Pianist to perform at book review Oct. 8

The Wharton Book Review Club will begin its 2007-08 season on Monday, Oct. 8 with coffee and refreshments at 9:30 a.m. at the Wharton County Historical Museum, 3615 N. Richmond Road. The program will follow at 10 a.m.Ted Lashley will present a musical program on the piano.

Lashley, director of music ministries at First United Methodist Church, El Campo, has a bachelor of music degree and graduated magna cum laude from Georgia Southern College. He has a master of music from Georgia State University and extensive post-graduate studies in Louisiana State University. He has appeared on national TV twice and on local TV in Baton Rouge, La., three times.

He began piano lessons at age eight and became a full time pianist at Yatesville Baptist Church in Georgia at age 12. He began teaching private piano lessons when he was 17. As a composer he has written for orchestra and small instrumental ensembles and choral groups. He has done extensive arranging for choral groups, as well as for flute, trumpet, solo voice, piano and small ensembles.

He also became interested in magic at the age of 10 and is an accomplished magician. He is a 32 year member of the Society of American Magicians and a 17 year member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

There are six reviews per season. Season membership is $20. Guests and individual reviews are $5.

For more information, call Dorothy Hensley, 543-5837; Sally Soderquist, 532-4936; or Sammy Lou Franks, 532-4615.