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Music On Mondays
Music on Mondays
MBU is hosting a series of Monday concerts to benefit the community by bringing classical music to Watertown.
These Monday concerts will be held at Maranatha Baptist University, Old Main, Burckart Hall.
2023-2024 CONCERTS
- Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo
- Monday, October 23, 2023, 6:00 PM for families with younger children
- Monday, October 23, 2023, 7:00 PM for general public
- RSVP button below
- Watertown First Brigade Band
- Monday, February 26, 2024, 6:00 PM for families with younger children
- Monday, February 26, 2024, 7:00 PM for general public
- RSVP button below
COST
- Suggested donation: $10
- Sponsorship opportunities: Benefits of sponsoring include:
- Listing in printed materials featuring Music on Mondays
- Social Media and Email listing on invitations and event pages
October 23, 2023
6:00 PM concert for families with young children
7:00 PM concert for college musicians and music enthusiasts
Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo
“A piano duo that can charm even the most versed music lovers” (Gazeta Krakowska, Poland), the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo is comprised of pianists Stanislava Varshavski and Diana Shapiro, who began playing together in 1998. Since then, they have gone on to capture the top prizes at numerous competitions. Both Ms. Varshavski and Ms. Shapiro hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where they studied with a legendary Israeli duo Alexander Tamir–Bracha Eden. They continued their education under renowned American pianist Victor Rosenbaum, and in 2011 both pianists completed Doctoral degree studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Monday, February 26, 2024
6:00 PM concert geared for families with young children
7:00 PM concert for college musicians and music enthusiasts
In 1864 eighteen men from the Brodhead Brass Band enlisted in the Union Army as the band of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps. They left their rural Wisconsin homes to participate, under the command of General William T. Sherman, in the campaigns of Northern Georgia and the Carolina’s. The “Tradition of Excellence” that these men established, more than 130 years ago lives on today with the members of the 1st Brigade Band.
The band MAKES HISTORY LIVE by presenting period brass band music, performed on antique instruments. Attired in uniforms and gowns, the Band’s musicians, color guard, and costumed ladies take you back to the 1860’s; to that turbulent era known as the Civil War. A nostalgic portrayal of the atmosphere of days gone by is generated by a unique form of showmanship that blends the sights and sounds of the period with historical anecdotes.
More than eighty volunteers, men and women, make up the 1st Brigade Band. Widely varied in age and occupation, they come from many communities, bringing with them a common interest in their musical heritage. During a typical year, they will meet their audience more than forty times, in concerts, parades, military balls, and worship services, presenting their educational and entertaining programs. While the abundant written and pictorial materials remain, the mellow sounds of the brass bands of the 1860’s were lost until the 1st Brigade Band, starting in 1964, began to locate and restore the dented and broken instruments and to retrieve and reconstruct the yellowed and torn music. Through their work you can now hear what Presidents Lincoln and Davis, Generals Lee and Grant, and their contemporaries heard.
The 1st Brigade Band has recorded in the MAKING HISTORY LIVE series, the most complete anthology of Civil War Music ever attempted. High fidelity recordings of Union and Confederate band and vocal music are available at performances of the 1st Brigade Band, historic site gift shops, and on our website.
The 1st Brigade Band is an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society and is supported and sponsored by Heritage Military Music Foundation, Inc.; a non-profit, educational, historical, and patriotic organization. In 2009, HMMF was awarded the Rueben Gold Thwaites Trophy for Local History; demonstrating the excellence of its achievements in both collecting and preserving history and sharing that history with the public.
Previous Concerts
Monday, September 19, 2022
6:00 PM concert geared for families with young children
7:00 PM concert for college musicians and music enthusiasts
The Fulton Chamber Players is a classical music ensemble uniting world-class artists to present exceptional programs. Our members are passionate about bringing the highest quality performances to audiences as well as inspiring the next generation of musicians. The Fulton Chamber Players operates under the aegis of the Fulton Music Society, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming what a musical education means in the 21st century by nurturing thoughtful, well-rounded students through dedicated music study. They are working to connect the dots between student life and the professional world by emphasizing skills and experiences that translate beyond their instruments. Through Fulton’s programs, young musicians will be ready to lead their generation in any field they chose.
