The Michigan-based Tom Knific Quartet will present "The Great American Songbook Meets Brahms and Knific," a concert featuring a mix of original, contemporary jazz works with a chamber music vibe, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, in the sanctuary at Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey.
Members of the Tom Knific Quartet are Renata Artman Knific on violin, Bruce Uchimura on cello, Susan Wiersma Uchimura on piano, and Tom Knific on double bass. The quartet will present a selection of Brahms' "Hungarian Dances" along with Bacharach's "Say a Little Prayer," a medley of Gershwin works, Godard's "Berceuse" and more.
Renata's international career began in London when she joined the English Chamber Orchestra at the age of 21. Tours of Europe, North and South America and Asia followed. She worked closely with conductors Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle, Edo De Waart and Christoph Eschenbach and recorded dozens of records. She has taught at the Encore School for Strings, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Interlochen Arts Academy, and the Lancut Festival in Poland.
Bruce has taught at the Augusta College Center for Creative Arts, Michigan State University, and the Preparatory and Adult Education department of the Cleveland Institute of Music. He served as principal cellist of the Augusta (Georgia) Symphony and is known as the first person to be named associate conductor of that ensemble. Bruce received a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School of Music. He received a Master of Music with an Artists Diploma in Cello from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Susan has served on the piano faculties of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Augusta College in Georgia and the accompanying faculties of the Meadowmount School of Music and the Aspen Music School. She graduated as class valedictorian from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received Bachelor of Music degrees in theory and piano. Susan earned a Master of Music in pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. She has also studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts and in New York. She maintains an active private studio, and her students have won competitions throughout the Midwest. She is also a clinician and adjudicator.
Tom has performed on tour and on record with many prominent contemporary jazz and classical artists. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the Dream Band in what is known as the first live interactive concert multi-cast over the internet. As a classical artist, he has recorded with various artists. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and as principal bassist with orchestras and chamber orchestras. He has appeared at chamber music festivals throughout North America and Europe and is a founding member, bassist, and composer for the contemporary music group OPUS 21. Tom has taught at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan State University, and Cleveland Institute of Music and has presented more than 100 master classes worldwide.
The concert is part of the church's 2019-20 Arts Alive cultural series. A freewill offering will be received. Handicapped-accessible parking and an elevator are available.
The Arts Alive season will continue at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, with a Christmas concert featuring Derry Church's choirs and handbells and soloist Amy Yovanovich with orchestra, organ, and tympani.
Derry Presbyterian Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Worship services are held on Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and on Tuesdays from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, readers may call the church office at 717-533-9667 or visit http://www.derrypres.org.
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