Idaho State-Civic Symphony Feb. 15 concert features music from ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ guest pianist Lori Sims, pre-concert dinner

The Idaho State-Civic Symphony Valentine's concert Feb. 15 features a pre-concert dinner, selections from Prokofiev's ballet score "Romeo and Juliet" and guest pianist Lori Sims joining the symphony on Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3."

The concert will at 7:30 p.m. in Idaho State University Stephens Performing Art Center in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall.

The pre-concert dinner is at 5:30 p.m. in the Stephens Performing Arts Center Marshall Rotunda.  Dinner and symphony tickets must be purchased separately and these are independent events.

Featuring a no-host beverage bar, the dinner offers participants sneak previews of raffle prizes that will be awarded at the symphony's March fundraiser and pop's concert.

The dinner features piano music by Derek Schaible. The dinner buffet will begin at 6 p.m. The menu will feature carved roast beef, salmon with thyme and orange sauce, tossed green salad, roasted red potatoes green beans Amandine, and chocolate decadence, a flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis.

Dinner tickets, at $40 per person, must be purchased in advance by Feb. 9.For dinner tickets, reservations and additional information, contact Rayna Valentine at 208-233-7081.

Guest artist Sims received the Gold Medal at the 1998 Gina Bachauer International Pinal Competition, where she also won the prize for the best performance of a work by Brahms. Her other awards include first prize co-winner of the 1994 Felix Bartholdy-Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin Germany, winner of the 1993 American Pianists’ Association Competition with outstanding distinction from the jury, and the silver medal winner in the 1987 Kosciuszcko Foundation Chopin Competition.

Symphony ticket prices are $32 for adults, $17 for students in elementary school through high school, and $12 for third-tier balcony seats. A limited number of free tickets are available for ISU students with valid Bengal cards. Last-minute "rush" tickets for unsold seats are available for $17 each beginning at 7 p.m. on the night of the concert.

Symphony tickets are available at the Performing Arts Center Box Office in person or by phone at 208-282-3595 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Vickers Western Wear stores in Pocatello and Idaho Falls, or they can be ordered online at www.isu.edu/stephens. More information on the Idaho State-Civic Symphony is available at http://www.thesymphony.us/.

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