VIDEO: Swampscott High Piano Player To Perform Sunday

On Sunday senior Nick Hartmann will perform with the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra for the second time.

Boston conductor and composer Jeffrey Brody was so impressed with Hartmann's piano playing the first time he performed with the orchestra, a year ago, that Brody composed a piece especially for him.

It is called Rhapsody on Armenian Themes. The piece expresses a range of emotions and moods, among them a dramatic and wild feeling, said Hartmann.

His teacher of 11 years, Christina Dietrich, said her student is quite comfortable with the composition.

“It just falls into place for Nick’s hands," said Dietrich, director of the Chopin Conservatory of Music on the North Shore.

Her student has spent about 50 hours rehearsing the rhapsody.

On Sunday, while practicing at the Congregational Church of Topsfield, he played the rhapsody and other selections including those by Liszt and Chopin, Hartmann's favorite composer.

Hartmann has been playing piano since he was a small child.

His aunt bought him a toy keyboard when he was 3 or 4 years old.

His parents were delighted when they discovered he could play tunes on it.

On Sunday his playing, soprano Emilia DiCola's singing and the orchestra's music will delight the audience at Salem High School.

The concert starts at 3:30 pm.