People usually don't associate the cello with Jimi Hendrix... ..for now. Haimovitz has been touring relentlessly bringing his new brand of cello music out of the standard symphony halls and into rock clubs, coffeehouses and college campuses worldwide. His innovation doesn't end there either. His repertoire consists of everything from Bach to Led Zeppelin. He also has a great deal of original work published on his own record label, including the 2007 release "After reading Shakespeare."

     "He likes bringing classical music to people who haven't heard it before," said Associate Dean Joan Epro, who booked Haimovitz. "He's young, he's not some old grey haired guy being formal... ..he will connect in a way that older performers can't with a younger crowd."

     Franklin Pierce is one stop out of over fifty booked so far this year. He is expected to play a combination of classical music and his arrangements of classic rock songs. The Boston Herald wrote "Haimovitz may be the coolest cellist of our time."

     "This is a great opportunity," said Epro. "I heard him do this several years ago and I can't even tell you how good it is. He is a virtuoso, we don't get to witness performers like him everyday."

     The Israeli-born cellist made his on stage debut at age thirteen in 1984 as a soloist with Zubin Mehta and the Israeli Philharmonic. He has since gone on to play some of the worlds most famous venues with the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, The English Chamber Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra to name a few.

      On his MySpace page Haimovitz names Led Zeppelin as one of his influences, along with Bach, Hayden and Jimi Hendrix. However, his cello was made in 1710 so he won't be lighting it on fire anytime soon. His solo performance on Saturday is free and open to the public.