AUBURN – Well-known local pianist John Neal, director of music at Oak Hill High School in Wales, will be accompanist for New York artist Nicholas De Sibio Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Pleasant Note Coffee House.

De Sibio will perform “Pieces of Change,” a fundraising dinner and cabaret show, presented by Pleasant Note for the First Universalist Church, where the coffeehouse is located.

Neal, who holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in conducting performance from the University of Connecticut, has played piano since age 8.

His career in music education, began in 1977, also includes teaching positions at Edward Little High School in Auburn and the University of Southern Maine.

Neal has earned numerous awards, including first place with the ELHS band in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., in 1988; and a Carnegie Hall performance in New York City with Oak Hill High School’s Voices of Color in 2003.

In addition, he was recognized as Maine Music Educator of the Year by the Maine Music Educators Association in 1994.

Neal has performed as pianist with the Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theater and at numerous other local venues, and is currently the pianist at Litchfield Community Christian Church.

His CD of original electronic music, “Fox Island Afternoon,” released in 1997, is available at Amazon.com. He is currently at work on an original electronic ballet titled “Vasalisa,” due to be released later this year.

A dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the cabaret show at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, $18/$15, call L/A Arts at 782-7228. For more information, call 783-0461.