LEWISTON – Fifteen-year-old South Freeport resident Will Bristol, recent winner of competitions in Maine and New England, will return to the Franco-American Heritage Center Saturday, Jan. 5, for the first Piano Series concert of the new year. He will play works by Schumann, Liszt, Debussy and Beethoven.

Now a freshman at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport, Bristol made his solo debut at the Franco center just over a year ago. Already recognized as a rising star on the New England music scene, he went on to win first prize in the junior category at the Pine Tree Piano Competition and to win the coveted Mildred Freiberg Prize of the New England Piano Teachers Association.

Bristol began studying piano at age 9 with Jonathan Pelletier and currently studies with Naydene Bowder and Portland Conservatory of Music visiting faculty member Tamara Poddubnaya. He has also participated in the master classes of Frank Glazer, George Lopez and Laura Kargul.

Bristol has received several other awards and invitations to participate in regional festivals, including the Arcady Summer Music Festival Concerts Series, the Portland Conservatory’s International Piano Festival and the Next Generation Chamber Music Festival in Rockport.

Last summer, he was the only young pianist from Maine to participate in the Bowdoin International Music Festival, a six-week period of intensive study and performance by some of the most promising musicians from around the world. He has also given recitals in Buffalo and Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., and in Damariscotta.

The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors. Students 21 and younger admitted free. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 689-2000, or log on to www.francoamericanheritage.org.