British pianist Simon Mulligan will perform at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing, on Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. for the Kozloff-Rotenberg Night of Music.
British pianist Simon Mulligan. (Courtesy of Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom)
Mulligan has been described by The Times of London as “the most abundantly gifted of pianists” by Yehudi Menuhin; as “one of the finest pianists I have ever had the pleasure of performing with” by Herbie Hancock; as “phenomenal” and “the world’s most versatile pianist” by Steinway & Sons.
A dessert reception in the Social Hall will follow the performance.
Following his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Mulligan has performed and recorded with the BBC Symphony, Detroit Symphony, English Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw Sonfonia, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Malaysian Philharmonic, and the Royal National Scottish Orchestra.
Mulligan recorded his first CD at age 19 under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin, which led to a seven-year collaboration and friendship, culminating with Menuhin’s final concert in Dusseldorf, Germany. Mulligan has gone on to record albums for Sony, Universal, Decca, Nimbus, Naxos, and 14 solo releases for the Steinway label.
As a chamber musician, Mulligan collaborates with many notable artists. While a student at London’s Royal Academy of Music, he began worldwide recital tours with cellist Lynn Harrell. He soon began touring with violinist Joshua Bell, performing at every major international venue, including live broadcasts from Lincoln Center and at the Grammy Awards.
Mulligan has performed for three U.S. presidents, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family, and has enjoyed collaborations with Dame Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Van Morrison, and Sting.
Alongside an extensive solo repertoire and almost 60 concertos, Mulligan’s focus on contemporary music has led to first performances of works by Hans Werner Henze, James MacMillan, Paul Moravec, Tobias Picker, Mary Anthony Turnage, and Alexis Weissenberg.
Mulligan’s passion for paraphrases and improvisation has been featured in Downbeat, Billboard, JazzTimes, International Pianist, and Gramophone.
Mulligan enjoyed a close friendship with film composer Michael Kamen, featuring on several of Kamen’s scores, most notably the HBO television series “Band of Brothers,” produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
As a jazz pianist, Mulligan has performed at festivals in Europe, Asia, South America, and Barbados.
The Simon Mulligan Quartet is made up of saxophonist Frank Walden, drummer Justin Woodward and bassist Andy Hamill. His U.S.-based trio, the Simon Alliance, features bassist Gene Perla and drummer Adam Nussbaum.
Mulligan is the most prolific Steinway Artist, having recorded in all genres and advised in the development of the Steinway Spirio piano since its inception in 2014.
A music scholar of St. Paul’s School in London, Mulligan began his studies with Bobbie Howlett and Andrew Pledge. At the age of 13 he received a scholarship to study with Alexander Kelly at the Royal Academy of Music, leading to classes with Jacques Rouvier in Paris and Alexander Satz in Austria. Mulligan also studied Beethoven in London at the invitation of Alfred Brendel.
Mulligan was awarded a further scholarship to the International Piano Academy at Italy’s Lake Como, where he began private study with Alexis Weissenberg. He additionally counts among his mentors Charles Rosen and Murray Perahia.
Mulligan holds the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music and is Artist-in-Residence at Moravian University in Bethlehem.
The Night of Music honors the memories of Jeraldine (Jeri) Kozloff and Alison Rotenberg, members of RCOS.
To support the night of music, a donation is $40 per seat. All donations above $100 will be listed in the program. No physical tickets will be issued. Consider an additional amount to sustain the congregation’s music fund, which pays for the choir, accompanist, music programming, and cantor.
You can indicate number of seats and donate online at https://ohebsholom.org/kozloff-night-of-music. The deadline is Nov. 2.
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John Painter, organist and choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will present an organ recital in the church sanctuary on Friday at 7 p.m., part of the 41st season of the Fall Festival of the Arts.
John Painter, organist and choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church in Reading, will present an organ recital at the church on Oct. 9. (Copyright Jeremy Drey)
A Berks County native, Painter grew up in Mohrsville and graduated from Schuylkill Valley High School in 1996. He began studying piano at age 5 with the late Ferne Rubright, organist and choir director at Belleman’s Lutheran Church, and took up the organ in his teens, first practicing on an old Allen organ at school.
Painter double-majored in organ studies and historical studies at Bard College, where he studied organ with the late Sir Frederick Hammond and privately with John Weaver of the Juilliard School, and also underwent an apprenticeship in organ maintenance with Kevin D. Chun in Philadelphia and New York. He later earned a master of music in organ and sacred music from the Manhattan School of Music under McNeil Robinson, and studied organ privately from 2002 to 2006 with Donald Dumler, principal organist of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in New York City.
