Jonathan Floril, the winner of the 59th Kosciuszko Foundation Piano Competition, will be performing Saturday at Kent State.

In 2008, the 19-year-old Spaniard won the competition sponsored by the Kosciuszko Foundation, whose mission is to promote and strengthen understanding and friendship between Poland and the United States.

As part of the first place prize, the foundation is sponsoring a tour for Floril to expand his career and is coming to Kent State through the Northeast Ohio chapter of the foundation.

Floril will be performing an array of pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Scriabin.

The competition Floril won aims at promoting Polish culture. The participants may play an arrangement of different composers, but they must also perform selections from Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin.

The competition is held every March in New York City and is open to anyone of any nationality.

The event Saturday is sponsored by the Kosciuszko Foundation – the headquarters in New York and the Northeast Ohio chapter – Kent State University and The Cleveland Society of Poles. The reception that will follow is sponsored by the Steinway Hall in Akron.

The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Carl F.W. Ludwig Recital Hall located in the Music and Speech Center. Tickets are $12 for the public, $10 for Kent State faculty and staff and $5 for all students.

– Sara Petersen