Pianist Robert Thies and violinist Roger Wilke will be featured at the final concert of the season by the Restoration Concerts on Mother’s day, Sunday, May 10 at 4:00 pm. This distinguished duo will perform music by Prokofiev, Debussy, Franck and Beethoven, showcasing diverse musical eras and styles. Tickets will be available at the door for $25 or online for $26. The concert will be held in the beautiful historic Library Community Room at 1115 El Centro St. in South Pasadena.
A pianist of “unerring, warm-toned refinement, revealing judicious glimmers of power” Robert Thies (pronounced “Theece”) is an artist renowned for his consummate musicianship and poetic temperament. He embraces numerous aspects in the musical world – pianist, teacher, composer, recording artist and producer. As a Steinway Artist and frequent recitalist in the United States and abroad, Robert Thies has developed a reputation as a sincere artist, performing in a manner to draw focus to the composer rather than to himself. He first captured worldwide attention in 1995 when he won the Gold Medal at the Second International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. With this victory, Thies became the only American pianist to win a Russian piano competition since Van Cliburn’s triumph in Moscow in 1958. Russia. Offstage he is in high demand for special recording projects by contemporary composers, and he appears on numerous soundtracks for film and television.
Roger Wilke is a Southern California native, and has been the beloved concertmaster and frequent soloist with the Long Beach Symphony for over 27 years. At age 21, he joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, later serving as concertmaster, and has served as guest concertmaster with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Real Filharmonia De Galicia, Spain. Mr. Wilkie’s career extends to the Hollywood Studios where he has participated in the soundtracks of over 1000 films as well as television recordings including serving as concertmaster for many of John Williams’ film scores. A sought-after chamber musician, he was founding member of the Angeles String Quartet, and recitalist and chamber musician over a ten year period with the Santa Barbara- based Camerata Pacifica. He has appeared at many chamber music festivals throughout the United States, and is presently a member of the Pacific Trio, which has made several tours of Europe and participated in the Silver Lire International Festival of Chamber Music in St. Petersburg.
Supporting the South Pasadena Library
This concert series is organized by the Restoration Concerts Committee, part of the non-profit Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library.
All net proceeds from the event are dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the library and its Community Room. “Our goal is to bring world-class music at an affordable price to our local community,” stated the committee.
