LEWISTON — Concert pianist and educator George Sebastian Lopez will appear at the Franco Center in Lewiston on Friday, Feb. 27.  The recital begins at 7:30 p.m.

Lopez, the Beckwith Artist-in-Residence at Bowdoin College, first appeared at the Franco Center as soloist with the Midcoast Symphony even before the renovation of the performance hall in 2005, and in early 2006, he was chosen to select the Center’s new Steinway concert grand piano. 

He has returned on several occasions in recital, as piano soloist with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, as well as given master classes and solo recitals. In 2009, he recorded “Sacred Piano,” an album of sacred music arranged for piano – including several of his own arrangements – and the first commercial recording of piano music made at the center.

This concert artist and educator took up the piano at the rather “late” age of 11.  Born in Brooklyn, N.Y.,  of Mayan parents, he had spent much of his early childhood in Belize, before the family moved to Texas, where he rather reluctantly began piano lessons.  His mother forced him to practice on his grandmother’s upright, in hopes that it would keep him home and out of trouble.  He was soon surprised, however, to discover an unusual talent for the instrument.

“I was one of five minority kids in a predominantly white school in Texas,” Lopez recalls, “and music helped open doors for me.  It turned out I had a special knack for reading music; it came very easily to me.” 

His repertoire spans a broad range, from Bach and Beethoven to Ives, Gershwin, and contemporary composers, including Italian composer Romeo Melloni, whose piano concerto Lopez recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. 

Reserved seating tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and all students are admitted for free.  To purchase tickets, visit the Box Office at 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston, go on-line at www.francocenter.org, or call (207) 689-2000. Box office hours are Monday thru Friday from noon to 4 p.m.