Musical journey through Europe features premiere - YourArlington.com | Your news, your views in Arlington, Mass.

Maria Pikoula

Award-winning pianist Maria Pikoula will perform music of Brahms, Liszt, Debussy and Caravassilis as the PACC Concert Series presents "A Musical Journey through Europe" on Sunday, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m.

The highlight of the concert will be the national premieres of Soul Ascending and Lumen de Lumine by Constantine Caravassilis, a composer born in Pikoula's homeland of Greece and now composing in Toronto.

This event will be held in the sanctuary of Park Avenue Congregational Church, at 50 Paul Revere Road, Arlington Heights.

An artist's reception in the parish hall will follow the concert.

Tickets in advance are $15 adults, $10 students/seniors; and at the door $20 and $12.

She holds a doctor of musical arts degree from Boston University, where she studied with the legendary pianist and teacher Anthony di Bonaventura.

Pikoula has won many honors and awards in international and national competitions. Learn more about her and hear a few of her performances on at www.mariapikoula.com.

Pikoula pursues a career as a soloist and chamber musician with performances in the United States, Europe and Russia at such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Her various honors and awards in international and national competitions include the Artists International Presentations Special Prize, Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Award, First Prize at the GWUC National Music Competition in Chicago, the Hellenic American Women's Music Award, and first prize and gold medal at the Greek National Competition (1992), among others.

The concert series is a benefit to fund the organ restoration and music program at the Park Avenue Congregational Church. It began 22 years ago when the music committee undertook the task of restoring the church’s historic Skinner organ.

Local talent is showcased in a wide range of styles from classical vocal and instrumental music, to folk and jazz coffeehouses.

For more information about the PACC Concert Series, call the church cffice at 781-643-8680 or visit the church's website at www.pacc-ucc.org/events/concertseries.

The church is at Park Avenue and Paul Revere Road, one block from Mass. Ave. It is handicapped-accessible and on MBTA bus route 77.

This story was published Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, and updated Jan. 15.

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