Famed concert pianist Mimi Blais from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, performs romantic ragtime, waltzes, and other delights for Valentine’s Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at 1100 Middle Ave (corner Arbor) in Menlo Park. Proceeds will support the FBC California Fire Victims’ Fund. Tickets are $25 at the door, $20 for seniors, and free for youth 16 and under. Queries to 650-323-8544 or cjmaslin@juno.com. Map at: Web Link.

Mimi Blais has earned several nicknames during her career – the female Victor Borge, the Celine Dion of the keyboard, the French Canadian Liberacette – and the one she most proudly wears: “The New Queen of Ragtime,” a title earned in 1990 during her debut at the International Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, MO. With degrees in classical piano and performing arts, Mimi is one of the most highly trained and gifted pianists on the U.S. and international circuits, particularly noted for the humor, history, and no telling what persona she adds to her energetic and highly entertaining presentations.

A prolific recording artist, Mimi also composes and has created two one-women productions: Once Upon a Time – Ragtime, showing ragtime’s influence in the evolution of the American culture, and An Afternoon with Jean-Baptiste Lafrenière, Canada’s “national Strauss” and the first to compose and perform ragtime in Montreal.

This will be Mimi's 12th year of touring California during the Valentine's season. She added Menlo Park to her tour in 2003 and by popular demand has been invited back every year since then.