by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
A South Indian and Judeo-Spanish music concert, “Song of Wonder,” will be performed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery.
Vocalists and string musicians Nirmala Rajasekar and David Jordan Harris designed the concert. Percussionists Thanjavur Muruga Boopathi and Mick LaBriola, stringed musical instrument player David Burk and vocalist Shruthi Rajasekar will also perform.
The concert will feature excerpts from a piece of notated Jewish music, improvisational performances by Nirmala Rajasekar, Judeo-Spanish and Hebrew chants from Bosnia, Morocco and Turkey Jewish communities, as well as new arrangements.
Rajaseker is the artistic director of the Naadha Rasa Center of Music In Plymouth, Minn. and teaches South India’s music. At age 13, she debuted as a solo performer on the seven-stringed veena in Bangalore, India. She has performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the United Nations’ Symphony Space and more.
Harris is co-founder and artistic director of Voices of Sepharad, based in the Twin Cities. He has studied and performed Judeo-Spanish music in countries throughout North America. He is a singer, actor and dancer who has performed at the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Opera and more.
The free concert is sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning in collaboration with the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict.