A Musical Journey through Europe

By Kathleen Fink

Award-winning pianist Maria Pikoula will perform music of Brahms, Liszt, Debussy, and Caravassilis at the Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington on Sunday, February 3, at 3:00 pm. The highlight of the concert will be the national premieres of Soul Ascending and Lumen de Lumine by Constantine Caravassilis, a composer born in Pikoula’s homeland of Greece and now composing in Toronto. This event will be held in the Sanctuary of the Park Avenue Congregational Church, located at 50 Paul Revere Road, in Arlington Heights. An artist’s reception in the Parish Hall will follow the concert. Tickets in advance are $15 adults and $10 seniors/students; and at the door $20 and $12.

Pikoula received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Boston University where she studied with the legendary pianist and teacher Anthony di Bonaventura. Pikoula has won many honors and awards in international and national competitions. You can learn more about Pikoula and hear a few of her performances on her web site at www.mariapikoula.com

Maria Pikoula pursues a career as a soloist and chamber musician with performances in the U.S., Europe and Russia at such notable venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her various honors and awards in international and national competitions include the Artists International Presentations Special Prize, Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Award, First Prize at the GWUC National Music Competition in Chicago, the Hellenic American Women’s Music Award, and First Prize and Gold Medal at the Greek National Competition(1992) amongst others.

The PACC Concert Series is a benefit concert series to fund the Organ Restoration and Music Program at the Park Avenue Congregational Church. It was started twenty-two years ago when the Music Committee undertook the task of restoring the Church’s historic Skinner organ. Local talent is showcased in a wide range of styles from classical vocal and instrumental music, to folk and jazz coffeehouses.

For more information on the PACC Concert Series, please call the Church Office at 781-643-8680 or visit the Church’s website at www.pacc-ucc.org/events/concertseries. The Church office is closed in the afternoon, but messages may be left on the Church’s answering machine. The Church is located on the corner of Park Avenue and Paul Revere Road (one block from Mass. Avenue in Arlington Heights), is handicapped-accessible and on MBTA bus route 77.