After graduating in 2000, Painter held a series of interim and substitute posts, including four years as organist and choir director at Calvary Lutheran Church in Laureldale, before becoming director of music, organist and choir director for St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx in 2009 — a demanding post serving a large parish.
“I had to play for six Masses each weekend, and there were three choirs,” he said. “I loved it, but I started asking myself if this was the schedule I wanted to keep for the rest of my life.”
After a break in Puerto Rico, Painter set off for Agadir, Morocco, where he spent six years, from 2016 to 2022, teaching English at the Lycee Français d’Agadir and other schools, while continuing his own organ studies when he traveled to Europe. He also learned Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, and traveled inland to villages in the Atlas Mountains. He eventually returned to Berks County to be closer to family, substituting in the Reading area until Christ Episcopal Church’s opening for a music director led to his hiring in 2023.
“The organ here is in better condition than most of the others I’ve seen,” he said. “And the choir is full of excellent musicians who have been singing for decades. It’s hard to find that, and it’s been such a pleasure.”
The Friday program draws on the French organ repertoire alongside works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Admission is by free-will offering.
The Fall Festival of the Arts is presented jointly by Christ Episcopal Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Reading. More information is available at fallfestivalofthearts.org.
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Reading Symphony Orchestra League and The Highlands of Wyomissing will offer a lecture by Andrew Constantine, conductor of the RSO, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Highlands, 2000 Cambridge Ave., Wyomissing. It will feature highlights and background information about the next RSO concert, which will be held on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading.
Theater
Sycamore Stage Theatre Co. will present the Berks County premiere of “Come From Away” this month during a particularly meaningful year as our community and nation mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.
“Come From Away” tells the remarkable true story of what happened when 38 planes were diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, in the days following the Sept. 11 attacks. Nearly 7,000 stranded passengers suddenly found themselves welcomed by a community of roughly the same size. In the midst of fear and uncertainty, ordinary people opened their homes, schools, churches, kitchens, and hearts to complete strangers.
Twenty-five years later, the message of “Come From Away” feels as meaningful as ever. While the events of Sept. 11 provide the backdrop, this is ultimately a story about kindness, community, compassion, resilience, and what can happen when people choose to take care of one another during an unimaginable moment in history.
The production features local performers and musicians who have been working to respectfully share the stories of both the people of Newfoundland and the passengers whose lives were forever changed by those five days.
“Come From Away” will be performed at St. Daniel’s Lutheran Church, 480 Big Spring Road, Heidelberg Township, on Oct. 16 and 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.; Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; and Oct. 24 at 2 and 7 p.m.
For tickets, go to https://our.show/come-from-away.
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The Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn, invites audiences to experience a bold and theatrical reimagining of one of literature’s most enduring legends with “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” by Kate Hamill, running Wednesday through next Sunday.
Based on Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel, Hamill’s inventive and fast-paced adaptation turns the familiar story on its head, placing the women at the center of the narrative and exploring themes of power, gender, survival, and agency. Infused with humor, theatricality, suspense, and unexpected twists, the production offers a fresh perspective on a story audiences may think they already know.
“This version of Dracula drives a stake through the heart of toxic masculinity, making it terrifyingly relevant today,” said Vicki Haller Graff, executive director of Yocum Institute for Arts Education. “It highlights the ‘monsters’ among us through exceptional storytelling and dynamic performances.”
Recommended for grades 7-12, the production contains theatrical violence and mature content.
Performances are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m.; Friday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets for performances beginning at 10 a.m. are discounted to $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 12 are $12.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.yocuminstitute.org/theater, call 610-376-1576, or stop by Yocum Institute for Arts Education.
Books
Dominic Murgido of Myerstown, Lebanon County, has written a new book, “Getting to Know You: Discovering First Love in the Seventies,” a nostalgic exploration of two high school graduates navigating the threshold between adolescence and adulthood. As they embark on their college journey, these young adults grapple with doubt and uncertainty while yearning for connection and purpose. The narrative follows their parallel quests for identity, unfolding through handwritten letters, telephone conversations, and shared moments of vulnerability that define their emerging relationship against the backdrop of campus life.
“This work represents my desire to honor a generation that experienced love and growth before the digital age transformed our relationships,” Murgido said. “Through their journey, I hope readers reconnect with the significance of presence, patience, and authentic conversation in building lasting bonds.”
Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Murgido’s poignant work offers readers an intimate glimpse into a transformative period of self-discovery and romantic awakening. The narrative reminds contemporary audiences of the profound value found in slowness and intentionality.
“Getting to Know You” is available at bookstores, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.