Donor gifts $150,000 to support UWF Department of Music students, honor director of strings

The University of West Florida announced today a gift of $150,000 by an anonymous donor honoring Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy, the director of strings in the UWF Music Department. The gift will support the Arthur Thal Scholarship Endowment, which benefits students studying any string instrument.

“The UWF Department of Music has an esteemed reputation and this generous gift allows us to continue to retain musical talent in our community and attract talent from around the country,” said Howard Reddy, vice president for university advancement. “Additionally, it is a deserving honor to Dr. Yanovskiy, who has shared his time and talents with UWF.” 

Yanovskiy has been a member of both the UWF faculty and Concertmaster of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for 20 years. At UWF, Yanovskiy teaches violin, viola, string quartet, and conducts the University Orchestra. His students are winners of dozens of national, regional, state and local competitions. 

The donor was inspired to donate after learning about the string program, especially the work of Leonid Yanovskiy, and felt compelled to support his and others’ efforts to recruit students and build the program.

The program has established an enduring legacy through Yanovskiy’s instruction. Many of his former students have received scholarships and assistantships at such world-renowned graduate institutions as the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of North Texas, and Florida State University, among others.

“I am so very proud of all my UWF students, past and present,” Yanovskiy said. “While still at UWF, many of them have joined Pensacola, Northwest Florida and Mobile Symphonies prior to starting their teaching careers or moving on to earn graduate degrees from some of the most prestigious schools of music. This gift will allow us to attract even more talented young musicians to our excellent program and prepare them for successful careers as professional performers and music educators.”

Yanovskiy has an expansive career as a soloist, concertmaster and teacher. He performed as a soloist with the Pensacola, Northwest Florida and Washington Square Festival Orchestra domestically and with the Russian National Orchestra internationally. Yanovskiy has performed on the stages of the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Orchestra Hall, Kennedy Center and Boston Symphony Hall, as well in Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Korea and Mexico.

The UWF Department of Music will host a recital at 7:30 p.m. on March 30, featuring Yanovskiy’s former and current students. Alumni, both local and travelling from Illinois, Indiana and Oregon,  will gather and perform as part of the UWF Music Hall Artist Series. To reserve tickets, please contact the CFPA Box Office at 850.857.6285.

For more information about the UWF Department of Music, visit uwf.edu/music.