Piano virtuoso Read Gainsford will perform at Coastal Carolina University on Sunday, Feb. 17, in the Edwards Recital Hall for the first of a planned Piano Concert Series. This event is open to the public.

He will perform sonatas by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, three preludes by Debussy, and the "Kinderszenen" by Schumann.

Gainsford has performed in New York's Carnegie Hall and Washington's Kennedy Center, as well in London at Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Wigmore Hall.

His collaboration with composer George Crumb and a group of oceanographers resulted in "Voice of the Whale." He won the 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award during his stint at Ithaca College. Gainsford currently serves as an associate professor of piano at Florida State University, where, along with violinist Corinne Stillwell and cellist Greg Sauer, he performs in the all-faculty chamber group "Trio Solis."

Ticket prices are: general admission, $3; CCU and Horry Georgetown Technical College students, free with ticket (one per valid ID); CCU and HGTC faculty/staff, free with ticket (two per valid ID); Alumni, senior citizens and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members, $3; Teens (ages 11-17), $3; children (ages 10 and under), free with ticket (must be accompanied by an adult). The Recital Hall is located in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. in Conway.

Visit www.coastal.edu/culturalarts for more details.