Fall 2023

Sonic Spectacular: Organist Greg Zelek and Trombonist Electronic Arts Mark Hetzler
September 8
8:00 p.m. in the St. John's Abbey and University Church

A performance of new and old music for pipe organ, trombone, and electronic instruments. Music of Camille Saint-Saëns, Crespo, J.S. Bach, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Lefébure-Wély, and Mark Hetzler. Performers Zelek and Hetzler will discuss the music.
No advance registration needed; Free will offerings accepted

Man Cave: A One Man Sci-Fi Climate Change Tragicomedy
September 13
7:00 p.m. in the Pellegrene  Auditorium, SJU

What if you were the last man on earth, but weren't SURE if you were the last man on earth? What message would you send out to your imagined fellow "last men?" And how long would you wait for a reply?

Hanging by a thread, at the tail end of climate change, the last man broadcasts his existential warning to whatever Klingons, Vulcans or Tralfamadorians might still be out there listening. Burrowed into a "Hobbit home" in Northern Canada, our hero broadcasts into a microphone for whoever might yet be listening. Realizing that there may not be ANYONE out there picking up radio signals, he tries to explain how NOT to do what we did, working his way through a new "Ten Commandments" for a changing planet.

World-traveling touring artist, Tim Mooney, brings this existential peek into the apocalyptic future to CSB and SJU on Wednesday, Sept 13 at 7 p.m.

"Man Cave" is the rare event that leaps across disciplines, integrating the sciences and the humanities in a powerful way, to rise to the defining challenge of our age.

Free event

Hymn Fest celebrating the new Saint John's Abbey Hymnal
September 24
5:00-6:00 p.m. in the St. John's Abbey and University Church

With renowned master organist Bill Chouinard, celebrating the new abbey hymnal, and the expansion of the abbey pipe organ to be the largest on any Catholic college campus in the U.S. With CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, All-College Choir, and grad Chapel Choir, plus a pick-up choir of singers from area Catholic and Protestant parishes. Hymns are sung by the choirs and by everyone in attendance. Free event. More details.

Language, Silence, and the Spaces that Shape Us
A Public Reading & Conversation with Three Eastern European Poets
(Literary Arts Institute event)
September 28
7:00 p.m. in Upper Gorecki (CSB)

Join the Literary Arts Institute for a poetry reading and Q&A with three eastern European poets: Ilya Kaminsky (originally from Odessa in Ukraine, and author of the award-winning Deaf Republic); Valzhyna Mort (originally from Minsk in Belarus, and author of Music for the Dead and Resurrected); and Nikola Madzirov (from Macedonia, and author of Remnants of Another Age).

More details about poets

Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Kaarin Johnston
Colman Theater (CSB)
October 12, 13,14 at  7:30
October 14, 15 at 2:00

A single woman eating lobster bisque in a café hears a man’s cell phone ringing; it just won’t stop.  She answers it, and so begins a web of lies that draw her into a bizarre adventure combining love, international crime, and life-after-death.

Fall Choral Showcase 
featuring: Chamber Choir, Men's Chorus, and Women's Choir
Friday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

Free and open to the public.

Orchestra
Sunday, October 15, 2:00 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

Members of the Orchestra (made of violin, viola, cello, and double bass), will perform a variety of music, showcasing a variety eras, composers, and techniques. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece proving the audience with the necessary information to create a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen and enhance their overall experience.

Free and open to the public.

Jazz Ensemble
Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 p.m., Brother Willie's Pub (Sexton - SJU)

Members of the Jazz Ensemble (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/rhythm section) will perform a variety of music showcasing different musical stylings of Jazz Music by various composers. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece informing the audience of the title, composer and history (genre, musical styles, time period, etc.), creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their over all experience.

Free and open to the public.

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band 
Wednesday, October 18, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/aux. percussion), will perform works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about each piece (composer, history, genre, musical styles, time period) as they are introduced by the ensemble director, creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their overall experience. 

Free and open to the public.

Public Reading and Conversation with Fiction Writer Antonia Angress
(Literary Arts Institute event)
October 24
7:00 p.m. in Upper Gorecki (CSB)

Antonio Angress is the author of the novel Sirens & Muses, which was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2022 by Glamour Magazine. She is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Minnesota MFA program, where she was a Winifred Fiction Fellow and a College of Liberal Arts Fellow. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Costa Rica, she currently lives in Minneapolis with her family.

Derick Wycherly's In Land, artist talk and reception
Thursday, October 26, Gorecki Gallery (CSB)
Reception: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.; Artist Talk: 6:00 p.m.

