The next Sundays at Four concert honors the memory of Smithfield’s own Doris Rae Gwaltney in what should be a touching piano recital played by her grandson and doctoral student, Joseph Vaz. 

Vaz is the grandson of Smithfield resident, Atwill Gwaltney.

The program at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at Christ Episcopal Church in Smithfield’s historic district, includes music of Chopin, Ravel, Faure, Edward MacDowell, Robert Schumann, Ed Bland, and Joseph’s friend, William C. White, whose career as conductor, composer, and pedagogue seems superhuman.

Vaz graduated with degrees in math and piano performance with a minor in French as a university fellow at Indiana University. From there, he received his master’s degree in piano performance from the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. He is now completing his doctorate from the City University of New York, studying with Julian Martin. 

Vaz will perform jazz-inspired music of Ed Bland, whose music he has championed for several years. Bland is the husband of Smithfield’s Mary Batten Bland. 

He has performed as soloist, chamber musician and collaborative artist in the United States and in Europe. 

Vaz is a laureate of several national competitions and has appeared at the Aspen,  Chautauqua and Bowdoin summer music festivals and Internationale Sommerakademie Riechenau in Austria.

Tickets at the door are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For more information, call 757-675-5777.