At 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, St. Mary’s Catholic Church at the corner of Birch and 7th streets in Rifle will host a community concert, featuring several local pianists. Proceeds will benefit YouthZone, a local nonprofit offering services to Garfield County youth and their families.

The friendly folks at Bekins Intermountain Transfer and Storage in Silt has generously donated the use of a Yamaha grand piano for the event. St. Mary’s Church in Rifle is offering its gathering and performing space for this event, the first of a series of community concerts at St. Mary’s.

The performers are Joseph Piker, Stephen Piker, Stuart Stapleton and Linda Jenks Colby. They have contributed thousands of hours of combined practice and rehearsal time to make this concert a reality.

Joseph Piker is the son of Eddie and Denise Piker. Joseph auditioned for and won a scholarship to study at the Aspen Music Festival last summer. He will be performing works by Chopin, Mendelssohn, and Rachmaninoff.

Stephen Piker is Joseph’s younger brother. He has been a devotee of Scott Joplin since he began studying the piano. Concertgoers will appreciate Stephen’s rendition of The Maple Leaf Rag.

Stuart Stapleton is the son of Howard and Margo Stapleton of Peach Valley. He has performed and won first place in the local Kiwanis’ Stars of Tomorrow.

Linda Jenks Colby is a distinctive and popular member of the New Castle musical community. She graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University School of Music, receiving her doctorate in piano performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she taught for many years. Colby is former Managing Director of the Las Vegas Symphony and former member of American Mensa, has conducted critical thinking workshops at All Aerospace in Boulder, and currently maintains a private piano studio in New Castle. She has given several local performances including musical theory. Her selections will include George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

These concert performers represent both the public school system and the home school community. Both young and experienced musicians are happy to share their talents and help YouthZone continue to offer its services.

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The next time you travel on 7th Street, make it a point to appreciate the bridge to Riverside Middle School. Nice job!