Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I pray you are safe and well. We have been so blessed to connect with many of you via zoom at our Happy Hour/ Bible Study on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as our Sunday worship. Deacon Bonnie, Canon Jorge and I continue to make pastoral phone calls and appreciate the opportunities to connect with you during these times.

As part of our ongoing efforts of engaging the arts, our Ensemble-in-Residence, Cuatro Puntos, is hosting Cross- Atlantic Quarantine Sessions from April-June 29th. Sessions are being live streamed via our Facebook page and group. You may also register via zoom in order to interact with the artists. Please see details below.

I am delighted to serve as the moderator for the May 4th session.

We are honored to serve as co-host for this life-giving initiative during these times of isolation. Please stay safe and enjoy superb music!

Blessings,

Lina

The Very Reverend Miguelina Howell

Cathedral Dean

Ameen Mokdad

April 27
AMEEN MOKDAD
Broadcast from Iraq
Ameen returns to talk about his life, answer your questions and play music. He'll also unveil a music video, "THE CURVE", which has been recorded in quarantine from the homes of Ameen Mokdad and Cuatro Puntos Ensemble musicians Aaron Packard, Annie Trépanier, Kevin Bishop, Steve Larson, and Allan Ballinger.  This presentation is moderated by Kevin Bishop. Those who register are able, if desired, to chat and ask questions directly with Ameen Mokdad.

Register for Zoom
Camilo Juaregui

May 4
CAMILO JUAREGUI from Colombia and ALEJANDO PINZON from Mexico
Broadcast from Pittsburgh
Camilo Jauregui is a percussionist and composer from Bogotá, Colombia, recently moving to Pittsburgh to teach at Waynesburg University. He has lived in Sri Lanka as a teacher for "Music Project", and has lived in Kabul as percussion instructor at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. He will be joined by Alejando Pinzon, an accomplished bandoneón player. Together these two formed a chamber orchestra in Pittsburgh called Camerata 33, and will be guest artists with Cuatro Puntos in October 2020. During this 5/4 virtual event you'll hear live music on the bandoneón, chat with Camilo and Alejandro, and hear a new composition by Camilo that was written and performed by Camilo and Cuatro Puntos Ensemble during the 2020 quarantine. This event will be moderated by Miguelina Howell, dean of Hartford's Christ Church Cathedral. During this event participants can participate in English or Spanish.

Register for Zoom
E  Spiers

May 11
ELINOR SPEIRS
Broadcast from South Africa
There is something amazing that happens when cultures converge. There is surprise and enchantment, chaos and dispute, but in the end, there is always something new. That is where violinist Elinor Speirs likes to set up residence - at the cusp of the conversation.  The progeny of a viking and a celt, raised at the southern tip of Africa with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, it was almost inevitable that Elinor would flee the constraints of the orchestra and join the fire and dance of improvised music. Versatility and flair for style have ensured her place in musical genres across the board. During this 5/11 event Elinor will join you live from Cape Town, South Africa. You'll be able to sit back and listen, as well as interact when you wish.

Register with Zoom
Ameen Mokdad

May 18
AMEEN MOKDAD
Broadcast from Iraq
Ameen returns to talk about his life, answer your questions, and play music. He'll also unveil a music video, "YOSUR", which has been recorded in quarantine from the homes of Ameen Mokdad and Cuatro Puntos Ensemble musicians Aaron Packard, Annie Trépanier, Kevin Bishop, Steve Larson, and Allan Ballinger. This presentation is hosted by Kevin Bishop. Those who register are able, if desired, to chat and ask questions directly with Ameen Mokdad.

Register for Zoom
Poyraz

May 25
MUCAHIT POYRAZ
Broadcast from Turkey
Mücahit Poyraz is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Mardin, Turkey. Mücahit will perform traditional Kurdish music. During this session you will be able to listen to the live music, chat with Mücahit, and see a quarantine video project Mücahit has prepared with Cuatro Puntos Ensemble. This event will be in English and Turkish.   

 Mücahit Poyraz, mardin'den bir müzisyen ve çok enstrumantalisttir. Mücahit geleneksel Kürt müziği icra edecek. Bu oturumda Mücahit ile canlı müzik dinleyebilecek, sohbet edilecek. Mücahit'in Cuatro Puntos Ensemble ile hazırladığı karantina video projesini görebileceksiniz.  