Learn more about Fulton at www.FultonMusicSociety.org
For individual musician bios, visit www.FultonMusicSociety,org/fsmafaculty
@fultonmusicsociety
April 4, 2022
A potpourri concert! Featuring Italian Arias, German Lieder, Spanish Canciones, and modern American works.
Laura Basse, soprano
The Washington Post has celebrated Laura’s voice as “fresh and agile” while “powerfully” portraying Micaëla in Carmen; and in a production of Don Giovanni wrote “she lit up the stage” as Donna Elvira. Her career has taken her to cities across the globe: Paris, London, Rome, Vienna, Moscow, Prague, New York City, and more. Locally, she has sung in Milwaukee with both Florentine Opera and Skylight Opera Theatre. Basse has had the privilege of working with famed opera veterans throughout her operatic study and career —
including Sherrill Milnes, Evelyn Lear, Carol Vaness, Sylvia McNair, Timothy Noble, and François Loup. She has also worked with Ubaldo Fabbri, a coach that trained Pavarotti himself. Laura holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, both in Vocal Performance. She is also a graduate of Maranatha Baptist Academy and grew up in Watertown. She now resides in Helenville, Wisconsin with her husband, Ryan.
Janna Ernst, piano
Janna Ernst has worked continuously as a vocal coach and répétiteur for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Principal Coach and Pianist for the Florentine Opera. She has served as Music Director at Skylight Opera Theater and has also played for New Orleans Opera, Virginia Opera, and Cincinnati Opera. A dedicated educator, Janna has held teaching, coaching and accompanying positions at Southern Methodist University, the University of Oklahoma and, most recently, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She and her husband, Matthew–Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra–perform and tour extensively as a duo, giving performances and masterclasses throughout the country. Janna has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from San Diego State University, a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Vocal Specialist degree from the University of Michigan where she studied with renowned
collaborative pianist and teacher, Martin Katz. Janna and Matthew reside in Shorewood, Wisconsin with their two daughters, Madeleine and Margaret.
January 31, 2022
Daniel Birnschein, trumpet
Grace Betry, piano
Mr. Birnschein performed works for trumpet and piano by Russian composers Dimitri Shostakovich and Alexander Goedicke as well as works for trumpet and additional instruments by contemporary American composers Joseph Turrin and James Stephenson.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Daniel Birnschein began taking piano lessons at age 8 and received his first trumpet for his 10th birthday. He began his professional orchestral career his sophomore year of college. Birnschein holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education as well as a Master of Music in Church Music with an emphasis in composition from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. Since graduation, he has studied trumpet performance with Kevin Hartman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and with former Canadian Brass member Ronald Romm at the University of Illinois. Birnschein is the former principal trumpet of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra (2005-2015) where he appeared as a soloist three times. He is also the former principal trumpet of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony (2008-2009). In 2009 Birnschein returned to Wisconsin to join the faculty at Maranatha Baptist University as an Assistant Professor of music. He is currently the principal trumpet of the Wisconsin Philharmonic and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and second trumpet of the Milwaukee Ballet orchestra. During his professional career Birnschein has performed with Il Divo, “Weird Al” Yankovic, The Who, and Dennis DeYoung. In June 2021, he performed a world premiere of Amy Mills concerto for trumpet and string orchestra “Journey One: Hints of the Middle East” with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He currently resides in Watertown, Wisconsin, with his wife and five boys. He maintains an active teaching studio and is a lesson provider in trumpet at MBU.
Music began as a time to bond with family. At an early age, Grace Betry started piano lessons with her dad every week in order to one day just be able to play in her church. But her time spent with her dad gave her a love of music that sparked a desire to pursue music for life.
Grace Betry received her undergrad (’20) in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance from Maranatha Baptist University under the instruction of June Brus. While at MBU, Grace was a member of the MTNA collegiate chapter and had the opportunity to teach in the Maranatha Music Prep School, where she currently still resides. Under the tutelage of Janet Tschida, Grace went on to receive her MTNA certification after graduating. During her time at MBU, she had the opportunity to travel around the United States as the pianist for the Heritage Singers and the Chamber Singers. She also had the privilege of performing with the MBU symphony as the winner of the MBU Concerto Competition (’18).
Grace discovered a love for collaborating during her undergrad studies and decided to pursue that area further. Currently, she is studying with Elena Abend at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she will receive a masters in Collaborative Piano: Instrumental (’22). Grace collaborates with many of the studios at the Peck School of the Arts and is currently the pianist for the symphony at UWM.
