Pianist Jeff Manookian will perform a benefit recital on behalf of the Andean Children's Foundation Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Cottonwood High School auditorium, 5717 S. 13th East.
Featured will be the premiere of Manookian's own Piano Sonata No. 1. Also on the program will be Beethoven's "Tempest" Sonata, Liszt's Six Paganini Etudes and Scriabin's Two Pieces for Left Hand.Last year Manookian was a triple first-place winner in the Composers Guild Competition. He also won the Salt Lake Vocal Ensemble's composition contest. At this year's Utah Arts Festival in June he is scheduled to premiere his Piano Sonata No. 2, for left hand.
Among the Salt Lake pianist's performing credits are appearances on the Mike Douglas Show, Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour and the Liberace Show. He has also performed on Armenian television in California and in concerts in Bolivia and Brazil.
Organized in 1982 by Salt Lake dentist Timothy Evans, the Andean Children's Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that helps communities of the Bolivian and Peruvian Altiplano. Included is agricultural instruction, health course, fish culture and immunization programs.
Tickets, at $5 ($3 students/seniors) may be purchased at any Smith'sTix outlet or at the door, with all proceeds going to the ACF.