Pianist Woods to open Lake City Concert Series season

The Lake City Concert Series will open its 2009-10 season with Dr. Benjamin Woods, professor emeritus of music at Francis Marion University, presenting a program of classical piano music.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Lake City Presbyterian Church, at 301 E. Main Street in Lake City.

Admission is by season ticket; tickets are also available at the door and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Children younger than 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Woods has performed many solo piano concerts at venues across the country, including Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City, where in 1985 he made his professional debut.

He has presented many faculty recitals at Francis Marion University and has performed with the Florence Masterworks Choir and Orchestra. He was named one of 12 national finalists in the U.S. Information Agency’s Artistic Ambassador Competition and one of 10 finalists in the Beethoven International Piano competition.

He also performs with his wife, violinist Sherry Woods, and their children, violinist Christopher Woods and cellist Adrienne Woods.

He has conducted concerts of the Francis Marion College Chorus, the Florence Choral Society and the Florence Masterworks Choir and Orchestra. Having served as music director and conductor of the Florence Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 2002, he recently retired from this post to devote all his energies to piano performance.

Woods earned his bachelor’s degree in performance and education as a scholarship student at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. As a graduate fellowship recipient, he received a Master of Music degree in performance from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina.

For additional concert information, call (843) 374-2482.