Private Concert Benefits Nova Southeastern University’s Sarcoma Research Fund

H. Thomas Temple, M.D; Janina Brandt, Peter Brandt, Giselle Brodsky and Jack Brodsky

An intimate group of philanthropists, health care and community leaders and music lovers recently gathered at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale for a private performance by renowned pianist Kemal Gekic.

The fundraiser was held in collaboration with The International Piano Festival in Miami and the American Cancer Society to benefit Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Sarcoma Research Fund, part of Realizing Potential – The Campaign for Nova Southeastern University.

This was the second piano benefit this year hosted by H. Thomas Temple, M.D., senior vice president of translational research and economic development for the university. In addition to his role at NSU, Temple is an orthopedic oncology surgeon at several HCA East Florida hospitals, including Mercy Hospital and Aventura Hospital, which helps explain his passion for sarcoma research.

“January’s event with classical pianist Jorge Luis Prats was such a success that we doubled down and decided to invite another notable musician to help us raise funds and awareness for sarcoma research,” said Temple. “Mr. Gekic was brilliant and it allowed us to bring even more community leaders together to support a cause that is important to so many people.”

As an example of his research in this area, Temple is currently collaborating with Richard Jove, Ph.D., director of the NSU Cell Therapy Institute, on a research project using stem cells that focuses on blocking cancer cells from surviving and could enhance the regeneration of damaged normal tissue.

Performing worldwide from a vast repertoire, Kemal Gekic presents fascinating, uncompromising and ever-changing interpretations of baroque, classic, romantic, and modern masterworks.

As a recording artist, Kemal Gekic has won accolades in Europe, America, and Japan for insightful, original, and sometimes iconoclastic views of the music of Handel, Mozart, Chopin, Scriabin, and Liszt – a list that grows with every season. His outstanding Naxos CD of Rossini-Liszt transcriptions (including the phenomenal William Tell Overture) has won “The Rosette” of The Penguin Guide for Music, while his JVC CD of Liszt’s Twelve Transcendental Etudes is generally considered to be the best recording of the set in history.

Born in Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia), Gekic (pronounced geh-kitch) lives in the United States and he is the Artist in Residence at Florida International University. He has been the subject of broadcasts by the CBC (Canada), NKH (Japan), NDR (Germany), RAI (Italy), TV Portugal, POLTEL (Poland) and PBS (USA). Gekic’s appearance at the Second Annual Miami International Piano Festival of Discovery, marked his South Florida debut. His concerts and recitals in North America are arranged through Patrons of Exceptional Artists.

Table sponsors included H. Thomas Temple, M.D., HCA East Florida, Colliers International, ImplantCast, Vivex BioMedical, Stryker, Miami’s International Piano Festival, NSU Cell Therapy Institute, NSU Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, NSU College of Psychology. Silent auction sponsors included Guy Harvey, Inc., Pizza Loft, Cheeca Lodge, Aquatica Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Miami Marlins, Miami Seaquarium, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Fury Water Adventures Key West.