Throughout her career, Grace has been blessed to receive professional instruction under Martin Katz, Timothy Warren, Rita Sloan, Anne Epperson, Kathleen Kelly, Johnathan Feldman, June Brus, Roy Imperio, Svetlana Belsky, and Stanislava Varshavski.
Besides her degrees in piano, she also minored in TESOL and went on to receive her CELTA certification which has opened doors for her to teach English around the United States and also in Indonesia.
November 1, 2021
Prometheus Trio
ABOUT THE GROUP
The Prometheus Trio has been the resident chamber ensemble at Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Conservatory since its founding in 2000 by Stefanie, Scott, and violinist Samantha George. Margot Schwartz became the Trio’s violinist in 2017. Each season (pandemic-limited seasons excepted), the Trio performs 4 sets of programs in the Conservatory’s jewel-box sized recital hall, as well as giving performances throughout the Midwest.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
MARGOT SCHWARTZ is a member of the First Violin section in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and violinist in Milwaukee’s esteemed Prometheus Trio. A native of Oakland, California, she has appeared as soloist with the Milwaukee, Berkeley, and Oakland East Bay Symphony Orchestras.
Now the Milwaukee Symphony’s Associate Principal Emeritus (but a continuing proud member of the Orchestra) SCOTT TISDEL served as associate principal cellist of the MSO and principal cellist of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra from his 1987 arrival in Milwaukee until recently. He has appeared as soloist with both ensembles, as well as with the Waukesha and Manitowoc Symphonies and the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra. Prior to his arrival in Milwaukee, Mr. Tisdel served as principal cello of the Florida Orchestra in Tampa and was a member of both the Oakland and San Jose Symphony orchestras in California.
STEFANIE JACOB made her solo piano debut with the Boston Pops at age 17 and her Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1984. An avid chamber musician, she was twice awarded Secondsprize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and received Indiana University’s Leo Weiner Prize for Chamber Music. Ms. Jacob has soloed with both the Milwaukee Symphony and the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Waukesha and Manitowoc Symphonies; she has recorded for the Arundax, CRI, Fleur de Son, Equilibrium, and the Wisconsin Conservatory labels.
April 5, 2021
414 String Quartet
The 414 String Quartet last came to Maranatha in September 2019. They held the audience captive with amazing performances of Beethoven and Schubert. In particular, Peter Holloway, a senior music major, was blown away by the chemistry of the quartet. “It was a pleasure to watch the conversation they carried on with each other through the music,” he said. “I was inspired by both the hard work they obviously put into preparing the recital repertoire and by the passion with which they performed.” Caelyn Meier, a freshman music major, agreed, saying, “The enthusiasm of the players made it so much fun to watch.”
For their next concert, the 414 String Quartet is excited to play Hugo Wolf’s Italian Serenade and Beethoven’s String Quartet, Op. 18, No. 1 in addition to other chamber works.
More about this group: The Milwaukee-based 414 Quartet strives to raise awareness of classical music through performance, education, and community outreach. Formed in 2017, the quartet comprises Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra violinists Alex Ayers and Paul Hauer, violist Alejandro Duque, and cellist Peter Thomas. Deeply committed to education and outreach, the quartet’s individual musicians have decades of experience as teachers, coaches, and music advocates. They have worked with students at public and private schools across the Midwest by giving masterclasses, conducting school orchestras, and coaching student ensembles. The quartet aims to attract new audiences by performing a wide range of repertoire in non-traditional venues often collaborating with guest artists. Whether an avid classical music lover or a first time listener, you won’t want to miss the experience of hearing this accessible and innovative performance by the 414 Quartet.
February 1, 2021
Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo
“A piano duo that can charm even the most versed music lovers” (Gazeta Krakowska, Poland), the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo is comprised of pianists Stanislava Varshavski and Diana Shapiro, who began playing together in 1998. Since then, they have gone on to capture the top prizes at numerous competitions. Both Ms. Varshavski and Ms. Shapiro hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where they studied with a legendary Israeli duo Alexander Tamir–Bracha Eden. They continued their education under renowned American pianist Victor Rosenbaum, and in 2011 both pianists completed Doctoral degree studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.