Whether they know it or not, college students have most likely been exposed to Yanni's music, a form best described as modern new age.

Aside from being heard on adult alternative radio and satellite new age stations, his piano-driven ballads have been used on The Wide World of Sports and during the Olympic Games.

Touring in support of his latest release, Ethnicity, Yanni is bringing his world-renowned live performance at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to the Bryce Jordan Center.

Karen Briggs, the violinist on Yanni's Ethnicity Tour, said after taking up the violin in junior high school, she never could have imagined touring the world, performing for numerous audiences every month.

"I just took it because it was an option," Briggs said. "I wasn't very serious at the time."

Having played with Yanni since 1991, Briggs said she can still recall when she first tried out for, at the time, the lesser-known pianist.

"A friend of mine gave me a call, and told me about the gig," Briggs said. "I went to Yanni's house out in L.A. to try out for him in person."

Briggs played on numerous Yanni albums, but she said the turning point of his career and hers as well was the famous Yanni -- Live At the Acropolis video and album.

"That's the video that put Yanni on the map," Briggs said. "He always had a strong fan base, but it expanded to a world-wide fan base at that point."

There are around 30 musicians on Yanni's Ethnicity Tour, and Briggs said that it features talent from around the world. But of course, fans will be coming to see the self-taught piano man.

"I think they like the whole aura of the guy," Briggs said. "Also, I think they like the diversity and variety of talent onstage."

Contrary to what people may think, Briggs said the show has its ups and downs, and is not just relaxing music.

"To put it in a nutshell, when you see the show it won't be a night of only meditative music. Some of its calming, and some of it is danceable," Briggs said.

"There's drum solos, and loud things going on -- things I wouldn't consider calming. But still there's good energy."

On this tour, Yanni's live performance encompasses his entire career, and the group enjoys playing all of the fans' favorites along with material from Ethnicity.

"I like to play all of them," Briggs said. "But I think the song that's most popular with fans is "Within Attraction." It's a duet between myself and another violinist."

"Within Attraction" was Briggs' featured track on the Yanni -- Live at the Acropolis album.

"I've been playing that song for 13 years now," Briggs said.

Her current favorite is the song "Rainmaker," from Yanni's latest release, because she played the feature melody on the album.

Aside from being her full-time job, Briggs' connection to Yanni has helped boost her career in other ways. Right now, Briggs is working on a publishing and recording deal with the label Hidden Beach, the same label that boasts soul singer Jill Scott.

"Finally I get my chance," Briggs said about the solo project, which will include Briggs' other talents, rather than just violin.

Bernie Punt, director of marketing for the Bryce Jordan Center, said that when Yanni preformed back in 1998, there was mass appeal for the Greek-born piano whiz.

"I would consider his live show to be over two hours of being transfixed into another part of the imagination," Punt said.

Attendance for Yanni's previous performance was mostly older couples, Punt said.

"It was sort of like a guy going with his girlfriend to see a chick-flick," Punt said. "But you know what happened, after the show, it was the husbands and the boyfriends who were the ones raving about how good it was."

Many local residents were converted after Yanni's electrifying performance, Punt said --and there is viable proof. Mike Negra, owner of Mike's Music and Video, reported to Punt that all Yanni CDs sold out after the last show.

"That just tells me when they left they became fans," Punt said. "He's written more popular songs than people realize."

Tickets for the show are $37.50 and $55, and are available at the Jordan Center. For more information, visit the Jordan Center's web site at www.bjc.psu.edu.