Abstract
A Concert and Conversation with Amy Grinsteiner (piano), Thomas Schönberg (cello), and David Jordan Harris (moderator)
Music can be a potent meeting place between religious cultures, both as a fertile crossroad for the musicians and as an instructive and emotionally compelling bridge for audiences to experience another culture. Echoes of the Divine features pianist Amy Grinsteiner, cellist Thomas Schönberg, and moderator David Jordan Harris in a concert of music and conversation. Among the composers whose work will be performed are Paul Ben-Haim, Ernest Bloch, Max Bruch, Nikolai Kapustin, Isabella Leonarda, Felix, and Arvo Pärt.
Amy Grinsteiner is associate professor of music at CSB/SJU, teaching piano, music through history, and rock and roll music. She also serves as the faculty program coordinator at the Seattle Piano Institute, a summer program for aspiring young classical pianists at the University of Washington, Seattle. She earned a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington. As a recipient of both the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Award and the P.E.O. National Scholar Award, she has traveled extensively, building appreciation for the arts. Dr. Grinsteiner was the recipient of CSB’s Sister Mary Grell Teacher of Distinction Award in 2017 and she currently chairs the CSB/SJU music department.
Thomas Schönberg, earned a Master of Music degree from San Diego State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford where he was principal cellist for two school orchestras. He also served as principal cellist for the Johns Hopkins Symphony Orchestra and as assistant principal for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and has given numerous solo performances and cello/piano recitals throughout the world. Together he and guitarist Chris Kachian form The Arpeggione Duo and have performed hundreds of concerts and recorded five albums. Dr. Schönberg has been dean of three schools of music in Sweden and is currently a resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute where he is working on “The Bach Book Project."
David Jordan Harris, a graduate of the University of Chicago, is artistic director and co-founder of the Twin Cities-based performance ensemble Voices of Sepharad. Integrating his skills as a singer, actor, and dancer, he has appeared as guest artist with many ensembles, including Zorongo Flamenco, Katha Dance Theatre, Corning Dances and Company, Illusion Theater, North Star Opera, Rose Ensemble, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Espaῆol, and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Harris was the founding music director of Shir Tikvah Congregation where he led music for 21 years and was the founding executive director of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council
Organized and sponsored by Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at Saint John's University with funding, in part, provided by Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota, and additional support from the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and Chapel Arts Series at the University of St. Thomas