FREE Courtroom Concert: featuring Stephanie Arado, violin; Laura Sewell, cello; Sonja Thompson, piano

Violinist Stephanie Arado’s career encompasses a wide range of performance and teaching experience. Ms. Arado began her violin studies at the age of five and played her first solo recital when she was eight. Since her debut with the Chicago Symphony as a 12 year old, Ms. Arado has performed as soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the United States, including the Detroit, St. Louis, and Minnesota Orchestras. Ms. Arado spent 22 years as Assistant Concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra and also served as Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony. In 2012, Ms. Arado resigned from her position with the Minnesota Orchestra to devote more time to teaching and chamber music. Ms Arado has participated in chamber music festivals both nationally and internationally and has had the privilege to perform with such masters as Paul Tortelier, Joseph Silverstein, and Yuri Bashmet. A recipient of a McKnight Foundation Grant for Performing Artists, Ms. Arado maintains a private teaching studio in Minneapolis and is an Artistic Director of the Bakken Trio, a chamber music consortium she has performed with since 1991.

Cellist, Laura Sewell, enjoys an active and varied musical career and has distinguished herself as a highly respected chamber musician. From 2007-2016 she was a member of the Artaria String Quartet which was appointed as one of Minnesota Public Radio’s ensembles-in-residence, was featured on Twin Cities Public Television’s “Minnesota Originals” series, and performed the complete Shostakovich quartet cycle to critical acclaim. Earlier in her career she was the founding cellist of the award-winning Lark Quartet.

Ms. Sewell received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Juilliard School where she was a student of Leonard Rose, and her Master’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Alan Harris. She also had the unique opportunity, at the age of 17, to study with the legendary cellist, Jacqueline DuPre. Her chamber music teachers have included members of the Juilliard, Tokyo, American, Guarneri, and Budapest quartets, as well as Felix Galimir, Josef Gingold and William Pleeth.

Ms. Sewell plays as a substitute cellist with both the Minnesota and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras and has been a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, the Bakken Trio, and the Musical Offering. She has appeared on “Saint Paul Sunday” and on “A Prairie Home Companion” on several occasions. She has premiered solo works by Paul Schoenfield, Stephen Paulus, and Steve Heitzeg, and chamber works by Libby Larsen, Peter Schickele, Jon Deak, and Stanislaw Skrowacewski. From 2000-2008 she served on the board of Chamber Music America, the national service organization for chamber musicians, and was its Chair for four years.

Sonja Thompson enjoys a varied career as a chamber, church and theater musician, conductor, vocal coach and educator.  Having received her formal education at the University of Minnesota and The Juilliard School, she has spent decades teaching,  performing, improvising, collaborating, and assisting with the development of new works.  Performing credits include solo recitals, chamber music and Art Song as well as new music, Music Theater/Opera, and programs that mix genres and styles.  Recent projects include La Boheme with Theater Latte Da, Moonlit Walk Home with Nautilus Music Theater,  “Transformations,” a collaborative performance combining poetry with paintings by Carolyn Brunelle and music by David Evan Thomas; a recording of piano music by David Evan Thomas; and new works of music theater with Nautilus Music Theater, MN History Theater, Theater Latte Da, Augsburg University and various independent collaborators.