Register For Zoom
Karimi

June 1
SAMIR KARIMI
Broadcast from Afghanistan
Samir Karimi is a violinist from Kabul, Afghanistan. He was trained at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. During this session you will have the opportunity to chat with Samir about life as a musician in today's Afghanistan. You will hear his music, and you will hear a quarantine project that Samir and musicians of Cuatro Puntos Ensemble have been working on from their homes.   This event will be moderated by Kevin Bishop and translated by Zarifa Adiba. Guests can interact in English and Persian (Dari/Farsi).  

Register For Zoom
Poyraz

June 8
MUCAHIT POYRAZ
Broadcast from Turkey
Mücahit Poyraz is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Mardin, Turkey. Mücahit will perform traditional Kurdish music. During this session you will be able to listen to the live music, chat with Mücahit, and see a quarantine video project Mücahit has prepared with Cuatro Puntos Ensemble. This event will be in English and Turkish.   

 Mücahit Poyraz, mardin'den bir müzisyen ve çok enstrumantalisttir. Mücahit geleneksel Kürt müziği icra edecek. Bu oturumda Mücahit ile canlı müzik dinleyebilecek, sohbet edilecek. Mücahit'in Cuatro Puntos Ensemble ile hazırladığı karantina video projesini görebileceksiniz.  
 
Register For Zoom
Poyraz

June 15
MUCAHIT POYRAZ
Broadcast from Turkey
Mücahit Poyraz is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Mardin, Turkey. Mücahit will perform traditional Kurdish music. During this session you will be able to listen to the live music, chat with Mücahit, and see a quarantine video project Mücahit has prepared with Cuatro Puntos Ensemble. This event will be in English and Turkish.   

 Mücahit Poyraz, mardin'den bir müzisyen ve çok enstrumantalisttir. Mücahit geleneksel Kürt müziği icra edecek. Bu oturumda Mücahit ile canlı müzik dinleyebilecek, sohbet edilecek. Mücahit'in Cuatro Puntos Ensemble ile hazırladığı karantina video projesini görebileceksiniz.  

Register For Zoom
Adiba

June 22
ZARIFA ADIBA
Broadcast from Kyrgyzstan
Zarifa Adiba is an Afghan activist, musician, composer, and violist. While receiving her high school training at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul she became a distinguished Yale Global Scholar, coming to Connecticut to study at Yale for a summer. She is currently studying at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She made her debut on the international stage when she conducted the first all-female orchestra of Afghanistan at the closing ceremony of the World Economic Forum in 2017. Now majoring in other subjects as she prepares herself for leading roles in activism and peace-building on an international scale, Zarifa still makes music regularly. This powerful conversation will include a musical interlude – a new song Zarifa has written during quarantine, which will be performed with musicians from Cuatro Puntos Ensemble. This session will be moderated by Kevin Bishop, who, between 2015 and 2018, had the opportunity to be Zarifa's first viola teacher and her conducting tutor during her European debut. Bring your questions and warm greetings as we get to know Zarifa – a young woman who has already shown tremendous leadership through unimaginable circumstances at a young age, and will surely be one of the great peace-builders and activists of tomorrow.  

Register for Zoom
India

June 29
 PANDIT ABHISHEK ADHIKARY
DR. MURCHANA ADHIKARY BARTHAKUR
Broadcast from India
In the field of Hindustani Music, Sitar Jugalbandi (Sitar Duet) by Pandit Abhishek Adhikary and Dr. Murchana Adhikary Barthakur have earned great eminence and popularity through their melodious performances. They have performed their Jugalbandi in various leading music festivals in India and abroad receiving huge applause. The understanding and the dialogues between the two Sitars create amazing effects on the Rasikas. Presently the Jugalbandi couple is devoted in the development and promotion of Indian classical music not only through performances on stage but also working as Sitar and Sarod Faculty at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, spreading Hindustani Raga Music among the Afghan young girls and boys and trying to bring peace and harmony through music. This session will be a live-streamed concert from this couple's home in Kolkata. You can sit back and listen, or chat and ask questions.  

Register for Zoom