Arts • Culture • Community

Interview with Ted Mook

Rhode Island-based cellist, Theodore Mook performs at La Grua Center on Saturday, January 7 with three French cello sonatas. He’ll be bringing pianist Michael Bahmann to complete the duo. As a part of La Grua Center’s Music Advisory Committee, we are eager to see him in action. We sat down with him for a quick… Continue reading Interview with Ted Mook

Interview with Julia Bady & Andrew King

An interview with pianists Julia Bady and Andrew King who will be performing for us on November 12th: What first got you into music? Andrew: My older siblings took piano lessons and practiced on our Mom’s old upright.  She would also occasionally play, and my dad took lessons too, so I grew up hearing piano… Continue reading Interview with Julia Bady & Andrew King

Interview with Misuzu Tanaka & Maksim Shtrykov

Belarussian-born American clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov and London-born Japanese pianist Misuzu Tanaka took a moment out of their busy schedules to chat with us about their upcoming concert and music in general. How did you get started in music? Misuzu: Though my parents didn’t play any musical instruments (mother took lessons for some time, but was mostly… Continue reading Interview with Misuzu Tanaka & Maksim Shtrykov

Interview with the Heatons:

Boston-based husband and wife duo, Matt and Shannon Heaton — world-class American performers with Irish roots and universal appeal —  return to La Grua Center on Friday, September 30 to blend traditional Irish music and instruments with songs from North America. They’ll be bringing Becky Tracy and Keith Murphy to complete their quartet. We sat… Continue reading Interview with the Heatons:

Interview with Lisa Marien:

Norwich jazz artist and New London music educator, Lisa Marien, performs at La Grua Center on Saturday, August 6. We interrupted her summer break to ask her a few questions about her life as a musician and her upcoming performance.   What first got you into music?     Music was always present in my home… Continue reading Interview with Lisa Marien:

Interview with Artem & Octavie:

If you walked near our building the past two days, you might have heard music echoing out towards the harbor. Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde and Artem Belogurov are here at La Grua Center for a concert on Saturday, July 16, and they are hard at work practicing to deliver an outstanding performance. We sat down with them… Continue reading Interview with Artem & Octavie:

Interview with Hilary Castle:

Hilary Castle

Stonington native Hilary Castle returns to La Grua Center for a sold-out concert on Saturday, July 9. We sat down with her and talked about musical inspirations and what it’s like to perform at La Grua Center. Here is an excerpt from that conversation: What first got you all into music? My earliest musical memory… Continue reading Interview with Hilary Castle:

Interview with Shelley Lawrence Kirkwood:

During the months of May and June 2022, we’re pleased to present the works of artist Shelly Lawrence Kirkwood.    When did you first realize you wanted to become an artist?   I don’t think it was a realization, so much as something that I always knew. I started taking pictures in 6th grade when… Continue reading Interview with Shelley Lawrence Kirkwood:

Interview with Twisted Pine:

Photo: Jo Chattman

We’re thrilled to be kicking off this year’s Concerts on the Green on Friday, May 20 with Boston-based quartet, Twisted Pine – a group that was once bluegrass but is now “something else, a wider version of a stringband, boundary jumpers akin to outfits like Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, and Crooked Still [The Boston Globe].”… Continue reading Interview with Twisted Pine: