Community Concert Series: Pianist Paul Dykstra and Soprano Christine Cummins

This month’s performance in our free Community Concert Series will be by pianist Paul Dykstra and soprano Christine Cummins on Tuesday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Paul Dykstra, collaborative pianist, is dedicated to exposing the world to the music lost in the Holocaust of World War II. He has performed at the Singer’s Festival in Warsaw, debuting the piano trio and vocal works of Mieczyslaw Weinberg and other Jewish composers.

Recent performances have included concerts with The Grant Park Music Festival, the Ravinia Festival Outreach, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Guild Activities, The International Women's Associates and his own The Fine Art of the Song Series at Salon des Artistes Music in Chicago's Downtown Fine Arts Building.

As Musical Director and Conductor of Chicago’s Lira Singers and visionary of the Lira Symphony Orchestra, Dykstra spent 15+ years bringing Polish opera and classical music to audiences throughout the United States. He conducted recordings and performances with Lira at Chicago’s Symphony Center.

Known for her “effortless coloratura” and “enchanting stage presence,” Christine Cummins is a dynamic performer that is establishing herself in the opera and musical theatre scene across the country.

She recently performed in four shows over the course of one month in Chicago. These included a wide span of genres from "Sister Genovieffa" in Valkyrie Ensemble's production of Suor Angelica to playing "Lucius" in Shakespeare's controversial play Titus Andronicus at Redtwist Theatre.

Over her career Christine has been given immense opportunity to perform in all of the different styles and genres that she enjoys. She has sung and played bass guitar with a professional rock band, sang in the acclaimed Houston Chamber Choir, performed with the Houston Grand Opera Chorus and worked as a voice actor on a variety of projects.