MARK YOUR CALENDAR

American pianist Chad Bowles will perform on Sunday, March 8, at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport, the second of three concerts in the 2015 Jean C. Wilson Music Series. (click title to read more)

 The program will include Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, K545; Schubert’s Valses Nobles; Chopin’s Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Opus 35; and Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor. A rising star in the piano world, Bowles is recognized as a master of his instrument and hailed for an ideal combination of innate musicianship and stunning virtuosity.

Equally at home with lesser-known gems, as well as the standard repertoire, his performances have brought him to cities across the United States, Canada, and Europe including Toronto, Washington DC, Columbus, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Toulouse, and Montréal. In his recital appearances as a soloist, he has appeared in venues including colleges and universities in the United States, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the La Gesse Festival in France, and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in California.

Bowles frequently performs benefit recitals and one-hour long concerts that bring classical music to new audiences and create an appreciation for some of the forgotten areas of the piano repertoire. His recitals often feature interaction with the audience through commentary from the stage, an approach that engages listeners more deeply in the concert experience and makes him a popular performer.Outside of the concert hall, Bowles is Chair of the Piano Department at Peabody Preparatory, a part of The Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins.

The Jean C. Wilson Music Series is named for one of the founders and the director of the music series for 28 years. Now, under the auspices of the First Religious Society in Newburyport, the Music Series offers three concerts held during the winter months.

Suggested donations are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors. As ever at this series, children and students are eagerly welcomed and may attend with no expectation of donation. For more information about the concert go to frsuu.org/jean-wilson-music-series or call 978-465-0602 x401.