The College of Southern Maryland will close out the 2015-16 Ward Virts Concert Series with a performance by the Octtava Duo. The piano concert begins at 3 pm May 1 at the Prince Frederick campus, 115 J.W. Williams Road, in the Multipurpose Room of Building B.

Pianists Wei-Der Huang and Hsien-Ann Meng, the Octtava Duo, have been praised for their “tacit understanding of the piano,” according to “World News, Chinese Edition” as well as their ability to “play with vigor and alacrity,” according to the “Greenbelt Review.”

Ms. Huang and Ms. Meng are now in their fifth year of collaboration since meeting while they individually pursued their doctor of musical arts degrees at the University of Maryland College Park. They both serve on the piano faculty at Howard Community College. Both pianists now serve on the piano faculty at Howard Community College.

Octtava has performed for local communities through their annual concerts at Greenbelt Community Church and at Howard Community College. They perform regularly at well-known music venues such as Strathmore Hall, Levine School of Music, and Sumner School in the Washington metropolitan area. They also have performed on the West Coast and in Taiwan.

The Ward Virts Concert Series is presented and sponsored by the CSM Foundation and is also sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Virts, Edward and Patricia Mehosky, Exelon Corp., Nancy Powell Hempstead in memory of Roger Powell, and Stovy and Anne Brown.

Grants were provided by the Arts Council of Calvert County and Maryland State Arts Council.

Admission is free and seating is open but limited. For information, call 443-550-6011, email [email protected], or visit here.

The next week, also at the College of Southern Maryland,  Prince Frederick campus, the CSM Chorale and Chamber Choir Concert will perform at 2 pm, May 7. The performance will be at Building B, Multipurpose Room, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. CSM’s Chorale, under the direction of Krystal McCoy, will be joined by the Chamber Choir in performing an assortment of classics. $5 in advance, $7 day of concert. Box office. 301-934-7828.

For more about the College of Southern Maryland, visit their Leader member page.