At age 18, Georgia cellist Brandon Leonard has already demonstrated the talent, ability and dedication to reach great heights in the world of classical music, and TEF's inaugural Young Artist Concert brings this lauded high school senior from Stone Mountain, GA, to the Thomasville Center for the Arts in a one-hour recital featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, Ginastera, Gershwin and Heifetz. Leonard has studied the cello for more than eight years 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. In line with a key component of TEF's mission to cultivate the future of the performing arts, the Young Artist Concert will not only support Leonard in the development of his career, but it will also encourage local and area students to dream bigger, reach higher and work harder to pursue their training in performing arts disciplines. In addition to the Sunday afternoon recital, Leonard will complement his Thomasville appearance with a free educational activity for music students.