A world-renowned British cellist, Michael Kevin Jones, will perform with special guest Nicolene Gibbons (on piano) in Bloemfontein next week.
Jones, born in London, studied piano and cello performance at the Royal College of Music.
During his time there, he was invited to perform for the Royal Family and awarded a German government scholarship to continue his studies in Cologne. From 1987, he furthered his training at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, studying with Pauline Ballard, Dulce Haigh Marshall, Michael Evans, Joan Dickson, and Johannes Goritzki.
Since then, he has established himself as a distinctive voice among today’s performers.
Appointed as solo cellist soon after his studies, he toured internationally with leading ensembles. His career has followed an unconventional and wide-ranging path, combining performance, recording, and innovative projects, alongside a deep commitment to teaching and coaching.
As a member of the acclaimed Jones Maruri Cello-Guitar Duo, he achieved his first top-ten CD in Hong Kong and China with Original Music for Cello and Guitar.
Jones recorded, as a soloist, the complete J.S. Bach Cello Suites (BWV 1007–1012) − performed on a 1667 Stradivarius cello for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This has received international critical acclaim and multiple audio awards.
Recent highlights include solo tours in South Africa, Canada, and Europe (2018 to 2019). He currently resides in Madrid, Spain.
The cello recital will be performed on Thursday, 2 October, at 19:00 at the Odeion on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).
Tickets cost R100. Pensioners, students, and learners pay R50 on quicket.co.za or at the door.
