May 6, 2014
Join Kaj Lund Olsen, Joe Ballestrasse and guest Gloria Ferry-Brennan for a “mostly jazz” performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. Donations will be gladly accepted at the door.
Kaj Lund Olsen—on voice, piano, and guitar—and Joe Ballestrasse on bass will be joined by Gloria Ferry-Brennan, who will add violin and voice. Kaj and Joe first met in middle school and have been in a few combos together since then. Kaj and Gloria started “Pre-Twinkle” violin class together and are enjoying making music together again.
Kaj Lund Olsen sings with Soundsation, an elite Edmonds Community College vocal jazz ensemble. He’s the only high school student to be accepted in the group and has soloed with them and had opportunities to study with jazz greats from around the country. He also plays guitar in the ECC jazz band. A few of Kaj’s original works will be featured in the concert.
Kaj studied composition with Ralph Johnson at a month-long intensive music workshop at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, last summer. Some of the proceeds from this concert will go toward additional composition studies with Dr. Johnson. Kaj is the son of Deb Lund and Karl Olsen of The Brothers Four.
Joe Ballestrasse began playing the viola but switched to bass about four years ago and has played with the South Whidbey Jazz Bands under the direction of Jess Monet and Chris Harshman. He also plays with the South Whidbey Blues Combo and has performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He studies with Margaret Storer. Joe is the son of Brian and Leslie Hallum Ballestrasse.
Gloria Ferry-Brennan began playing the violin at age four. She studied with Linda Good and later with Simon James in Seattle. Gloria has performed with many orchestras around the country and has won numerous awards. You may have seen her locally with the Saratoga Orchestra, 3 Cent Stamp, Island Consort and others. Gloria is the daughter of Anne Ferry-Brennan and Patrick Brennan.
Come and join us for a delightful evening of music! Trinity Lutheran Church is located at the intersection of Hwy 525 and Woodard in Freeland.
