Fall is in the air and with it comes the start of Trinity Music Academy's new concert series. TMA is located in Troy.

The season kicks off Oct. 8-12, with four piano concerts by the academy's Sophia Pavlenko. The four different performances are part of Pavlenko's preparations following her invitation to compete later this year with the world's finest concert pianists at the international Vladimir Horowitz Memorial Piano Competition in her home city of Kiev, Ukraine.

Over the course of the four nights, Pavlenko will play selections from Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev.

Concerts on Oct. 8, 9 and 11 begin at 7 p.m., with a Sunday performance at 4 p.m., all at Trinity United Methodist Church on Russell Street in Troy.

This year's concert series once again celebrates Christmas with an audience favorite, Handel's "Messiah." The concert will include a mass chorus of singers from Trinity Music Academy, Opera Company of North Carolina, Charlotte Opera and Asheville Opera, including appearances by Christine Weidinger and John Fowler, backed by musicians from the N.C. Symphony, Raleigh Symphony and Charlotte Symphony under the direction of TMA executive director Dr. Paul Chandley.

In February, celebrate Valentine's Day with music by cellist Alan Black and pianist Dana Protopopescu.

The season concludes in April with a change of pace, the UNC-Greensboro Miles Davis Program Jazz Ensemble, currently scheduled at the James Garner Center in Troy. This hot group of 20 musicians is the three-time running National Collegiate CD Recording Group of the Year.

About Trinity Music Academy

TMA was begun as a mission of Trinity United Methodist Church to train organists and music directors for the outlying area's rural churches. Today, the academy provides instrumental and vocal training for students from across the region, with many young musicians on scholarships provided through TMA memberships and donations. A number of graduates have gone on to continue their studies at the collegiate level and beyond.

Memberships in Trinity Music Academy are available at four levels: Bach Society at $800 -- four admissions to all events; Beethoven Society at $500 -- four admissions to three events plus two admissions to the annual dinner concert; Mozart, at $250 -- two admissions to all events, and Chopin at $125 -- one admission to all events.

Tickets to individual concerts are also available.

To join, or for more information, contact Trinity Music Academy at (910) 576-8742 or visit the Web site at www.trinitymusicacademy.org.