In Land is an exhibition of new works on and of paper. Each handmade sheet of paper depicts imagined landscapes through color, shapes, and ink. Aligned as repeat patterns, the variable editions shift with time, emotion, and alterations in process. The work speaks about lands’ interconnectedness and divided state.

The Sound of Music: Youth Edition
Vocal/workshop performance
Thursday, October 26, 7:30 p.m., Colman Blackbox Theater (CSB)
Friday, October 27, 7:30 p.m., Colman Blackboc Theater (CSB)
Saturday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., Colman Blackbox Theater (CSB)
Sunday, October 29, 2:00 p.m., Colman Blackbox Theater (CSB)

The CSB/SJU Music Department is pleased to present our Vocal Performance Workshop production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, The Sound of Music: Youth Edition. Set in Austria, this condensed version follows the journey of Maria Rainer as she departs the Nonnberg Abbey to become governess for the von Trapp family and help them to rediscover the music in their hearts.

to purchase tickets click here

The Great Pumpkin Returns
Monday, October 30, 8:00 p.m., Abbey Church (SJU)

Rachel Breen's At the Root: Materials and Power, artist talk and reception
Thursday, November 2, SJU Galleries
Reception: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.; Artist Talk: 6:00 p.m.

Used textiles are potent materials with which to scrutinize the relationship between the labor conditions under which our clothes are made and the overconsumption of clothing. But they can also catalyze contemplate that things could be different. Through acts of sewing and dismantling, Rachel Breen will create a space for cultivating deep reflection of labor rights, solidarity and the power of the materials we wear.

Wailin' Jennys
Saturday, November 4, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The Wailin' Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse three distinct voices that together make an achingly perfect vocal sound.

Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta along with New York-based Masse continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.

Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Directed by Sean Dooley
Gorecki Theater (CSB)
November 9, 10, 11 and 16, 17, 18 at 7:30
November 12 at 2:00

A Queen is taken captive. Denied lover's escape to the forest. The fairy King wages war against the fairy Queen and a group of average Joes make plans for the performance of the decade. By the end it all seems to work out. This popular and timeless story that explores the tension between the civilized and the wild is Shakespeare's most wildly popular comedy.

Music Department's Fall Faculty Recital
November 12 at 4:00 p.m. in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater (SJU)

The Fall Faculty Recital will feature works from composters such as Louis Beydts, Rachmaninoff, and more. The recital will feature Amy Grinsteiner (piano), Gyehyun Jung (vocal), and Andrew Towsey-Grishaw (viola).

Eugene McCarthy Documentary Film Screening with Producer and Director
November 14
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in Quad 346 (SJU)

This in-person film screening features a documentary about U.S. Senator Gene McCarthy and his famous presidential run in 1968 as an anti-Vietnam War candidate.
This is a unique opportunity because the film producer, Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow, will answer questions about the subjects and discuss the art of film-making

@Art: All Student Juried Art Exhibition 2023
Guest Judge: Anne Meyer
Thursday, November 16, Gorecki Gallery (CSB)
Reception: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.; Artist Talk: 6:00 p.m.

A celebration of the creativity and innovative spirit of the CSB/SJU student body, this juried exhibit features artwork in a range of mediums and styles. Every student enrolled, living on campus or overseas is eligible to submit two pieces of artwork for consideration to be shown. This year, we welcome guest judge Anne Meyer. A local artist, Anne’s uses a variety of media to create, including painting, textile, drawing and pottery.

Sewing and Mending Workshop with Rachel Breen
Tuesday, November 28
4:30 p.m. in the Art Center (SJU)

Visiting artist Rachel Breen will be hosting a mending and sewing workshop to accompany her visual art exhibition At the Root: Materials and Power, which is on display at the Alice R Rogers and Target galleries at the SJU Art Center through December 9th. Rachel will be leading this workshop and also talking about her work in the exhibition.

Do your part to cut down on overconsumption – learn how to repair your own clothes! We'll provide fun fabric patches, embroidery floss, buttons, thread and needles. You provide the clothes that need mending! Or just come and learn some basic sewing skills! Or bring your own sewing project and be in community – sewing is always more fun when we do it together!

We'll provide guidance on everything from threading a needle to more complicated stitches for visible mending. More Info.

Christmas with Saint Ben's and Saint John's*

Friday, December 1, 7:30 p.m., Great Hall (SJU)
Saturday, December 2, 2:00 p.m., Great Hall (SJU)
Saturday, December 2, 8:00 p.m., Basilica of St. Mary (MPLS)

*Ticketed Event​*/Open to the public.

