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January 16, 2019 www.DesertMessenger.com 43 WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE? To read your Bible Daily? To read the entire Bible this year? It will take about 15 min. a day to hear what God is saying. Quartzsite Church of Christ DEADLINE : WED. JAN.30 TH for the feb 6 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com By Jackie Deal Come on Quartzsite, How about a little culture? We are Country/ Westerned and Rock and Rolled to the gills. Here's a chance to en- joy a concert pianist, have a good dinner AND help provide scholar- ships for Quartzsite young people. Something new, something differ- ent, something wonderful. And it's being sponsored by the Quartzsite Road Runners Gem and Mineral Club. The date? February 2 at 3 p.m. at the Desert Sky Theater in the QIA (Quartzsite Improvement Association). Sam Rotman has played over 3000 concerts in 61 countries. He has won more awards than we have room to mention. How can we be so fortunate to have an art- ist of his caliber come to little ole' Quartzsite? Mr. Rotman says, "I played a concert at the Quartzsite Alliance Church and Roger Nielsen asked me if I would come back and play a scholarship benefit. I said I'd be glad to." Mr. Rotman lives in Mesa and has been playing 12 concerts in California, and fortunately, we are on his way home. Over the phone, (he was in Wash- ington D.C., aren't cell phones great?) he is a good-natured, like- able person, very willing to spend time telling his story. He says he likes to introduce his classical pieces by explaining what they are about. He also said he is so focused when he plays that even crying babies don't bother him. When assured there would be no crying babies, he laughed and said, "Great, bald and no teeth but no babies." He started playing the piano at age 9 and at age 16 he won a competition playing before 6,000 people. He was one of 2,000 people competing to enter Juilliard School of Music. Of the 2000 entrants, 18 were accepted, including Mr. Rotman. He says, "I still practice seven hours a day." He's played for about 60 years and when asked if he in- tended to retire he said, "Music is not a job, it's a passion." All proceeds from the concert will go to Scholarships for Quartzsite, Brenda, Bouse, and Ehrenberg high school students. A Scholarship Committee interviews all applicants. Last year $8,000 was given in schol- arships and this year they hope to have more. The QIA matches up to $3,000 for the scholarships. A recent recipient is in her third year to become a nurse and then she wants to go on and become a Nurse Practitioner. She had a 4-point grade average in High School and she is the only member of her fami- ly to speak English. There are many deserving students whose families Music in the desert with Sam Rotman, pianist cannot afford to send them on to higher education. Scholarships are also available for trade schools. Don't miss this opportunity to en- joy great music for $10 at the door for just the concert; $15 for the con- cert and dinner. Try to beat that price anywhere! Advance Tickets are available at the QIA office or the Gem and Mineral Club. Remember: February 2 at 3 pm at the QIA. To learn more visit samrotman.com