Piano concert in Farmington to open new series on Oct. 5

FARMINGTON — The Arts Institute of Western Maine will debut a new concept in presenting concerts entitled “Listen Local.” This series formalizes a once popular “brown bag series” with plans to feature four local performers a year. AIWM will introduce this series with a piano recital by Kathryn Sytsma at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington. Her concert is entitled “An Afternoon of Piano Delights.”

Sytsma, a long-time resident of West Farmington, has been active as a piano teacher and performer. She has been the organist and music director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and accompanist for local school choruses. She has also performed extensively on the viola da gamba and with the local ensemble Talisker.

Sytsma’s program will feature Chopin’s Ronda a la Mazurka with a surprise visit by a local sprite. She will also perform movements from a Bach Partita, two Beethoven Bagatelles, and pieces by Manuel deFalla and Alan Hovhaness.

Donations are welcome and will be dedicated to the tuning and maintenance of the Falcone grand piano in Nordica Auditorium. Local musicians interested in performing in the Listen Local series can contact president@artsinstitute.org.

: Pianist Kathryn Sytsma will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington. Her concert is entitled “An Afternoon of Piano Delights.”