An epic saga between two cellos and a piano. Join us on our journey through time and space with stops in Argentina, Hungary, Germany and Russia.
Kolkata Classics presents “Calcutta Rhapsody” with pianist Jennifer Heemstra, cellist Dr. Carrie Pierce and cellist Mac Wyn.
A powerful night of music featuring Ginastera’s Rhapsody, Vivaldi’s Double Concerto for two Cellos, Popper’s Hungarian Rhapsody, Shostakovich’s Prelude for Two Cellos & more! From the great plains of Argentina to Viennese café’s. All aboard at 7:30 pm sharp!
Jennifer Heemstra, professional pianist and entrepreneur, received the College of Music Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University this May. In December 2014, she founded the Kolkata Classics trust in India, which provides free health services for trafficked women, educates children from the slums to the elite and exposes the citizens of Kolkata to high quality classical music. She has put on 62 concerts and performed for and worked with over 60,000 adults/children. For her work, she was presented with the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad from John Kerry in 2016.
Recently Heemstra founded a US-based NGO, the Pitch Pipe Foundation (501c3), which links great artists to great need. Pitch Pipe Foundation is planning concerts at 172 Veterans Affairs Hospitals in the USA the week of Valentine’s Day.
Heemstra earned a Bachelor of Music with honors from Michigan State University and her Master of Music from The Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition she is a Rotarian and member of the MTNA and College Music Society.
Dr. Carrie Pierce joined the faculty of Texas A & M - Corpus Christi in the Fall of 2011 as assistant professor of cello and chamber music. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, and two degrees from Michigan State University; a Master of Music in Cello Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. In addition, she studied performance at the Meadowmount Music Festival (USA) & the Deia International Music Festival (Bonefro, IT).
Active as an orchestral musician, Dr. Pierce holds positions with the Corpus Christi Symphony and the Victoria Symphony. Prior to these appointments she was principal cellist with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.
Highly active as a chamber musician, Carrie was a member of Trio La Vita, a piano trio that won numerous prizes such as the Rutenburg Chamber Competition and the Plowman Chamber Competition. She is a founding member of Drumpetello, an innovative new trio featuring cello, trumpet, and percussion. Drumpetello has performed at the Lochabar Arts Festival in Scotland in November 2015 performing newly commissioned works for the ensemble. As a commercial musician, Dr. Pierce has performed for numerous pop and solo artists, such as Kanye West and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Carrie was a member of Trio La Vita, a piano trio that won numerous prizes such as the Rutenburg Chamber Competition and the Plowman Chamber Competition. She is a founding member of Drumpetello, an innovative new trio featuring cello, trumpet, and percussion. Drumpetello has performed at the Lochabar Arts Festival in Scotland in November 2015 performing newly commissioned works for the ensemble. As a commercial musician, Dr. Pierce has performed for numerous pop and solo artists, such as Kanye West and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
McCormack (Mac) Wyn is an 18-year-old cellist and senior at Grand Rapids Christian High School in Michigan. Mac studies with Calvin Collage Prof. Karen Krummel, and plans on going to school for cello performance and pursuing a career in music. This is Mac’s first trip to India. He has performed in three different countries and in several US states as well as across the state of Michigan. He is passionate helping and bringing joy to others through mentoring a student at a local inner city elementary school, volunteering at many Grand Rapids based organizations, and performing music as often as he can.
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