COOK- A pair of musicians appearing through the Piatigorsky Foundation will bring a performance that feels more like a conversation than a recital to Cook later this month.
Violinist Alexander “Sasha” Yakub and pianist Kessa Mefford will perform Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church as part of a visit organized by the Piatigorsky Foundation, a nonprofit that connects professional musicians with smaller and rural communities.
The one-hour program is expected to feature a mix of classical works selected to highlight both technical skill and musical storytelling, a hallmark of the foundation’s concerts. Performances in the series typically blend music with informal commentary from the artists, giving audiences insight into what they’re hearing.
Mefford, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, brings a wide-ranging repertoire that includes a significant body of work by Maurice Ravel, known for music rich in color and texture. Yakub, a violinist trained at the Mannes School of Music in New York, has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as part of a featured conservatory concert.
Unlike performances in major concert halls, the Cook event will be held in an intimate setting, allowing audience members to sit close to the performers and experience the music up close. Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet the musicians following the concert.
The Piatigorsky Foundation has presented concerts in communities across the country since 1990, with a focus on reaching audiences that may have limited access to live classical music.
The event is sponsored locally by Northwoods Friends of the Arts. In addition to the public performance, the Cook Lions Club will sponsor a separate one-hour concert at North Woods School.
Free-will donations will be accepted at the evening performance.
Listeners interested in learning more about the performers can explore their work in advance at kessamefford.com and sasha.yakubmusic.com.
For more information, call 218-780-6510 or email nwfamn.org@gmail.com