Jazz Ensemble
Tuesday, December 5, 7:30 p.m., Brother Willie's Pub (Sexton - SJU)

Members of the Jazz Ensemble (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/rhythm section) will perform a variety of music showcasing different musical stylings of Jazz Music by various composers. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece informing the audience of the title, composer and history (genre, musical styles, time period, etc.), creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their over all experience.

Free and open to the public.

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band
Wednesday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/aux. percussion), will perform works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about each piece (composer, history, genre, musical styles, time period) as they are introduced by the ensemble director, creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their overall experience. 

Free and open to the public.

Orchestra
Sunday, December 10, 2:00 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

Members of the Orchestra (made of violin, viola, cello, and double bass), will perform a variety of music, showcasing a variety eras, composers, and techniques. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece proving the audience with the necessary information to create a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen and enhance their overall experience.

Free and open to the public.

All-College Choir
Sunday, December 10, 4:00 p.m., Great Hall (SJU)

This performance will present works from various composers sung by the All-College Choir. Works performed will present audience members with a holistic/community experience as they learn about the history, genre, and musical stylings of the piece and apply that to their overall listening experience.

Free and open to the public.

Spring 2023

Maker
January 20, 5:00 to 7:00pm in Art Center (SJU)
Artist Erik Benson will be discussing his newest art exhibition Maker. The art reception will run from 5-7 PM on January 20th. With Erik's talk starting at 6PM.

Erik is an acrylic collage artist who is based out of Minneapolis. His work deals with themes of fatherhood, the Covid pandemic, political unrest and living in the twin cities.

more information

Maker will be on display January 17th - March 17th.

Versa-Style Dance Company
February 4
7:30pm in the Escher Auditorium, BAC (CSB)

Full of energy, inspiration and improvisation, Versa-Style celebrates the essence and power of hip-hop – showcasing popping, locking, boogaloo, house and Afro-Latin styles such as salsa, merengue, and cumbia. This performance features their newest work, FREE-Mind FREE-Style, exploring the limitless possibilities of improvisational street dance. Each infectious performance is love, positivity and knowledge shared through the medium of hip-hop dance. For over 15 years, Versa-Style has served as cultural ambassadors, traveling, teaching and spreading their love of hip-hop culture in places such as Israel, India, France, Italy and Columbia.

$8 cost to attend - more information

academic guide for this event

Corey Antis
S. Dennis Artist in Residence 
February 8 
7:00-8:30pm Art Center Auditorium (SJU)

Corey Antis is an artist whose current studio practice investigates how images and representations maintain, emphasize, or subvert different aspects of their readability. More details about this event.

Pastiche
February 10, 7:30 p.m., SBH (SJU)

Wind Ensemble MMEA Campus Preview Performance
February 13, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The Wind Ensemble (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/aux. percussion), will perform works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about each piece (composer, history, genre, musical styles, time period) as they are introduced by the ensemble director, creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their overall experience.  This performance serves as a preview concert for our community to enjoy as the CSB and SJU Wind Ensemble were selected to perform at this years MN Music Educators Convention, February 17.

Open to the public.

Lost Illusions (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(Xavier Giannoli, 2021), in collaboration with the French Club
February 14 
6:30pm Alcuin 170 (SJU)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr
February 18
7:30pm in the Escher Auditorium, BAC (CSB)

Celebrate the power of the wind with this breathtaking cirque performance. With their thoughtfully engineered blend of artful storytelling, high-level acrobatics and fanciful contraptions, Cirque Mechanics defies categorization. In Zephyr, they celebrate the wind power we’ve harnessed for thousands of years and the machines we’ve used to do it. A giant windmill mounted on a turntable harnesses the power and energy of people rather than the wind as performers fly, balance, float on air and defy gravity in this exhilarating whirlwind circus performance. This is high-flying, eye-popping, heart-stopping amazement geared to blow away audiences of all ages. Their last visit here sold out quickly – so be sure to buy early! Academic Discussion Guide for this performance.

$8 cost to attend - more details

Small Mouth Sounds
February 22, 23 and 24
7:30pm in the Colman Theatre, BAC (CSB)

The Theatre department presents Bess Wohl's play Small Mouth Sounds, a play about six runaways from city life who embark on a silent retreat. As these strangers confront internal demons both profound and absurd, their vows of silence collide with the achingly human need to connect. Filled with awkward humor, this strange and compassionate new play asks how we address life’s biggest questions when words fail us.

