Continuing what has come to be known as ‘The year of the Piano’ at Brenau University, guest artist Cat Massey will perform a recital of classical music including her Rachmaninoff Variation and other pieces at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts on the Gainesville campus.

The concert, in the intimate Banks Recital Hall, is free and open to the public.

With the university's renewed emphasis on a widening array of musical performance arts, music department chairwoman Barbara Steinhaus said her department has taken special pains to showcase pianists and accompanists this year.

"With the acquisition of our first instrument in the 'All-Steinway' Initiative, this is truly the year of the piano at Brenau," she said.

Well known to Gainesville audiences, Massey, who began playing the piano at age 4 and the violin at age 9, has performed in the United States and Taiwan.

She studied under renowned teachers Eugene Barban of South Carolina and Tzong-Kai Kuo of Taiwan. She has also worked with pianists Ju Ying Song, Joseph Banowetz and Walter Hautzig.

Massey, who’s primary instrument is piano, received her master’s degree in piano performance from Tung Hai University in Taiwan, but also minored in the violin while in a four-year music program at 10 years old, and has accompanied a wide variety of instruments.

"Studying, preparing and actually performing piano is hard work in itself, but playing for a live audience is an incredibly thrilling experience," Massey said.

Currently, she teaches lessons at her Gainesville studio, Cat Massey Piano Studio, and accompanies locally for various forms of the arts, from choirs to musicals.

For information regarding the concert and Brenau’s Music department, please contact 770.538.4764 or www.brenau.edu/music.