Rice, 53, is an accomplished pianist. At the age of 15 she performed Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor with the Denver Symphony Orchestra and until college seriously considered to pursue music professionally.
During the performance on Saturday, the top U.S. diplomat will play the first movement of Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A major, B. 155, op. 81, as well as the second movement of Brahms's Piano Quintet in B minor, op. 34, according to the festival's web site.
Rice is not the only U.S. secretary of state to pursue amateur music-making. Thomas Jefferson, the first to hold the office in 1789-1793, was an excellent violinist who played chamber music, especially Baroque trio sonatas.
The Aspen Music Festival and School, founded in 1949, is an internationally renowned classical music festival that presents world-class music in an intimate, small-town setting.
More than 350 classical music events take place in 9 weeks every summer, from June to August, including performances by five on-site orchestras, chamber music, opera, contemporary music, children's events, lectures, and discussions.