After the performance the director and actors will engage in a discussion with the audience about the themes the play touches on, the student experience of being in the play and the audience experience of attending a live event.

$5 cost per person - more details

Voctave: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street
February 24
7:30pm in the Escher Auditorium, BAC (CSB)

Enjoy a night of Broadway show tunes and Disney showstoppers! When a cappella comes together in the best way, it’s something visceral. That’s the magic of central Florida’s Voctave – 11 powerhouse singers with backgrounds in gospel, contemporary Christian, barbershop, pop and choral. Widely recognized for high-energy performances and impressive arrangements, Voctave weaves tight vocal tapestries that wrap around an audience. Their videos have gathered an eye-popping 150 million views on social media. This is feel-good music you can truly feel.

$8 cost to attend - more details

Lingui, the Sacred Bonds (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, 2021), in collaboration with the Center for Global Education
February 24 
6:30pm in Pres. Dining Room - upper Gorecki (CSB)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Jazz Ensemble and Combo
February 28
time - tbd, Fireside Lounge - Gorecki Dining Center (CSB)

Members of the Jazz Ensemble and Combo (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/rhythm section) will perform a variety of music showcasing different musical stylings of Jazz Music by various composers. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece informing the audience of the title, composer and history (genre, musical styles, time period, etc.), creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their over all experience.

Open to the public.

Happening (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(Audrey Diwan, 2021), in collaboration with Gender Studies
March 1 
6:30pm Alcuin 170 (SJU)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Corey Antis- Open Studio Art Tour
March 1
7:00-8:30pm in ARR/TAR galleries Art Center (SJU)

Come meet and see the work of Corey Antis, this years Sister Dennis Artist in Residency.

Symphonic Band and Orchestra
March 1
7:30 pm in the Escher Auditorium (CSB)

This performance will feature two ensembles (one made of wind instruments and percussion, and the other made of stringed instruments). Throughout the performance, the audience will hear a variety of musical styles written by various composers. Works performed will be introduced throughout, providing history and context of the piece, giving a starting point to the audiences musical journey.

Open to the public.

The Monopoly of Violence (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(David Dufresne, 2020), in collaboration with Peace Studies
March 14 
6:30pm in Gorecki 204 (CSB)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Echoes of the Divine: A Dialogue Between Jewish and Christian Musical Traditions
Concert & Conversation Featuring Amy Grinsteiner and Thomas Schönberg
March 16
7:30pm in the Chapel in Emmaus Hall (SJU)

This is the first in a series of three concerts with pianist Amy Grinsteiner and cellist Thomas Schӧnberg performing classical compositions of Jewish and Christian musical traditions. The concert, which will be accompanied by a conversation moderated by David Jordan Harris, will include works by J. S. Bach, Ernest Bloch, Max Bruch, and Nikolai Kapustin. It is free and open to the public.

 more details

Literature to Life presents: The Latehomecomer
March 16
7:30pm in the Gorecki Family Theater, BAC (CSB)

The impossible happens every day in the life of the refugee. Minnesota writer Kao Kalia Yang captured that experience in her gripping memoir. Now accomplished Hmong actress and traditional Flower Singer Gaosong Heu brings it to life in this moving stage production. Told with the immediacy of the author as a young girl, born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand, the story follows her journey to a new land and a new life. For the author, for her parents and for her grandmother, the story explores themes of home, family, opportunity, acceptance and obligation

$8 cost of attendance - more details 

Academic Guide & Student Guide

Tour Home Concert - Men's Chorus
March 19
8:00pm in the Great Hall (SJU)

The Men’s Chorus conclude their spring tour with a home concert for our CSB/SJU community in the Great Hall at SJU. This performance will feature works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about the piece as they are introduced, giving a starting point to their musical journey, enhancing their overall experience at the Welcome Home Concert.

Open to the public.

Women's Choir
March 19
2:00 pm in the Sacred Heart Chapel (CSB)

This performance will present works from various composers sung by the Women’s Choir. Works performed will present audience members with a holistic/community experience as they learn about the history, genre, and musical stylings of the piece and apply that to their overall listening experience.

Open to the public.

Viewing Manuscripts and the Saint John's Bible
March 21
9:30am in the Hill Manuscript Museum & Library (SJU)

ART 230 (Neolithic-Gothic) course will be viewing medieval manuscripts at HMML. Curator Matt Heinztelman will show half the class copies of medieval manuscripts from the collection, while Curator Tim Ternes shows the other half of the class the St John's Bible gallery. Each group will have 40-minute interactive presentations from Matt and Tim. Students will learn the process of how medieval manuscripts were made, view their painted decorations, and learn about the changes of style over time.

