The Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of its principal conductor, David Leibowitz, begins its 24th season with pianist, Anna Polonsky, performing the Schumann Piano Concerto in A-Minor on Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m., at the Berner Middle School, Carmans Mill Road, Massapequa. The orchestral selections include Tchaikovsky's Polonaise from Eugene Onegin and his Symphony No. 2 in C-Minor (The Little Russian).

Pianist Anna Polonsky, born in Russia into a musical family, started piano at age 5, and made her solo piano debut at age 7 at the Special Central Music School in Moscow. She emigrated to the United States in 1990, and attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Ms. Polonsky received her bachelor of music diploma from the Curtis Institute, where she worked with the renowned pianist Peter Serkin, and continued her studies with Jerome Lowenthal, earning her master's degree from the Juilliard School. She has appeared with the Moscow Virtuosi under Vladimir Spivakov, and is regularly invited to perform chamber music at festivals such as Marlboro, Caramoor, and Bargemusic in New York City. Ms. Polonsky has given concerts in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Alice Tully Hall, and has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. She was an artist member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two during 2002-2004, and last year she took part in the European Broadcasting Union's project to record and broadcast all of Mozart's keyboard sonatas.

The Massapequa Philharmonic is composed of about 70 local musicians and is one of the largest orchestras on Long Island. Principal Conductor, David Leibowitz, received his M.A. from CUNY's Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, where his main studies were in oboe, conducting and composition. He also studied conducting with Carlo Maria Giulini and Herbert Blomstedt, and was a finalist in the International Masterplayers' Conducting Competition in Lugano, Switzerland in 1986. Mr. Leibowitz is the founder and current music director of the New York Repertory Orchestra, which is in its 15th season. Since 2002 he has been on the conducting staff of the Rome Festival, leading opera, ballet, and concert performances in Italy. Mr. Leibowitz has appeared with the Greenwich Village, Brooklyn Heights and Centre Symphony Orchestras.

For more information, please call: Robert Ackerberg, 795-4071. Free admission, no tickets required, seating is limited.