Valentine’s Day is coming to the Emma Kelly Theater a couple days early this year with a romantic concert that’s all about love.
       On Friday, well-known local pianist Michael Braz will perform “Piano Romantico,” a concert of beautiful love songs, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
       A music professor at Georgia Southern University, Braz is a national and international composer and musician.
       Braz said he is planning an intimate concert and his melodies will include classic pieces as well as selections from his latest CD, “Love in a New Key,” which was just released. After intermission, Braz said he will offer a list of about 150 songs from which the audience can make special requests.
       For the CD, Braz said he combined an interesting mixture of popular and original works centering on the theme of love.
“The songs are all linked together by looking at love in many, many ways, besides the traditional love song,” he said.
      Selections include film themes from “On Golden Pond” and “Summer of ‘42,” “Unchained Melody,” classic pieces such as “Scarborough Fair,” an original fantasy take on Beethoven’s “Fur Elise,” a Beatles tune and a jazz piece.
    “The pieces are an attempt to appeal to people with different tastes ... they’re not homogenized,” Braz said. “They are what I would like to share with people.”
    Braz recorded the CD over the holiday with Chris Mitchell and Mary Rigdon at Pladd Dot Music in Statesboro. Mitchell also provided guitar accompaniment on one of the songs.
    Proceeds from the concert and CD sales will benefit the Averitt Center for the Arts and the Statesboro Youth Chorale, which Braz directs.
    Braz has long been involved with the Averitt Center, serving on the Statesboro Arts Council, including a term as president during the fundraising for and renovation of the center’s downtown locations. He was also a friend of the late Emma Kelly, after whom the theater is named, and many of her family members.
    “It’s a pleasure to do a concert in that theater for the support of the whole facility,” he said.   
    Tickets for Piano Romantico are available at the Averitt Center box office or by calling (912) 212-2787.
    Jerry Roberson Piano is a sponsor for the event. In conjunction with the concert, the Historic Statesboro Inn is offering an early Valentine dinner with seating beginning at 5:30 p.m.
    CDs, which are $15 each or two for $25, will be on sale at the Averitt Center gift shop, Yard & Haus, the Carriage House and the Hen House in the Statesboro Mall.