Salon des Artistes

Many of you know we lost Dori Wilson in early February: our dear Sister, Colleague, public relations maven, confidante, Chicago cheerleader, giggle partner, former model and so much more. As words still fail me, I use the one consistent voice of my soul—music—to express my pain in losing her. Sharing this selection, with violinist Cara Schlecker Ketter: an arrangement of Amazing Grace, originally for solo piano by Dino Kartsonakis from the 80s. I arranged a violin / piano duet of Dino’s beautiful setting. For you Dor’, from your Paullie . . . Rest now . . .

This recording highlights one of the pieces written so beautifully and masterfully by Cantor Jonathan Comisar and commissioned by the insanely gifted Cantor Steven Stoehr for his own theatrical work “The Lost Supper”.

Recently, we joined mankind around the world in remembering the millions of lives lost to us in the Nazi Holocaust (Shoah) of the 1930s and 1940s. As our small part to ensure they are not forgotten and to realize what these losses represent to our world, Cara Schlecker Ketter and Paul Dykstra share a performance from the University Club of Chicago of the haunting Theme from the movie Schindler’s List written with such love by America’s own John Williams. Please take these 3-4 minutes in silence, to memorialize in horror once again the evil of which we humans are capable when reason and truth are tossed aside by madmen ... may their memories be for blessing. (Played on a Guadagnini violin from the 1780s)​​

Cornelius Johnson performs My Soul’s Been Anchored, accompanied by Paul Dykstra

RBG describes the impact her mother had on her life in song, an interview by Abigail Pogrebin set to music by Tom Kitt. Performed by Cantor Susan Lewis Friedman, Paul Dykstra on Piano, and Aaron Kaplan on Cello, filmed in our front yard, video by Ross Friedman

Cornelius Johnson performs John Wesley Work, Jr.’s Soliloquy, accompanied by Paul Dykstra