Mr. Klein (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(Joseph Losey, 1976), in collaboration with German Studies (Languages and Cultures)
March 22 
6:30pm in the Little Theatre (Q346, SJU)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Greg Zelek, Organ & Ansel Norris, Trumpet
March 24
8:00 pm in the Abbey & University Church

more details

One Man Avengers
March 25
7:30pm in the Stephen B Humphrey Theater (SJU)

Charlie Ross has a most-unusual superpower, and he’s about to take you along for a thrill ride. With frenetic energy and power-packed parody, Ross has created a spot-on send up of a whole universe of favorite films … and loaded it into a hilarious solo show. It’s “Nerd heaven,” said the Chicago Tribune, and fortified with “nuclear levels of energy,” according to Variety. Imagine getting a blow-by-blow recap of a really fun movie from your best friend. Now scrap that and imagine your best friend is truly hilarious and can channel dozens of characters at once. You won’t believe what you’re about to see!

$8 cost of attendance - more details

Academic Guide

Tour Home Concert - Chamber Choir
March 26
7:30 pm in the Great Hall (SJU)

The Chamber Choir conclude their spring tour with a home concert for our CSB/SJU community on Sunday, March 26. This performance will feature works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about the piece as they are introduced, giving a starting point to their musical journey, enhancing their overall experience at the Welcome Home Concert.

Open to the public.

Josep (part of the Tournees Film Festival)
(Aurel, 2020), in collaboration with Hispanic Studies
March 30 
6:30pm in the Multicultural Center (CSB)

All films are free of charge and will be subtitled in English. Each film will be introduced by a guest speaker from our community and after the screening, there will be an opportunity for moderated discussion. Refreshments provided.

Muliebris: Femme Feminine Femininity Reception
March 30
5:00pm in the Gorecki Gallery, BAC (CSB)

Muliebris: Femme Feminine Femininity, is a juried art exhibition hosted by Fine Arts Programing in collaboration with the Color Network. The Color Network's mission is to aid in the advancement of people of color in the ceramic arts. Assisting artists to develop networks and create dialogue while maintaining a place for a database, resources and mentorship. The Color Network fosters a community of artists of all professional and skill levels, that help each other grow.

The exhibition will consist of ten ceramic artists from across the country. Juried by, Jess Cheng, Cassandra Scanlon and Akiko Jackson.

Free - more details 

Senior Exhibition Opening Reception
April 1
1:00pm in Art Center - Alice R Rogers and Target Galleries (SJU)

Join Senior Art Majors in their exhibition displaying all their hard work!

Free

Faculty Recital
Featuring Anna Ward, Soprano, guest artist Marcus Jordan, and Amy Grinsteiner, Piano
April 2 
2:00pm in the Emmaus Chapel (SJU)

"This event will feature music and words composed by Black and Brown composers. We will consider the past, present, and future of Blackness in vocal music. The music will span from classical to gospel to musical theatre. Join us in conversation about decolonizing the recital space, stylistic attributes of featured composers, the performance of spirituals, and evolving images of Black men and women in the arts."

Echoes of the Divine: A Dialogue Between  Jewish and Christian Musical Traditions
Concert & Conversation Featuring Amy Grinsteiner and Thomas Schönberg
April 3
7:30pm in the Chapel in Emmaus Hall (SJU)

This is the second in a series of three concerts with pianist Amy Grinsteiner and cellist Thomas Schӧnberg performing classical compositions of Jewish and Christian musical traditions. The concert, which will accompanied by a conversation moderated by David Jordan Harris, will include works by Paul Ben-Haim, Isabella Leonarda, Arvo Pӓrt, and Maurice Ravel. This program is free and open to the public. More details

George Hinchliffe’s The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
April 14
7:30pm in Escher Auditorium, BAC (CSB)

And they do it all with just four strings. The often-imitated-never-duplicated Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain may have twice sold out at Carnegie Hall in New York, twice at The Royal Albert Hall in London and also at Sydney Opera House in Australia, but they’ve never abandoned their signature wit and lifelong passion for their plucky little instruments. The set list has been described as a “shopping trolley dash through genres,” and the result is a show that guarantees something for everyone. Brace yourself for the unexpected and prepare for smiles as familiar tunes pop up in surprising contexts.

Don’t forget your ukulele! There will be a string & sing along during the show – watch the website for downloadable music so you can practice at home.

$8 cost to attend - more information

GODSPELL - A Musical
April 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30pm
April 16 at 2:00pm

A 1970's ensemble musical based on the parables in the Book of Matthew, complete with hippies and multiple gender-bending Jesus. Anyone can be a teller of great lessons or a signer about timeless morality; does everyone have the courage to be one?

$10 fee - more details

Piano Extravaganza
April 16
7:00pm in the Stephen B Humphrey Theater (SJU)

What is Muralism? Labor, Social Justice, and Cultral Identity Through Visual Storytelling
(Labor Perspectives/Perspectives on Labor Spring 2023 series sponsored by Latino/Latin American Studies)
April 17, 2023
7:00pm in the Multicultural Center (CSB)

more details here

Echoes of the Divine: A Dialogue Between Jewish and Christian Musical Traditions
Concert & Conversation Featuring Amy Grinsteiner and Thomas Schönberg
April 20
7:30pm in the Chapel in Emmaus Hall (SJU)

This is the third and final concert in a series with pianist Amy Grinsteiner and cellist Thomas Schӧnberg performing classical compositions of Jewish and Christian musical traditions. Featured in this concert, which will be accompanied by a conversation moderated by David Jordan Harris, is Felix Mendelssohn’s Sonata No.2 for cello and piano. This program is free and open to the public.

 more details

Woodwind, Brass, String Chamber Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble
April 24
6:00pm, Percussion Ensemble in the Escher Auditorium (CSB)
7:30 pm, WBS Chamber Ensembles in the Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The CSB and SJU Brass Choir, Trombone Choir, Saxophone Quartet, Horn Ensemble, and Tuba/Euphonium Quartet, Percussion Ensemble, Viola da Gamba, and String Quartet will perform a concert of music written for chamber ensembles. Works to be performed span numerous musical styles and time periods.

Open to the public.

Masterworks Concert
featuring Chamber Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Choir
April 28
7:30 pm in the Great Hall (SJU)

Open to the public.

Orchestra 
April 30
2:00 pm in the Escher Auditorium

Members of the Orchestra (made of violin, viola, cello, and double bass), will perform a variety of music, showcasing a variety eras, composers, and techniques. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece proving the audience with the necessary information to create a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen and enhance their overall experience.

Open to the public.

All-College Choir
April 30
4:00pm in Brother Willie's Pub (SJU)

This performance will present works from various composers sung by the All-College Choir. Works performed will present audience members with a holistic/community experience as they learn about the history, genre, and musical stylings of the piece and apply that to their overall listening experience.

Open to the public.

Low Brass Faculty Recital 
Featuring Prof. Carson King-Fournier
May 1
7:00pm in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater (SJU)

Music Faculty Member Carson King-Fournier will perform an eclectic recital with music from Luciano Berio, Kevin Day, Marin Marais, Anthony Plog, Joseph Turrin, and Barbara York on trombone, euphonium, bass trumpet, and contrabass trombone.

Free and Open to the Public. 

Jazz Ensemble and Combo
May 2
7:30pm in Brother Willies Pub (SJU)

Members of the Jazz Ensemble and Combo (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/rhythm section) will perform a variety of music showcasing different musical stylings of Jazz Music by various composers. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece informing the audience of the title, composer and history (genre, musical styles, time period, etc.), creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their over all experience.

Open to the public.

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band
May 3
7:30 pm in the Escher Auditorium (CSB)

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/aux. percussion), will perform works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about each piece (composer, history, genre, musical styles, time period) as they are introduced by the ensemble director, creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their overall experience. 

Open to the public.

Fall 2022

Indigenous Survivance Reception
September 8, 2022
5:00pm in the Art Center, SJU

The Indigenous Survivance exhibit highlights the work of five of Minnesota's premiere Native artists and was curated by Travis Zimmerman '94.

Please join us for an Opening Reception on Thurs, Sept 8 from 5-7pm in the Saint John's Art Center. The reception will begin with a drum circle welcoming visitors. Food and drink will feature traditional Indigenous ingredients. Elder Joe Whitehawk will open the event with a blessing, followed by a blessing from Father Michael Peterson. Curator Travis Zimmerman '94 will share information about the exhibit beginning at 6pm. Supported by ISA and INNR.

More details

Holtkamp-Pasi Organ Dedication Recital
Stephen Tharp, International Concert Organist  (postponed from April 2020 due to COVID)
September 15, 2022
7:30pm in St John's Abbey and University Church

There will be some speaking and background from Michael Barone of NPR “Pipedream”, as well as words from the artist.

