Faith Lutheran Church Presents
“A Musical European River Cruise”
With Joseph Holt, Daniel Jordan and Christopher Schnell
February 16, 4 p.m. § Faith Lutheran Church
This concert will feature works by Brahms, Schubert, Schumann and Strauss against a backdrop of the Rhine and Danube river valleys. A travelogue and post-concert reception with European fare round up the program.
(Sarasota, FL) Faith Lutheran Church’s season of “Musical Journeys” continues with “A Musical European River Cruise,” on February 16, 2014, at 4 p.m., with Daniel Jordan on violin, Christopher Schnell on cello, and Joseph Holt on piano. With the Rhine and Danube river regions as a visual and inspirational backdrop, the event also features an integrated travelogue and multimedia presentation by Dr. Randell Johnson of Randell’s Travels and a post-concert reception with inspired foods from the regions explored, including croissant sandwiches, pâtés, and tortes. The event is at Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Road, in Sarasota. Tickets are $20 and available at 941-924-4664 or online at www.faithsarasota.com.
The program will featureBrahms’ “Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78, for violin and piano”; Schubert’s “Notturno in E-flat major, Op. 148”; Schumann’s “Five Pieces in Folk Style, Op. 102”; and the “Blue Danube Waltz,” by Strauss.
“For many people, traveling to far-flung places is not easily accessible,” said Randall Johnson of Randall’s Travels. “Joe Holt came to us with the idea that we could create a series that would combine the music, images, travelogue and foods of various regions. I was delighted to participate.”
Daniel Jordan has been the concertmaster of the Sarasota Orchestra and a member of the Sarasota String Quartet since 1998. He has also been the assistant principal second violinist of the Santa Fe Opera orchestra since 2005. Jordan has served as concertmaster for the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra and CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, and played as a substitute with the St. Louis Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and the Florida Orchestra. He also served on the faculty of the Sarasota Music Festival. Prior to joining the Sarasota Orchestra, he was a member of the New World Symphony. Jordan’s violin is a Giovanni Battista Rogeri from the “Hawley” collection made in 1697.
Jordan is joined in this concert by fellow Sarasota Orchestra performer Christopher Schnell. Schnell has been assistant principal cello of the Sarasota Orchestra and cellist with the Sarasota Piano Quartet since 1995. He has also been a member of the Santa Fe Opera orchestra since 1995. Schnell grew up in New Jersey and received early training with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. He is a frequent participant in prestigious music festivals, including at Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Grand Teton Music Festival, and the National Orchestral Institute. Schnell received his bachelor’s of music degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and was a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.
Joseph Holt enjoys a wide-ranging career as conductor, pianist, chamber music performer, arts administrator, educator and arranger. In addition to serving as director of music at Faith Lutheran Church, he is also the artistic director for Gloria Musicae, Sarasota’s professional choral ensemble. With the Sarasota Orchestra, Holt has prepared choruses for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a salute to the Boston Pops, and a commemorative program for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. He has appeared as pianist and conductor for the Artist Series Concerts and the Sarasota Orchestra. With June LeBell, he is a co-host for the “Musical Mondays” series of the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning and also sits on the board of the Sarasota Music Archive. Holt served more than 20 years as principal pianist with the U.S. Army Chorus in Washington, DC, performing for United States presidents, military officials, and dignitaries from around the world.
The “Musical Journeys” season continues on March 30 when celebrated castanet concert artist Carmen de Vicente and pianist Joseph Holt spice it up with a “Musical March down the Iberian Peninsula.”
For more information about this series or to purchase tickets, visit www.faithsarasota.com.
