LEWISTON —

will present the final program of the 2012-2013 Piano Series season 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, at the Franco-American Heritage Center. The recital will include works by Bach-Busoni, Chopin, Scriabin, and Liszt.

Lovchinsky’s repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the 21st century, and he often speaks to his audience, engaging both seasoned and first-time listeners. The Southampton Press described his commentaries as “witty, informative, and non-technical, adding immeasurably to the non-professional’s understanding.”

In addition to pursuing a career as concert artist, Lovchinsky is in his second year of graduate study in physics at Harvard University, thus fulfilling a long-standing passion for mathematics and science. He finds that these dual interests — performing the classical piano repertoire and conducting scientific research — are compatible and complementary ones.

Lovchinsky is one of the most popular pianists to have given recitals at the Franco Center, where he has also appeared as soloist with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. His electric interpretation of the Grieg A minor piano concerto was the highlight of the Midcoast’s Gala Concert in October 2011.

Born in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia, he showed extraordinary promise at an early age, giving recitals for family and friends even before entering the Kazan Special Music School for Gifted Children. His family settled in Ohio when he was 10, and he continued his study with Nina Polonsky and Steven Glaser. At age 18, he won first prize in the 2002 Eastman International Piano Competition and a year later he won the National Chopin Piano Competition of the Kosciuszko Foundation.

Lovchinsky completed his undergraduate work at the Juilliard School before earning his Master’s Degree at the New England Conservatory.

His early career took him to perform with orchestras in Europe, as well as to give recitals in Poland, Lithuania, China, and Canada. Just this season, he collaborated with pianist Jonathan Coombs in presenting piano pieces by Walter Piston at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. Following Lovchinsky’s latest appearance in the Rising Stars Series in Southampton, Long Island, a reviewer declared him “already risen” and as having taken a place in the musical firmament.

The late virtuoso pianist Earl Wild heard him perform his Etudes on Themes of Gershwin and offered to produce his debut disc on Wild’s Ivory Classics label. This CD, released in 2008, was voted one of the top five classical recordings of that year by Time Out International, while Gramophone magazine hailed him as a “star of the future.”

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and may be purchased at the Franco Center box office at Cedar St., by phone at 689-2000, online at www.francocenter.org, or at the door. Students are admitted free.