A Two Piano Show, faculty recital, Fr. Bob Koopmann, Pianist, with pianist Andi Zdrava
September 22, 2022
7:30pm in the Stephen B Humphrye Theater, SJU

The Hatmaker's Wife
October 13, 2022
7:30pm in the Colman Theatre (BAC), CSB

When a young woman moves in with her boyfriend expecting domestic bliss, their new house reveals the magical tale of its previous inhabitants: an old hat-maker and his long-suffering wife, who runs away with his favorite hat. This sweet and surreal story bends time and space to redefine the idea of family, home, and true love itself. ($5 attendance fee)

Soweto Gospel Choir
October 14, 2022
7:30pm in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

Out of the darkness comes a new dawn! This all-new concert by 3-time Grammy®-winning Soweto Gospel Choir commemorates South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Bringing joy to all, “HOPE” opens with a rousing program of South African freedom songs that inspired their Rainbow Nation. Then the choir’s uplifting performance moves to the United States with beautiful renditions of the music of the Civil Rights Movement,
including works by legendary artists Billie Holiday, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and the one-and-only, Aretha Franklin. Get ready, “HOPE” is a concert that will live forever in your hearts! 

More details/purchase tickets

Jazz Ensemble
October 16, 2022

Orchestra Ensemble
October 16, 2002

Wind Ensemble
October 19, 2002

Chamber Choir
October 21, 2022

Music: Opera Workshop Fascinatin' Rhythms
October 27, 28, 29 at 7:30pm
October 30 at 2:00pm 
All events in Escher Auditorium, CSB

The Great Pumpkin Returns: An Entertainment Event 
October 28, 2022
9:00pm in the Abbey/University Church, SJU

the CSB/SJU Music Department, Saint John’s Abbey, and The Steve Noack Program in Pop Music and Jazz will present a Halloween Extravaganza. Featured performers include:

• The George Maurer Group with vocalist Daniel Greco
• Bob Koopmann on organ and piano
• Organist Samuel Holmberg
• Organists Br. David Klingeman, OSB, and Br. Jacob Berns, OSB.

 Music will include classical and popular organ and piano music, The Phantom of the Opera Theme, Toccata in D Minor, Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, Jumpin Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones, and I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance (Bing Crosby).

In addition, Fr. Bob will play a few tunes from his youth as a Hammond Organ stylist for games and shows, but performed on the mighty Holtkamp-Pasi pipe organ.

Faculty Recital
October 28, 2022

Organ Virtuoso, Greg Zelek
November 4, 2022
8:00pm in the Abbey/University Church, SJU

Returning for another featured organ concert is the inimitable Greg Zelek! Praised for his “effortless facility on the instrument” (South Florida Classical Review), Greg Zelek is increasingly recognized as one of the most exciting young organists in the American organ scene.

Aquila Theatre Company presents: Pride & Prejudice
November 5, 2022
7:30pm in Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

Prepare for pinpointed wit, social commentary and delightful dancing as Aquila Theatre Company brings to life Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy. Austen’s beloved classic continues to capture the imagination of audiences today as she humorously skewers the hypocrisies and absurdities of the class system and puts the thoughts and feelings of her women characters front and center.

Aquila is one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the United States, visiting 50+ cities each year. The New Yorker says, “Aquila’s productions are beautifully spoken, dramatically revealing and crystalline in effect.”

More details/purchase tickets

Boys Choir of Montserrat, Spain
November 10, 2022
7:00pm in the Abbey/University Church, SJU

The first part of the Montserrat Boy Choir program will include sacred music from the 14th to 21st centuries by composers associated with Montserrat, including Pablo Casals and Bernat Vivancos. After intermission, the boys will sing folk music from the Catalan region of Spain, where Montserrat is located.

Tiemp Libre
November 11, 2022
7:30pm in Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

"When you talk about the group, you find yourself moving your hips” – Richmond Times Dispatch. Three-time Grammy® nominees Tiempo Libre are on a mission to share their Afro-Caribbean heritage with as wide an audience as possible. Listen, learn and feel the timba sway of their exhilarating mix of jazz harmonies, contemporary sonorities and seductive Latin rhythms. The seven members of Tiempo Libre grew up together – studying at La ENA, Havana,
Cuba’s rigorous music conservatory by day, while climbing on rooftops with makeshift antennas to catch the sounds of Miami by night. For them, music isn’t just a way of life, it’s a way of experiencing living.

