First Sunday | Thursday, May 21st, 2020 from 9:00AM-8:00PM

Additional performances on May 24th through May 27th.

Rittenhouse Square | 210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision has been made to move the First Sunday events during the months, April-July to Philadelphia Center City in Rittenhouse Square, featuring professional musicians and artists including featured artist of the month, violinist Zhanara Makhmutova and cellist, Steve Kramer, Director of Music.

Admission is free. Bring your masks and enjoy from a safe distance!

 

For more information, contact the Director of Music, Steve Kramer at 610-710-6100.

 

The performance will include masterworks from Renaissance to contemporary, including arranged works by Michael Shingo Crawford.

Artist Biography – Zhanara Makhmutova

The Kazakh violinist, Zhanara Makhmutova, was born in 1997 in Kazakhstan. At the age of 7 she began violin studies at the Kazakh National University of Arts. Aged 8, she was invited to play solo with the Kazakh State Chamber Orchestra “Academy of soloists”. In 2017 graduated from college in the class of Raissa Mussakhadjayeva. Took master-classes from V.Tretyakov, S.Kravchenko, E.Grach. As a soloist of “Capricci” violinists ensemble, she performed in USA, France, England, Germany, India, Jordan, Italy and other countries. At the present time, she is a student of Temple University (USA) in the class of Professor Dr. Eduard Schmieder.

Artist Biography: Michael Shingo Crawford

Michael Shingo Crawford is a Philadelphia-based composer and violinist who explores narrative and extramusical ideas through sound. His work is inspired by literature, visual art, dance, and his Japanese heritage.

Michael holds a Master’s in Music Composition from Temple University, where he studied with Emiliano Pardo-Tristan, Jan Krzywicki, and Adam Vidiksis. Within these two years, he received twenty-four premieres of his works, presented by performers including the PRISM Quartet, Sound Energy Trio, and Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians. His opera scene, Maximum Capacity, produced in collaboration with writer Traci Williams, was performed by ENAensemble as part of their Serial Opera Project and received repeat performances as part of the Fringe Festival in Philadelphia. His interest in collaborations has also led him to work with choreographers in projects that brought together live musicians and dancers. He has been commissioned by the Network for New Music and OWLchestra.