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Lenore Raphael, Jazz Pianist
Wednesday, January 14, 7 – 8 p.m.
Last year, jazz pianist
Lenore Raphael
came to the Library and got the crowds
swinging to her music. Now she returns
to bring us another magical evening of
her sparkling talent!
Ms. Raphael has crafted her own
recognizable sound from the influences
of Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, and
Bill Evans. Jazz critic John Gilbert
has called her “simply one of the best
pianists in the jazz mainstream today.”
She has recorded seven critically-
acclaimed CDs on the Swingin’ Fox
Music Label, and two of her recordings
were up for Grammy Nominations. She
now has her own radio show called
“Lenore Raphael’s JazzSpot” on the
Internet Radio station PureJazzRadio.
Vijay Venkatesh, Pianist and
Priyanka Venkatesh, Violinist
Wednesday, February 11, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
California native
Vijay Venkatesh
has been hailed in
Concert Review
for his “sublime phrasing, tremendous
and powerful virtuosity, beautiful
lyricism, and mature and sensitive
interpretation.” In 2007, he won Second
Prize in the Intermediate Solo Division
of the Virginia Waring International
Piano Competition. He is a recipient
of the 2013 Thornton Music Faculty
Award from the University of Southern
California, where he studies with
Professor Norman Krieger.
From a young age,
Priyanka Venkatesh
had a natural ability for the violin which
allowed her to eventually become co-
concertmaster of the Pacific Symphony
Youth Orchestra in Orange County
and also win its annual Concerto
Competition. At Stanford University,
she majored in Violin Performance
while also completing pre-medical
requirements and a minor in Human
Biology. She is currently completing
her Masters in Violin Performance at
UC Irvine.
This performance is made possible by a generous
gift from Jay Bartush.
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Presented by the Rancho Mirage Public Library Foundation