On Sunday, February 25, one of the world’s most recognized contemporary solo pianists — and former Stetson student — George Winston will perform a benefit concert in support of Stetson University’s School of Music Scholarship Fund. Winston won the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 and was awarded a Doctor of Arts and Letters Honorary Degree in 2004. This exceptional event will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32723. General admission tickets are $40 per person. A limited number of tickets are available for VIP seating and a post-concert reception with George Winston. Both can be purchased at www.stetson.edu/music-tickets.
“George Winston’s career has spanned more than 40 years, he has sold more than 15 million albums and his music is known around the world,” said Thomas Masse, D.M.A., dean of the Stetson University School of Music. “We are delighted that our community can experience his music in the intimate setting of historic Lee Chapel and deeply grateful that he will perform this benefit concert to enable Stetson to continue to provide scholarships to future musicians.”
The Stetson University School of Music awards talent scholarships to qualified music and non-music majors every year through a competitive talent scholarship program. Upon completion of an audition students are placed into consideration for the scholarship.
Attendees of the concert are also asked to join in support of the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia by bringing a donation of canned food to the concert. Collection baskets will be located at the entrance.
George Winston grew up mainly in Montana, and also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG’s, Jimmy Smith, and many more. Inspired by R&B, jazz, Blues and rock (especially the Doors), George began playing organ in 1967.
In 1971 he switched to the acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas “Fats” Waller and the late Teddy Wilson. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano.
George is presently concentrating mainly on live performances, and most of the time he is touring playing solo piano concerts (the Summer Show or the Winter Show), solo guitar concerts, solo harmonica concerts, and solo piano dances (with R&B and slow dance songs). For more information visit GeorgeWinston.com.
