Simon’s “Playlist”:Acclaimed pianist Simon Mulligan has played with everyone from The Royal Philharmonic to Sting. Mulligan returns to Allentown for an evening of standards, jazz classics and original music from his CD, “Playlist,” in the “Jazz Upstairs” series, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Rodale Community Room, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown. Gene Perla, who this year replaces Steven Liu on bass, has performed with Elvin Jones, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Sonny Rollins and other jazz luminaries. Rounding out the rhythm section is Dave Willard on drums. The Times of London has called Mulligan “the most abundantly gifted of pianists.” Expect to hear the Simon Mulligan Trio’s sophisticated take on your favorite timeless melodies and Simon’s own compositions. Tickets: Miller Symphony Hall Box Office, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; allentownsymphony.org; 610-432-6715

Teen pop trio:Il Volo, the Italian teen pop opera trio that has taken the United States by storm, returns at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 to the State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton. Il Volo, above, whose last appearance at the State Theatre was Oct. 15, 2012, is composed of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble. The group has released four albums, beginning in 2011: two studio albums, a live album and a Christmas album. They have been guests on TV (“The Tonight Show,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “American Idol” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”). Il Volo sang with Barbra Streisand in 2012, performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City as special guests of Laura Pausini, won a Billboard Latin Music Award, and has toured the United States and Latin America. Tickets: State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton St., Easton; statetheatre.org, 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132