Midwestern State University’s Music Series at Akin will present the internationally acclaimed Trio Zimbalist at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The trio released its debut album, Trio Zimbalist: Piano Trios of Weinberg, Auerbach, & Dvořák, last year. It was named to Gramophone Magazine’s Editor’s Choice list as one of the best new classical recordings of March 2024.

Members of the trio — violinist Josef Špaček, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, and pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu — are all distinguished alumni of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In demand across Europe and the U.S. as soloists, chamber musicians, and recitalists, they form an ensemble with a repertoire that spans romantic masterworks to today’s most lauded composers.

The trio takes its name from famed violin virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist, who served at the Curtis Institute of Music as faculty and director for a combined forty years. Trio Zimbalist carries on the violinist’s storied legacy through its commitment to artistic excellence.

Praised for his remarkable range of color and virtuosity, Czech violinist Josef Špaček has emerged as one of the leading violinists of his generation. He is a sought-after soloist, performing regularly with the most distinguished orchestras around the world, including the Orchestre de Paris, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. An avid chamber musician, Špaček has collaborated with Gil Shaham, Yuja Wang, James Ehnes, Noah Bendix-Balgley, and Kian Soltani. He previously served as concertmaster and associate artist of the Czech Philharmonic, the youngest in its history. He performs on the ca. 1732 “LeBrun; Bouthillard” Guarneri del Gesù violin.

Cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin is the principal cellist of the Athens State Orchestra and Co-Artistic Director of the Samos Young Artists Festival. He gained international recognition as a top prizewinner at the prestigious International Paulo Cello Competition in Finland. In 2016, he made his U.S. solo debut with the Kansas City Symphony. An avid chamber musician, Petrin has participated in the Marlboro Music Festival, Chamberfest Cleveland, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars, and the Dimitria Festival, among other programs.

Pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu has performed as a piano soloist with orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. He has appeared at international venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall; his live performances and interviews have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” and National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” Fu is an active composer and performer of contemporary music.

The concert is sponsored by the Perkins-Prothro Foundation and Mrs. Dale Prothro with the Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts at MSU. The Music Series at Akin debuted in spring 2012 and since has since hosted many notable classical musicians.

General admission tickets are $23-25 and may be purchased by contacting the music department at 940-397-4267, or visiting msufineartstickets.universitytickets.com. Cash or check payments may be mailed to Music Series at Akin, MSU Department of Music, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, Texas 76308.