Houston,
26
April
2023
|
11:07 AM
America/Chicago

A Birthday Tribute to St. John Paul II of Polish Music and Poetry

Saint John Paul IIThe Saint John Paul II Institute will host a concert and poetry reading, “I am the son of the land of Poland,” to celebrate St. John Paul II’s 103rd birthday from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, in Cullen Hall, 4001 Mt. Vernon. This event is made possible partly by a generous grant from the Polish Consulate General in Houston and is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so please email sjpiiprograms@stthom.edu or call 713-525-2112. Seating is limited, so registration is required. A suggested donation of $20 is welcomed..

Saint John Paul II is the second-longest-reigning Pope in modern history. He had a decisive influence on the Church and the world. His many gifts include the literary and dramatic, philosophical and theological. 

A Tribute of Polish Music and Poetry

Register now to hear the passionate and classical brilliance of the musical Duo Dramatique with guest artist Kinga Skretkowicz-Ferguson  (Soprano) and Poet Sarah Cortez reading and reflecting on the poetry of St. John Paul II.

About the Artists

  • Dominika Dancewicz Dominika Dancewicz (Violin) founded the acclaimed violin and piano Duo Dramatique. Her “passionate and charismatic”performances have been described as “transporting and thought-provoking.” She has performed on the world’s most prestigious concert stages as an orchestra, ensemble, and chamber musician. She is also the founding member of Axiom Quartet, a dynamic professional string quartet known for eclectic, ambitious chamber music programs.  
  • Collaborative  Andrew SchniederAndrew Schneider (Piano) is part of the Duo Dramatique. He is also a vocal coach, composer, and conductor whose virtuosic technique and interpretative daring cemented his reputation as a fearless musician. His extensive collaborative activity encompasses early music, standard operatic and art song repertoire, and contemporary music.
  • Kinga Skretkowicz-FergusonKinga Skretkowicz-Ferguson  (Soprano) is the executive director of Ars Lyrica Houston, a Grammy-nominated early music ensemblethat has gained an international reputation for its distinctive music programming from the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • Sarah CortezSarah Cortez (Poet) is the founder and president of Catholic Literary Arts, contributing editor for St. Austin’s Review, and a fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is the founder of Fearless Writing, an online source of accessible resources enabling educators and parents to teach creative writing. She is a published author with poems, essays, book reviews and short stories anthologized and published in journals such as Texas Monthly and Catholic Arts Today.

Saint John Paul II Institute

The Saint John Paul II Institute at UST offers a first-of-its-kind M.A. in John Paul II Studies, an interdisciplinary study of the thought of John Paul II using philosophy, theology, literature and history. For information: 713.525.2112 | sjpiiprograms@stthom.edu | www.stthom.edu/sjpii