Alpin Hong brings his energy, extensive classical training and background in skateboarding, snowboarding, martial arts and even videogames to two concerts on Friday, Oct. 8, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall, 10th and Main streets in Rolla. The performances are part of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s 2010-11 Campus Performing Arts Series and its School Outreach Program.

The public is invited to the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students and youth. The first 75 tickets for Missouri S&T students are free.

Tickets are available online or from the Leach Theatre Box Office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 573-341-4219 for more information.

The pianist will also perform a special 1 p.m. show for students in grades 5-12. Admission is $4. Find out more by contacting Ruth Husted, School Outreach Program coordinator, at 573-341-6365 or hustedr@mst.edu.

In recognition of his gift for communicating his passion for music, The McGraw-Hill Companies honored Hong in 2005 with the $10,000 Robert Sherman Award for Music Education and Community Outreach. His quest to find, inspire and collaborate with talents in every community results in presentations that both expand worlds and hit close to home.

Hong’s performances will be a part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days. Both shows will be dedicated to honor Pearl, the Wall Street Journal South Asia bureau chief and musician who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan shortly after 9/11. The Daniel Pearl World Music Days are held in October to commemorate Pearl’s life and work by using the power of music to bring people together in a united stand against the culture of violence.

Leach Theatre will offer discounted tickets through its “Back Row Club” one hour prior to the event, should tickets remain for the 7:30 p.m. show. The seats in the last row of the theater will be sold for $10 each prior to the performance.

Funding for the Missouri S&T Campus Performing Arts Series is provided by the Missouri S&T Endowment for the Performing Arts.

Missouri S&T’s School Outreach Program is sponsored by the S&T department of student affairs and CORE (Champions of Rolla Education).

For more information about performances at Missouri S&T’s Leach Theatre, call the Leach Theatre Box Office at 573-341-4219 or go online.