ATHENS — The UGA Performing Arts Center will present the Opole Philharmonic of Poland in its American debut tour at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Hodgson Concert Hall.

Under the leadership of Music Director Boguslaw Dawidow, the program will include Mozart's Symphony No. 39, Strauss' symphonic poem Don Juan, and Paderewski's Piano Concerto in A Minor, featuring award-winning pianist Evgeni Mikhailov.

The Opole Philharmonic was founded in 1947 and is now considered one of Poland's leading orchestras. In 1952, a major performing arts center was built in the city of Opole as a permanent home for the Philharmonic, and in 1969, the Ministry of Culture of Poland honored the orchestra with the State Award for Arts Excellence.

The orchestra has toured extensively throughout Europe, South America and Japan. It was the only Polish orchestra invited to participate in the Gala Concert in Rome to mark the 80th birthday of Pope John Paul II in 2000.

A native of Sopot, Poland, Dawidow was appointed Music Director of the Opole Philharmonic in 1999 by the Ministry of Culture.

A free pre-concert lecture will begin 45 minutes prior to the concert, offered by Vanessa Tome, a doctoral student in music at UGA.

Tickets are $20-47, discounts for UGA students and groups of 15 or more; call 706-542-4400, 888-289-8497 or go online.