Andrea Bond will sing the words of 13th-Century Sufi poet, Jelaluddin Rumi, accompanied by a trio of Idyllwild's most accomplished interpretive musicians on Friday, Nov. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Walter N Marks Center for the Arts. The Marks Center is on the College of the Desert Campus in Palm Desert.

The event is presented to the local community and students of College of the Desert by the Office of Student Life, and admission is free. Themed Persian refreshments will be served.

Andrea Bond, formally trained in opera, enjoys the freedom of improvising melodies that complement Rumi's poetry. “Bringing Rumi's love poems to life in spontaneous song bridges Eastern Sufi and Western Christian sensibilities,” she says. “This gives listeners a new appreciation and understanding of Rumi's timeless emotional insight. Rumi's living example of tolerance is one our world could really use today."