and executive board member for the Mississippi Music Teacher's Association.

Horton holds a piano performance degree from Peabody College and the University of Texas at Austin. She has performed extensively as soloist and collaborative pianist and has presented lectures and master classes. Currently she teaches at Tulane University. She is co-director of the New Orleans Piano Institute.

McCool holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She is very active in the New Orleans musical community. She maintains a private studio, is on the piano faculty of the Music Preparatory Department of Loyola University and serves on the board of the New Orleans Music Teachers Association.

Chance is currently a candidate for the degree doctor of musical arts at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. He has been recognized with many honors, including being named the 2003-2004 Jerald C. Graue Fellow for Excellence in Musicology. He maintains an active performance schedule presenting both solo and chamber music recitals and conducts master classes throughout the country.