October 21, 2024 

6:00 PM shorter concert – all are welcome to attend this short, child-friendly concert

7:00 PM concert for college musicians and music enthusiasts

John Bragle, tenor

Dr. John Bragle is the Senior Director of Education at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where he leads a team of teaching artists providing private lessons to more than 1,000 students and music education in schools and community centers serving more than 10,000 students who would otherwise have no access to music education.  

A passionate music educator and arts advocate with more than 20 years of teaching experience in public and private school music programs, higher education, and community-based music settings, Bragle served from 2005-2022 as the Director of Choirs and Instructor of Voice at the Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp. While at Interlochen, choirs under his direction have performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra in venues such as Lincoln Center, DAR Constitution Hall, and Detroit’s Orchestra Hall.

An active soloist in concert and recital, he has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and has a passion for the treatment of text in art song recitals.

Bragle attended Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and master’s degree in Choral Conducting. In 2021, he earned his doctoral degree in Music Education from Boston University. His research and writing has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Music in Early Childhood, and Teaching Music.

Ya-Ju Chuang, piano

A native of Taiwan, Ya-Ju Chuang is an active performer, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and music educator.

As a performer, Chuang has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships in Taiwan and the United States. She was a National Finalist at The American Prize in Piano Performance (concerto)- The Lorin Hollander Award, first prize winner at the Golden Classical Music Awards, Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, American Protégé International Competition, Concerto Competition at Michigan State University, and Tuesday Musical Association scholarship competition. She was also a top prize winner in the National Taiwan Piano Competition.

As a collaborative pianist, she has performed with many artists such as Martin Chalifour, Elaine Douvas, Leelanee Sterrett, Bing Wang, Yevgeny Kutik, Scott Dixon, Patrick Williams, Richard Sherman, Jane Bunnell, Marc Embree, and Robert Spring.

Chuang’s performances have been featured on Traverse Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Series, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday Series, Alluvion Concert Series, Absolute Music Chamber Series, WKAR Public Media, and Interlochen Public Radio. As a pedagogue, Chuang presented in the MMTA State Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Chapter Piano Pedagogy Symposium, and MTNA Conference. 

Chuang received her D.M.A. in Piano Performance and M.M. in Piano Pedagogy from Michigan State University, M.M. in Piano Performance from Kent State University, and B.M. in Piano Performance from University of Taipei. Her primary teachers include Panayis Lyras, Derek Polischuk, Jerry Wong, Lin-Ju Ou, Juanelva Rose, and Ming-Jen Chuang. Chuang is a Collaborative Pianist at Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp.

October 23, 2023 

6:00 PM concert for families with young children

7:00 PM concert for college musicians and music enthusiasts

Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo

“A piano duo that can charm even the most versed music lovers” (Gazeta Krakowska, Poland), the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo is comprised of pianists Stanislava Varshavski and Diana Shapiro, who began playing together in 1998. Since then, they have gone on to capture the top prizes at numerous competitions. Both Ms. Varshavski and Ms. Shapiro hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where they studied with a legendary Israeli duo Alexander Tamir–Bracha Eden. They continued their education under renowned American pianist Victor Rosenbaum, and in 2011 both pianists completed Doctoral degree studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

April 4, 2022

A potpourri concert! Featuring Italian Arias, German Lieder, Spanish Canciones, and modern American works.

Laura Basse, soprano

The Washington Post has celebrated Laura’s voice as “fresh and agile” while “powerfully” portraying Micaëla in Carmen; and in a production of Don Giovanni wrote “she lit up the stage” as Donna Elvira. Her career has taken her to cities across the globe: Paris, London, Rome, Vienna, Moscow, Prague, New York City, and more. Locally, she has sung in Milwaukee with both Florentine Opera and Skylight Opera Theatre. Basse has had the privilege of working with famed opera veterans throughout her operatic study and career —
including Sherrill Milnes, Evelyn Lear, Carol Vaness, Sylvia McNair, Timothy Noble, and François Loup. She has also worked with Ubaldo Fabbri, a coach that trained Pavarotti himself. Laura holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, both in Vocal Performance. She is also a graduate of Maranatha Baptist Academy and grew up in Watertown. She now resides in Helenville, Wisconsin with her husband, Ryan.

