YOUNG TALENT: Award-winning 18-year-old Georgia cellist Brandon Leonard set to perform in Thomasville Entertainment Foundation’s inaugural Young Artist Concert.

THOMASVILLE—Thomasville Entertainment Foundation is kicking off a new initiative, one aimed at cultivating and developing the future of the performing arts.

On Sunday afternoon, April 16th, at 2 p.m., TEF will present its inaugural Young Artist Concert, featuring lauded Georgia cellist Brandon Leonard in a one-hour recital, performing a program of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Ginastera, and Gershwin, accompanied by pianist Dr. Toku Kawata.

The concert is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow the performance.

}At age 18, Leonard has already demonstrated the talent, ability and dedication to reach great heights in the world of classical music, and TEF’s brings this impressive high school senior from Stone Mountain to the Thomasville Center for the Arts’ intimate auditorium, located at 600 E. Washington Street.

Leonard began studying the cello in the fourth grade and was tapped early by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program. Most recently, he captured first place – and the accompanying $10,000 prize – in the junior division of the Sphinx Competition, a premiere contest for gifted young Black and Latinx classical string players.

Among other accolades, he has twice placed second in the Sphinx Competition, and, as a member of the Sycamore Trio, he won first prize at WDAV’s Young Chamber Musicians Competition, first prize in the Franklin Pond Chamber Music Competition and second prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition’s junior division in 2022.

An honor student, Leonard is a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he serves as principal cellist.

“In line with a key component of TEF’s nonprofit mission, the Young Artist Concert will not only support Brandon in the development of his career, but we feel it will also encourage local and area students to dream bigger, reach higher and work harder to pursue their training in performing arts disciplines,” explained TEF Executive & Artistic Director Rick Ivey.

“We believe young people in this area will identify with and be inspired by Brandon, and he will also lead an educational presentation for music students on Monday morning, April 17, at 9:30 a.m., at the Center for the Arts, featuring musical performance, discussion and a Q&A session,” Ivey added.

Beyond its mission to captivate audiences with live performances, Thomasville Entertainment Foundation also seeks to engage, enrich and impact the community through educational events and programs throughout its performance season. Recent examples include October and February workshops for Thomasville and Thomas County strings students by acclaimed musicians from the Ulysses Quartet and A Far Cry and a January musical theatre master class for local drama students, led by Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kelli O’Hara.

Like the Young Artist Concert itself, there is never a fee for any participating school or student associated with outreach activities. TEF’s Education Fund covers all expenses of its rich and robust enrichment programs, thanks to generous community support.

For more information on TEF’s Young Artist Concert or other educational outreach opportunities, or to support those efforts, contact Thomasville Entertainment Foundation at 229-226-7404 or visit TEFconcerts.com.