The Stow Symphony Orchestra asked Kent State music professor Jerry Wong to accompany the symphony Saturday. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. in Ludwig Recital Hall.

Wong has taught at Kent State for nine years, where he teaches applied piano, piano literature and accompanying.

Wong said he loves to play all types of classical music, and he performs concerts each semester.

“I like performing especially here in the community because it gives my students an opportunity to hear me play,” Wong said. “When I am invited to play with a local orchestra I am always happy to do it.”

Wong has played in several places such as New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, and in cities across Asia and Europe.

He started playing the piano when he was a child. Later he went on to study at Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music and now has a Doctorate of Musical Arts.

Darrell Music, the director of the Stow Symphony Orchestra, said he asked Wong to play a concerto for the symphony concert and said it’s a dream working with him.

“He has this huge sound,” Music said. “The sound that he puts out is so expansive and that is what blew me away. He is one of those instrumentalists who have a way of taking lyricism and have it fill the room.”

About five years ago, the symphony and Wong performed at Kent State together for the first time. This Saturday will be the second.

“It’s not something that happens every day,” Music said. “It’s an event and even an event for the orchestra. It’s almost like Christmas.”

Wong said he is excited to work with the symphony.

“They are a wonderful group,” Wong said. “They have a really positive energy and they are very welcoming to their soloists.”

Tickets for the concert can be purchased at http://www.stoworchestra.org/tickets.htm.

Contact Katie Fickle at [email protected].