By Chosalin Morales, student photographer and news writer, Office of University Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Having traveled with a piano on a truck to introduce classical music to rural communities, hospital patients and prison populations, Nada Loutifi now brings her talent as a quest pianist to Campbellsville University's piano recital Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall located at 210 University Drive, Campbellsville, Ky.

The public is invited to the free concert.

University piano students will play at the piano masterclass, with comments from Loutifi, on Friday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall.

Loutifi is a native of Beirut, Lebanon with Lebanese and Hungarian descent. She has created a career for herself after her family escaped civil war and terrorism in her hometown of Beirut.

“When I was a kid, I never wanted to see the newspaper or watch the news. It was such a disaster,” she said.

After fleeing war, she occupied herself in studying music and became self-taught with the piano. Her dedication to playing for seven years landed Loutifi a place at the Paris Conservatory, in France, where she became the first woman from the Middle East to take first place.

Loutifi has been a host and performer of her own radio series, “The Classic Hour.” Her performances have been recorded live and broadcasted through the radio station WCHQ 100.9 FM and has made her music available anywhere in the world.

She also works with several local organizations including her own non-profit, Sundays Love Music for Everyone. Her organization is committed to broadening classical music to her listeners while educating and engaging interest to classical composers.

“I speak music” is the motto which describes her personality and talent of classical music.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 12,000 students offering over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.