Secretary Rice Takes Concert Spotlight

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise appearance at Washington's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where she took to the center stage concert piano and accompanied a young soloist.

The rare and unpublicized appearance Saturday featured Ms. Rice playing six selections for 21-year old Charity Sunshine, who suffers from an often fatal disease. The concert was a benefit for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and was hosted by the singer's grandfather, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos of California.

Ms. Rice, who is a classical pianist and started playing the instrument at the age of three, played selections from Verdi, Mozart and Jerome Kern.

Among the audience at Ms. Rice's impromptu appearance were U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, eight ambassadors to the United States, and several U.S. officials.

Some information for this report provided by AP.