Brilliant 17 year-old pianist Gary Chan solos with the Ventura College Community Orchestra on Oct. 20, 2007 at 8 p.m. Entitled "The Pines of Rome," the first concert of the season includes excerpts from this famous tone poem by Respighi, as well as music by Schubert and Prokofieff. Ticket prices are $5 for students, staff and seniors, and $15 general admission. They are available for purchase at the door of the Ventura College Theatre on the evening of the concert.

Gary Chan is a student at Agoura High School. He has won numerous awards and contests on both coasts of the United States, including the Chopin Foundation scholarship and the Romantic/Impressionist Competition at California State University Northridge. In 2008, Gary will perform with the New West Symphony as a Discovery Artist. He excels in the martial arts, academic work and the violin as well as the piano.

Chan is playing the First Piano Concerto by the Russian virtuoso Prokofieff, who wrote the piece to exhibit his own genius as a pianist and composer. It is full of energy.

The program includes Schubert's "Symphony No. 5," which is his most popular orchestral composition. It is tuneful, lyrical and expressive. With this piece, Schubert took his place with other masters of the symphonic form.

Music from the "Firebird Suite" by Stravinsky will conclude the concert. When Stravinsky was young, he earned immediate acclaim with his fantastic musical score describing adventure and wizardry. Its sensational and poignant music remains an audience favorite to this day.

The public is invited to attend.