Pianist Millard Neal will perform a guest recital for West Liberty University music students at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16. The concert will be held in Elbin Auditorium, College Hall, and is free and open to the public.

“Please join us for an intriguing and enjoyable recital as Millard Neal performs a variety of challenging Romantic-period études from six different composers. A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Mr. Neal is a lifetime teacher and performer in the Ohio Valley area,” said Associate Professor of Music Gerald Lee.

A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Neal is a lifetime teacher and performer in the Ohio Valley area. His education includes performance degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music of Cincinnati and the École de Américaine of Fontainebleau, France. He also holds a service-playing certificate from the American Guild of Organists and a master of music theory from Ohio State University.

Neal’s positions have included public school teaching at Flushing High School (band) and Barnesville School (chorus). Formerly a member of the faculty of West Liberty State College and the College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio, he has held numerous positions as organist and choir director in area churches and is currently the organist and choir director at the First Presbyterian Church, St. Clairsville, Ohio. He also founded the Neal Studio of Music with locations in Martins Ferry and Barnesville, Ohio.

A diverse and versatile career has included classical concerts as solo organist, community choral and instrumental programs as conductor, and large-scale piano recitals as teacher. He has toured extensively throughout the country as pianist/keyboard person for variety groups and as organist for the circus.

Neal is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in music performance from the College-Conservatory of Music and expects to obtain that goal in May 2014.