Rancho Mirage Library Announces Trio Of Events

RANCHO MIRAGE – A piano concert, photographic exhibit and documentary screening will be held at the Rancho Mirage Public Library later this month.

Classical pianist James Giles will perform at the library at 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Giles is on the faculty of Northwestern University and teaches and performs nationwide, said library spokeswoman Susan Cook.

Jim Bell, a lead scientist on the Mars Exploratory Rover Team, will give a photographic presentation at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.

Bell, a professor of astronomy at Cornell University who developed the Pancam color imaging system on the rovers, recently published a book, “Postcards from Mars,” of photos the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, sent to Earth.

He will describe the mission and the importance of its findings in addition to showing the rovers’ photography, Cook said.

Musical Lighting, a documentary about the 2009 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, will be screened at 7 p.m. Jan. 21.

Rancho Mirage resident Joel Hochberg directed the film, which follows three young finalists as they compete in one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the country, Cook said.

All of the events are free to the public and will be held in the community room of the library at 71-100 Highway 111.

For more information, call the library at (760) 341-7323 or visit www.ranchomiragelibrary.org.