Abstract
A preview by Nirmala Rajasekar and David Jordan Harris of their Sacred Arts Festival concert
Musicians Nirmala Rajasekar and David Jordan Harris will explore the cultural, religious, and musical worlds behind the repertoire in their concert Song of Wonder. While giving a taste of many musical styles contained within their respective Carnatic (South Indian) and Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish) art forms, Nirmala and David will take their audience on a journey through the centuries across the landscapes of South India, Turkey, Morocco, Bosnia, and Spain.
Nirmala Rajasekar has been featured in many world-renowned venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, United Nations, Symphony Space; the Music Academy in Chennai, India; the Rumi International Festival in Konya, Turkey; and Musee Rietburg in Zurich, Switzerland. Nirmala made her debut as a solo performer on the 7-stringed veena at age 13 in Bangelore, India. Radio India has pronounced her a Grade A artist for All India Radio since 1990. Nirmala has performed in numerous collaborative settings with musicians from many backgrounds, including Western classical, Chinese, Indonesian gamelan, and jazz. She is the artistic director of the Naadha Rasa Center of Music based in Plymouth, where she teaches the art of Carnatic music.
David Jordan Harris is co-founder and artistic director of Voices of Sepharad. He has pursued study and performance of Sephardic music throughout North America, Morocco, Greece, France, Israel, Turkey, Poland, Bosnia, and Spain. Integrating his skills as a singer, actor, and dancer, David has appeared as a guest artist with Zorongo Flamenco, Corning Dances and Company, Walker Art Center, Illusion Theater, Rose Ensemble, North Star Opera, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Opera, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Español, and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. David is the interfaith arts special consultant for the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning and executive director of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council.
Co-sponsored with the Sacred Arts Festival at the University of St. Thomas