Ohio University Southern will start the 2003-2004 Evening Concert Series tonight much the same way the series began years ago - with Richard Syracuse tickling the ebony and ivory keys of his piano.

Only this time around, he will have a little help from some friends.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Mains Rotunda in the Riffe Center, the double bill will feature Syracuse, a faculty member of Ohio University's School of Music in Athens, and the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Handbell Choir.

The concert is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available following the concert.

"The goal is just to promote different styles of music and to give the students different types of exposure," event coordinator Gail Thornton said. "Education can include many things - one of those is music and the fine arts."

Syracuse teaches applied piano, keyboard literature and the accompanying at Ohio University, in addition to maintaining an active career as a soloist, accompanist, chamber musician and jazz musician.

"Richard Syracuse will be doing a variety from Beethoven to Scott Joplin," Thornton said. "He is a marvelous performer who has played all over the world."

The handbell choir is based in Portsmouth, and was founded in 1975. It continues to grow each year. They have been under the direction of Rebecca Climer for 18 years. She is also co-choir director at Cornerstone and an accompanist for the Scioto County Festival Choir.

This group will perform a special tribute to the Columbine tragedy, Thornton said.

Future concerts in the series include the male quartet Old Friends performing classics from the 1940s, '50s and '60s, on Feb. 19, 2004. In a partnership with the Paramount Arts Center, the Ohio University School of Music Orchestra will perform in Ashland on May 6, 2004.

For more information, call Gail Thornton at Ohio University Southern at 533-4544; or e-mail thornton@ohio.edu.