Since they also run horseback riding from this location, Gary wanted to get some pictures of horses and saddles, etc. for future drawing material. No, he did not ride!! But he did get some good close up pictures.
Saturday I just spent around home working on our hobbies, Gary drawing in the afternoon and me with scrap booking. Sometimes we need one of those days, just to relax!!
On Sunday at church they gave us a taste of Sam Rotman, a world re-known classical music concert pianist. This was just a teaser to tell us about a concert that he was doing that afternoon at the church.
Since we did not have anything else planned, we went back for the concert. And boy were we blessed!! Sam was born in 1950 here in the United States of Jewish parents who left Europe just before WWII. He lost all of his other relatives to the Holocaust. He grew up a very dedicated Jewish student, attending Jewish Synagogue and school up through the eighth grade. He continued on as a very regimented religious Jew even into college.
However in college he had three classmates who carried their Bible with them wherever they went. Yes, they were born again Christians!! He was curious about their dedication, but then he also was dedicated both to his music and to Judaism. They did not force their beliefs on him, but did ask him if he had ever read the New Testament. No, he had not, but he did become curious. If you are curious about his reaction to what he read, go to this website and read his testimony. www.samrotman.com/testimony.htm. Very moving!!
He faithfully practiced on the piano a full ten hours every day. When he began reading the New Testament, he set aside his music to put his full focus on his reading. After accepting what he read, he struggled that he might be putting his music before God. But he came to realize that "every good thing and perfect gift comes from God" (James 1:17) so he continued with his music career. Because of his new belief, he gives his testimony at his concerts. On one of his websites you can find his schedule of concerts. The only locations listed at this time in the Midwest are in Indiana, with many other listings in TX, AZ, CA and British Columbia.
Mr. Rotman began studying piano at the age of nine and and became committed by the age of eleven to becoming the greatest pianist in the world. He continued his education at the Julliard School in New York City, receiving both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. He has since relocated here in Mesa AZ because of it's climate, after his children had graduated from high school. He gives concerts all over the world having played in 58 countries. For our audience he played music composed by Beethoven, Shubert, Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Chopin.
We followed that on Monday by Esteban's Spanish flamenco style guitar music in concert here at the resort. Born Stephen Paul in Pittsburgh PA, he began playing on a guitar that his uncle bought for him at the age of eight. After college he is said to have studied under Andres Segovia of Spain. We enjoyed his concert, including the girl playing the keyboard, his daughter playing the violin and Paul McDermand on the steel drums and xylophone. Their music was greatly enjoyed by the audience here at Mesa Regal.
McDermand is from the Phoenix area and we are looking forward to seeing him in concert at the Tempe Center for the Arts in March. He was very good!! He and Esteban have played together before, but do not do so regularly.
Enjoy as we did and check in again soon to see the pictures that we took on our trip to the Grand Canyon.
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