Budginas to bring humor to classical piano and BHS.

Lithuanian-born concert pianist Rudolf Budginas is bringing his mix of music and humor to the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center.

Budginas, who has entertained in Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Budapest, San Francisco and Los Angeles and has acquired international awards and honors along the way, is slated to perform at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18.

“I can’t wait to get there,” Budginas said. “I need some cold, rainy weather.”

Budginas, formally trained at the Moscow Conservatory, incorporates his classical training, his own jazz arrangements, knowledge of music and sense of humor into his performances to connect with his audience. He wants to “conquer the hearts, minds, ears and funny bones of American music lovers,” he said.

Budginas tells humorous stories during performances about his childhood growing up in a family of musicians and explains musical lines from Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” and Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line.” He jazzes up hits like “Claire de Lune” and “Moonlight Sonata” as a soloist and with a jazz accompaniment.

“I felt that after my strictly classical recitals, I was questioning if I had more to offer to my audiences,” he said. “It was clear that they loved classical music, but I felt there was more I wanted to do. I want to present an evening with more variety of musical styles. I want to keep my audience always guessing what will come next. I like to relax the atmosphere of the concert. Because, you know, the concert is a very formal thing. I like people in general. I like to talk to them. And when you have friendly atmosphere, when you explain what they’re going to hear, it’s much better, it’s much easier.”

Tickets for the show are $30 and can be purchased at the box office. Budginas also will be performing a free show for Bremerton High School students and parents earlier that morning. The free show will take place at 10 a.m. as part of Bremerton’s local outreach program.

“I would like to give my musicianship, or whatever I have, to the children,” he said. “It is important for children to hear. They are a new generation, a new listener who will be supporting art.”

Budginas currently resides in the San Luis Obispo area of California’s central coast. He is a professor of music at Cuesta College and also is the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra at Thomas Aquinas College.

Among his numerous awards are the First Prize in the International Liszt Piano Competition, Second Prize in the Vitols Int’national Piano Competition and the prestigious Yamaha of Europe award.