(BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- The Sanctuary on the Green Arts, Cultural, and Community Alliance, in collaboration with Vox Novus, presents the next concert in its Sanctuary Sounds series: "Beyond the Scores – Glimpses into the Lives of Classical Composers", featuring violinist Laurel Gagnon and pianist Marina Iwao, on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 3:00pm.

This intimate performance invites audiences to explore the personal and cultural contexts behind iconic classical works, revealing the human stories woven into the music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Maurice Ravel, Richard Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and George Gershwin.

Laurel Gagnon is an award-winning violinist praised for her “naturalness... both disarming and distinctive” (The Straits Times, Singapore). A top prizewinner of the Elmar Oliveira and Singapore International Violin Competitions, she currently studies with Augustin Hadelich at the Yale School of Music.

Marina Iwao is a sought-after pianist whose collaborative performances span prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. She is a dedicated interpreter of contemporary works and a member of Random Access Music, frequently premiering compositions by living composers.

No RSVP is required. Doors open at 2:30pm. Sanctuary on the Green is located at 147 Broad Street in Bloomfield, New Jersey A donation of $10 is suggested.

Program highlights include:

* Sonata for Violin and Piano in B-flat Major, KV 454 – W.A. Mozart

* Selections from Porgy and Bess – George Gershwin, arr. Heifetz

* Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 3 – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

* Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 18 – Richard Strauss

This event is part of Sanctuary on the Green’s mission to create a home for art, culture, and community engagement in the heart of Bloomfield. Sanctuary Sounds continues to offer world-class music in an inviting and inspiring space.