Southampton - Southampton Cultural Center's 2011-2012 Rising Stars Piano Series opens with Michael Brown, Distinguished Pianofest Alumnus and 2010 New York Concert Artists Guild Winner, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Southampton Cultural Center's Levitas Center for the Arts, 25 Pond Lane, Southampton.

Brown will perform the following works: Beethoven: Polonaise in C Major, Op.89, Sonata in F Major, Op.54, Debussy: 3 Etudes from book II, Albeniz: Evocacion, El Puerto, Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat Op.53 "Eroica"

Brown has been hailed as a "vividly characterized and rhythmically free-spirited" pianist by The New York Times, and is the First Prize Winner of the 2010 Concert Artists Guild Competition. Noted for his "great confidence and rhythmic flair" by Gramophone, he has appeared in many major venues including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Brown has appeared as soloist with the Juilliard Orchestra under the baton of New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert.

This season, Brown will give recitals at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall., at the Gilmore Festival (Kalamazoo, MI) and the New Haven Symphony.

He was the featured American pianist at the Kyoto International Music Festival in Japan, Pianofest in the Hamptons, and the Beijing International Music Festival.

In addition to performing regularly as a pianist, Brown is also an accomplished composer. His works have been performed at the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Curtis Institute. He was the 2008 Composer in Residence for Pianofest in the Hamptons where he was commissioned to write a two-piano piece celebrating their 20th season.

A native of Long Island, Brown attended the Juilliard School completing dual bachelor and Master of Music degrees majoring in Piano and Composition.

Tickets are $15 general admission; students under 21 no charge. Tickets are available online or at the door on the night of the performance. Reservations: 631-287-4377.