J
ean-Samuel Bez is an outstanding young violinist with a varied international career that includes both classical and non-classical projects. In this concert, his second at St John’s, he’ll once again be performing with pianist Gina Kruger. Last time Jean-Samuel performed sonatas by two composers, one female, one male, and this year he will be doing the same, but this time opting for French rather than Scandinavian composers.
As ever the church will be open for an hour before the concert begins, with volunteers from the pop-up café team offering lots of home made sweet and savoury treats as well as hot and cold drinks.
The concert will begin promptly at 1pm. Admission is free, but those who are able to afford it are asked to make a donation. The suggested amount is £6.
Programme:
Sonata for Violin and Piano Opus 114 – Mel Bonis (1858-1937)
Violin Sonata No.1, Opus 13 – Gabriel Fauré
About Jean-Samuel Bez:
Born in Pontarlier (France), Jean Samuel attended the Royal Conservatory of Music of Brussels (Belgium) where he passed his diplomas with High Distinction and was granted the Pappaerts Prize in 2016. He then attended the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (Performing Arts) in Vienna.
Jean Samuel is a laureate of numerous prizes, scholarships and international competitions, appearing as soloist including the Ensemble Orchestral of Dijon (France), the University Orchestra of Burgundy (France), the Budweis Philharmony (Czech Republic) and the Sotiropoulos Camerata of Brussels (Belgium).
As a chamber musician, Jean-Samuel plays regularly within various groups throughout the world. During the last few years he had the opportunity to play with Jean-Claude Vanden Eyden, Hagaï Shaham, Gil Sharon, and Istvan Varga. Reflecting his interest in contemporary repertoire, in 2015 Jean Samuel was the laureate of the Young Bozar Project within the Alternative Violin Duet 2Väinö. With this duet he explores new alternative formulas to traditional concerts, mixing arts and means of expression. He also plays regularly within the Icelandic folk rock/chamber pop group Arstiđir.
About Gina Kruger:
Gina holds degrees in piano from the United States and a post-graduate diploma from the Royal College of Music, London. During her studies at the Royal College of Music, she won the Fossat Award for Chamber Music which resulted in performances for the Queen of Denmark and a residency in France. She continues to appear as a recitalist locally and internationally. Her performance in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, featuring Spanish repertoire was deemed a ‘finely turned performance’ by the Irish Times in 2010. Other international venues have included solo performances in Altdorf Switzerland and in the Vienna Conservatory. She has performed extensively in Croatia, as a soloist, and with guitarist Igor Paro.
Performance engagements in the United States have included two broadcasts of solo piano works (Messiaen, Beethoven, and Schumann) on Nebraska Public Radio, and appearances at such prestigious venues as Merkin Concert Hall and The Juilliard School.
After completing studies in musicology, the result of which was a National Endowment for the Humanities grant (through Columbia University, NY) Gina has continued to develop her interest in church music as an organist, choral director, and soprano (singing regularly with choirs for Evensong and as a soloist in church settings). Having held posts in several boarding schools, chapels, and churches in London and further afield, she is currently music Director at St Mary with All Souls Church, Kilburn. She is also on the organist rota at Notre-Dame de France, Leicester Square.
St John's CIC, Peterborough 