LEWISTON — Concert pianist and educator Gregg Pauley will make his debut at the Franco-American Heritage Center on Friday, Oct. 26.

The 7:30 p.m. concert will feature two major works by Beethoven and Mussorgsky: Sonata No. 32, the last of Beethoven’s sonatas, and “Pictures at An Exhibition,” Mussorgsky’s most famous piano composition and a showpiece for virtuoso pianists.

Praised by critics for having “perfect dynamic nuances,” Pauley has appeared in recitals throughout the United States and in Europe. A native of Southern California, he graduated from the University of Southern California and received a master’s degree from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Now based in New England, Pauley is a member of the piano faculty at Tufts University and St. Paul’s School and has a private studio in Concord, N.H. Last spring, he participated in the Klavierfest at Bowdoin College, where he performed an early composition by Vladimir Horowitz.

Pauley recently returned from Italy, where he was director of MusicFest Perugia, in which he collaborated with his former teacher and MusicFest founder, Ilana Vered.

His CD, “What the West Wind Saw,” takes its title from a piece in Debussy’s first set of preludes and includes solo works by Ravel, Chopin, Beethoven and Scriabin, as well as Debussy. The compositions reflect the elements of nature: earth, wind, fire and water.

Pauley’s concert is the second in a series of six piano concerts to be hosted by the Franco Center in its current season. Tickets are $16 for adults/$14 for seniors if purchased in advance; students under age 21 admitted free. Call 689-2000, visit the Franco Center box office between noon and 4 p.m. on weekdays or log on to francocenter.org.

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