An evening of jazz will be featured in the next Rising Star Series program when  composer, pianist, and Olean native Jacob Pleakis performs with singer Abby Payne at 7 p.m. on February 13.

The concert, free and open to the public, will be held in Cutco Theater on JCC's Cattaraugus County Campus.

The Rising Star Series is presented by the Cutco Corporation, Olean Medical Group, and JCC’s Faculty Student Association.

Pleakis earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies at the State University of New York at Purchase and a master’s degree in music composition at New York University, and has worked as a conductor, arranger, orchestrator, and music editor.

He is a faculty member at the Rye Arts Center, the Church Street School for Music and Art, and the Music Academy of Mamaroneck. Clips of Pleakis’ work can be heard at www.jacobpleakis.com.

Commissioned by the Southern Tier Symphony’s orchestra to write the opening piece for its sixth season, Pleakis’ “Enchanted Mountain Fantasy” premiered last October at Olean High School.

Pleakis recently produced and arranged songs for Abby Payne’s second album, “In a Pretty Box” (available on iTunes) and Ms. Payne will open for him at the February 13 performance.

Ms. Payne is a singer and songwriter whose music is described as insightful and poetic, yet possessing a hard edge. She studied piano and flute, earned a degree in jazz studies at SUNY Purchase, and has been performing in New York City and around the world ever since.

Her songs are featured in the films “A Four Letter Word” and “Between Love and Goodbye” and she is currently promoting a new album with her bandmates, bassist Chris Anderson and drummer Kenny Shaw.