In 2014, Florian Hoefner left his home in Bavaria to create his art here in St. John’s. Thanks to a grant from ArtsNL, that is going very well. He has 11 albums under his belt as a member of various collectives, but his one dozenth album will be a solo record, due out shortly.

Ever inspired by nature, and watching wildlife, Newfoundland is already shaping his music. Florian is drawn to capturing textures in his tunes, and one of his favourite new songs is based on the image of a swarm of puffins.

Critically acclaimed as a “harmonically daring pianist … reaching toward new sonic territory,” Florian has contributed compositions and arrangements to many commercial albums and his compositions have been performed by the New York Jazz Orchestra, the Lucerne Jazz Orchestra, the German Youth Jazz Orchestra and the DanJam Orchestra.

But an invite to play a solo set at the prestigious Blues Alley’s piano festival in Washington, D.C.  set him down his new path of developing and honing his new solo repertoire. Professionally trained on piano, trumpet, and the accordion, he has earned international accolades and performed on four continents at more than 100 events, festivals, and renowned concert halls and jazz clubs. He graduated from Germany’s University of the Arts in 2008, then attended Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he received his Master of Music in Jazz Piano Performance.

The man has more awards than his mantle can handle. A two-time winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, Hoefner was also awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and the Tremplin Jazz d’Avignon International Jazz Competition Audience and Jury Award. AMong other trophies, he was the Stingray Rising Star Award at the Montréal Jazz Festival for his original composition Newfound Jig.

Where Can I Catch Him Next?

November 18th, 8pm, and the D.F Cook Recital Hall at MUN. This will be the Canadian premiere of this new body of work.