More details/purchase tickets

On the Verge
November 17-20, 2022

Percussion Ensemble
November 21, 2022
6:00pm in Escher Auditorium, CSB

Members of the CSB/SJU Percussion ensemble will perform works by a variety of composers featuring various styles of music and instrumentation. Throughout the performance, audience members will learn about each piece (composer, time period, genre, etc.) as they are introduced, allowing the imagination and discovery of meanings/messages to begin!

Open to the public

Wind, Brass, String Chamber Ensemble
November 21, 2022
7:30pm in Escher Auditorium, CSB

The CSB and SJU Brass Choir, Trombone Choir, Saxophone Quartet, Horn Ensemble, and Tuba/Euphonium Quartet, Viola da Gamba, and String Quartet will perform a concert of music written for chamber ensembles. Works to be performed span numerous musical styles and time periods.

Open to the public.

CSB and SJU Music Department Presents: Christmas with Saint Ben's and Saint John's
December 3, 2022
7:30pm in Abbey/University Church, SJU

The time-honored tradition of Christmas with Saint Ben’s & Saint John’s (formerly Christmas at Saint John’s) returns with a single on-campus performance in the Abbey and University Church at Saint John’s University. Beloved annual pieces to be performed include “The Glory of the Father” (Egil Hovland) and “Personent Hodie” (arr. Lara Hoggard), as well as traditional audience carols. Other exciting repertoire includes “Christus Natus Est” (Rosephanye Powell), “Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain” (Carolyn Jennings); “O Magnum Mysterium” (Cesár Carrillo), and “Antiphon” from “Five Mystical Songs” (Ralph Vaughan Williams). This annual concert celebrates the seasons of Advent and Christmas through traditional and contemporary music.

Participating Ensembles:

• Chamber Choir
• Men's Chorus
• Women's Choir
• The St. John's Boys' Choir
• Brass Choir
• Amadeus Chamber Symphony

*Ticketed event* to purchase tickets follow this link

Jazz Ensemble & Combo
December 6, 2022
7:30pm in Brother Willie's Pub, (Sexton) SJU

Members of the Jazz Ensemble and Combo (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/rhythm section) will perform a variety of music showcasing different musical stylings of Jazz Music by various composers. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece informing the audience of the title, composer and history (genre, musical styles, time period, etc.), creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their over all experience.

Mark O'Connor's An Appalachian Christmas
December 8, 2022
7:30pm in Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

"All Christmas music should be played so elegantly on violin,” said the Boston Globe. Mark O’Connor’s eclectic combination of jazz, bluegrass and classical influences carries his vision of an American school of string playing. This much-loved holiday performance, accompanied by his wife, Maggie, and son, Forrest – both award-winning instrumentalists in their own rites – fashions a wondrous mix of instrumental and vocal music in bluegrass and other American music genres. The performance is playful and joyous at points, but come prepared – the December winds won’t be the only chills you’ll feel.

More details/purchase tickets

Lightwire Theater presents: A Very Electric Christmas
December 10, 2022
2:00 and 7:00 pm in Escher Auditorium, CSB

Make the season bright with a charming new tale told in vibrant lights, artistic dance and a score filled with holiday-favorite songs. Since you first saw them on America’s Got Talent or TRU TV’S Fake Off, Lightwire Theater has been mesmerizing audiences worldwide with skill, grace and eye-catching light shows. By combining the arts of puppetry, theater and dance, this magical tale of a misguided bird named Max who ends up at the North Pole for Christmas will warm hearts and have the spirit of the season shining through. Bring the whole family for an evening of unforgettable electroluminescent artistry!

More details/purchase tickets

Orchestra Concert
December 11, 2022
1:00pm in Escher Auditorium, CSB

Members of the Orchestra (made of violin, viola, cello, and double bass), will perform a variety of music, showcasing a variety eras, composers, and techniques. Throughout the performance, the director of the ensemble will announce each piece proving the audience with the necessary information to create a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen and enhance their overall experience.

All-College Choir
December 11, 2022
4:00pm in Great Hall, SJU

This showcase performance, featuring the Chamber Choir, Men’s Chorus, and Women’s Choir, will present works from various composers as a combined choir, and individual choral ensembles. Works performed will present audience members with a holistic/community experience as they learn about the history, genre, and musical stylings of the piece and apply that to their overall listening experience.

Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band
December 12, 2022
7:30pm in Escher Auditorium, CSB

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (made of woodwinds, brass, percussion/aux. percussion), will perform works by various composers and musical styles. During the performance, audience members will be able to learn about each piece (composer, history, genre, musical styles, time period) as they are introduced by the ensemble director, creating a starting point to begin their musical journey as they listen, enhancing their overall experience.