Saratoga News Pianist plays Valentine's Day concert For the third concert of its 51st season, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concert Association presents pianist Robert Theis on Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. in Los Gatos High School's Prentiss Brown Auditorium, 20 High School Court. Theis holds the distinction of being the first American pianist to win first prize in the second International Prokofiev Competition, held in December 1995 in St. Petersburg, Russia. His interest in piano playing came when he was very young; he began lessons at age 5 and at 16 had decided that tickling the ivories was his destiny. Among his performance credits are the University of California Symphony Orchestra and orchestral tours in Eastern Europe and the People's Republic of China. He is also gearing up for a handful of solo appearances, such as his performance with the SGSCCA. Theis is particularly fond of interpreting the works of Russian composers. He plans to open his Feb. 14 concert with a Rachmaninoff selection, followed by Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Following is an impressionist group of works by Debussy, Ravel and another Rachmaninoff. Complimentary tickets for students are available for this concert. For more information on LGSCCA or to purchase tickets, call Ray Strong at 377-1106 or Ruth Capps at 356-7014. Tickets are also available at the door. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 27, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.