Janna Ernst, piano

Janna Ernst has worked continuously as a vocal coach and répétiteur for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Principal Coach and Pianist for the Florentine Opera. She has served as Music Director at Skylight Opera Theater and has also played for New Orleans Opera, Virginia Opera, and Cincinnati Opera. A dedicated educator, Janna has held teaching, coaching and accompanying positions at Southern Methodist University, the University of Oklahoma and, most recently, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She and her husband, Matthew–Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra–perform and tour extensively as a duo, giving performances and masterclasses throughout the country. Janna has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from San Diego State University, a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Vocal Specialist degree from the University of Michigan where she studied with renowned
collaborative pianist and teacher, Martin Katz. Janna and Matthew reside in Shorewood, Wisconsin with their two daughters, Madeleine and Margaret.

November 1, 2021

Prometheus Trio

ABOUT THE GROUP

The Prometheus Trio has been the resident chamber ensemble at Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Conservatory since its founding in 2000 by Stefanie, Scott, and violinist Samantha George. Margot Schwartz became the Trio’s violinist in 2017. Each season (pandemic-limited seasons excepted), the Trio performs 4 sets of programs in the Conservatory’s jewel-box sized recital hall, as well as giving performances throughout the Midwest.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

MARGOT SCHWARTZ is a member of the First Violin section in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and violinist in Milwaukee’s esteemed Prometheus Trio. A native of Oakland, California, she has appeared as soloist with the Milwaukee, Berkeley, and Oakland East Bay Symphony Orchestras.

Now the Milwaukee Symphony’s Associate Principal Emeritus (but a continuing proud member of the Orchestra) SCOTT TISDEL served as associate principal cellist of the MSO and principal cellist of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra from his 1987 arrival in Milwaukee until recently. He has appeared as soloist with both ensembles, as well as with the Waukesha and Manitowoc Symphonies and the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra. Prior to his arrival in Milwaukee, Mr. Tisdel served as principal cello of the Florida Orchestra in Tampa and was a member of both the Oakland and San Jose Symphony orchestras in California.

April 5, 2021

414 String Quartet

The 414 String Quartet last came to Maranatha in September 2019. They held the audience captive with amazing performances of Beethoven and Schubert. In particular, Peter Holloway, a senior music major, was blown away by the chemistry of the quartet. “It was a pleasure to watch the conversation they carried on with each other through the music,” he said. “I was inspired by both the hard work they obviously put into preparing the recital repertoire and by the passion with which they performed.” Caelyn Meier, a freshman music major, agreed, saying, “The enthusiasm of the players made it so much fun to watch.”

For their next concert, the 414 String Quartet is excited to play Hugo Wolf’s Italian Serenade and Beethoven’s String Quartet, Op. 18, No. 1 in addition to other chamber works. 

More about this group: The Milwaukee-based 414 Quartet strives to raise awareness of classical music through performance, education, and community outreach. Formed in 2017, the quartet comprises Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra violinists Alex Ayers and Paul Hauer, violist Alejandro Duque, and cellist Peter Thomas. Deeply committed to education and outreach, the quartet’s individual musicians have decades of experience as teachers, coaches, and music advocates. They have worked with students at public and private schools across the Midwest by giving masterclasses, conducting school orchestras, and coaching student ensembles. The quartet aims to attract new audiences by performing a wide range of repertoire in non-traditional venues often collaborating with guest artists. Whether an avid classical music lover or a first time listener, you won’t want to miss the experience of hearing this accessible and innovative performance by the 414 Quartet.