The school of Visual and Performing Arts welcomed world-renowned pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch to ULM Thursday. After touring the VAPA program he gave a concert to a packed crowd in Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.

Ioudenitch began by playing Mozart’s Sonata in D Major. The crowd was instantly captivated by his performance. His passion for music came not only from his fingertips but radiated from his entire body.

Many of the audience members were students in the VAPA program. David Oliver, a senior music education major from Monroe said the love of music Ioudenitch showed was palpable.

“He was very technical, but showed emotion. I enjoyed seeing the passion he had for the pieces he played,” Oliver said.

The audience took warmly to Ioudenitch with many standing ovations that led him to give an encore performance. A virtuoso of this time, he appeared to have played like every time could possibly be his last.

Shelby Wright, a senior vocal performance major from Monroe enjoyed the community’s interest in the concert.

“It was great to see so many people out tonight to hear this talented artist and support the arts,” Wright said.

Ioudenitch’s concert was free and open to the public.

Friday he instructed a master class open to music students studying piano. Ioudenitch created the International Center for Music at Park University in 2003, and is currently the artistic director.

Ioudenitch, originally from Uzbekistan, has appeared around the world, including a concert tour throughout Europe and appearances in Turkey, South Africa and China.

Carnegie Hall and the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. are also on Ioudenitch’s impressive list of performances.

In 2001, Stanislav co-founded The Ioudenitch Academy of Music and Arts. The school offers different programs to its students such as violin, cello, guitar, music theory and more.