Designed to provide a base of community and alumni support for the Department of Music at Methodist University, the Friends of Music has been able to not only bring top-notch performers to the community, but also to host concert receptions, establish an endowed music scholarship and present professional guest artist concerts and master classes. The Friends are now well into another season of stellar performances by local, national and international performers and are moving ahead in their mission to serve not only the community but the Methodist University School of Music as well.

On Jan. 7, Gabriele Leporatti, a noted pianist, is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. in Hensdale Chapel as part of the Friends of Music annual music series.

Leporatti comes to Fayetteville all the way from Italy. He began studying music at the tender age of six and by the time he was 19, he had graduated with not only high grades but also a special mention from L. Cherubini Conservatory in Florence. That same year he won the Joel Estes Tate scholarship and entered the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a student of Joaquin Achucarro.

He received his artist certifi cate from Southern Methodist University in 1999, and has trained with world renowned artists like Also Ciccolini, Jerome Rose, Melvyn Tan, Edward Zilberkant, Fabio Bidini, Franco Rossi, Piero Rattalino and Dmitri Bashkirov and received awards in national and international competitions — third prize in the International Piano Competition, “Citta ai Pinerolo” a Special Award in Bremen Klavierwettbewerb and the Dorothy McKenzie Award, amongst others.

Leporatti’s recordings include a four hands piano music CD with Fabio Bidini (Schubert, Brahms, Rachmaninoff) for Tru Sounds Label and a solo CD, The Young Brahms with early Brahms piano music.

Leporatti is well traveled and has performed in places like Turkey, Spain, England, Germany and Switzerland with some of his performances being broadcast by classical radio stations like SAFM in South Africa and RBB Kulturradio in Germany.

As the season progresses, look for events like the Guitar Festival concert in March, a faculty jazz combo, the third annual Methodist University Jazz Festival and more.

Stay on top of the Friends of Music events at www.methodist.edu/music/friends10.pdf or become a member and support the arts in the community by calling the Methodist University Office of Development at 630-7200.

Phoro: Gabriele Leporatti will perform at Methodist University on Jan. 7.