Guest artist violin, piano recital at NWFSC

Leonardo Jaffé of Brazil, a violinist studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London, and Victor Andzulis, assistant professor of piano at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky and a former member of the Northwest Florida Symphony orchestra, will perform a joint Guest Artist Recital at 7:30 p.m. July 29 in the Tyler Recital Hall at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville.

Admission is free of charge with donations accepted at the door to provide an honorarium for the musicians. The college's Fine & Performing Arts Division annually hosts a series of Guest Artist Recitals featuring world-class talent from across the USA who perform at the college's main campus in Niceville. The July 29 event is the only sponsored Guest Artist Recital of the summer.

Among the works to be performed include Violin Sonata No.4, Op. 23 by Ludwig von Beethoven; Violin Sonata in D Minor, Op. 27, No. 3, “Ballade” by Eugéne Ysaÿe; Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin; Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 45 by Edvard Grieg and Carmen Concert Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate.

The featured violinist, Leonardo Jaffé, carries with him a surname that has been engraved into the history of string pedagogy both in and outside Brazil. His grandfather, violinist and teacher Alberto Jaffé, developed the experimental Jaffé method of group string instrument teaching. In January 2013, right after turning 15 years old, Leonardo was accepted into the Yehudi Menuhin School in London, one of the most renowned schools in the world for young violinists. In 2014, he received the enormous opportunity to perform one of his own compositions for Queen Elizabeth II. The Yehudi Menuhin School had been selected to send one piece in memoriam of 100 year anniversary of World War I, and Leonardo’s piece, No One Won, was selected among all submitted to be played at the event. He has performed for the Prime Minister of England, David Cameron, among other students with the Chance to Play project at the Lancaster House. Leonardo Jaffé started learning the violin at age 5, and from a very young age has been an active soloist and chamber musician, winning competitions and giving performances around the world. In 2014, he made his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the Orchestra Instituto Grupo Pao de Acucar.

Victor Andzulis is assistant professor of piano at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he also maintains a private piano and strings studio. He also holds a very active performing schedule as both a soloist and collaborative pianist, frequently performing in concerts throughout the Southern United States. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at the University of the Cumberlands, he also serves as accompanist for student and faculty performances, as well as the Chamber Choir and Chorale. Andzulis received the Master of Music in Collaborative Keyboard degree from the University of South Alabama and is a former member of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra.