Courtroom Concert: Brian Krinke and Laura Sewell

Hosted by composer Abbie Betinis, our popular Courtroom Concerts take place at noon most Thursdays in the Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul. This series features accomplished musicians and composers from the Twin Cities and surrounding area, as well as occasional musical newcomers to the area. These one-hour concerts are free and open to the public.

About the Artists:

BRIAN KRINKE teaches violin and viola at Colorado Mesa University, as well as conducting the CMU Orchestra and teaching composition. He performs regularly as Concertmaster of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, and has performed as a violin soloist throughout the country, including concerto performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Boca Raton Symphony.

In addition to his work as a violinist, he has an extensive background as a pianist and composer. As a pianist Mr. Krinke has won international prizes in the Stravinsky Award International Competition, and the Young Keyboard Artists Association International Competition. As collaborative pianist he has toured Central America, performing for the President of Nicaragua and giving a chamber concert in the Teatro Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Mr. Krinke’s compositions have been performed in venues in New York City, including Merkin Hall and St. Paul’s Chapel, as well as at Princeton University, Colorado Mesa University and on the Blue Sage Concert Series. His works have been performed by principals of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. Mr. Krinke studied composition at the University of Minnesota with Paul Fetler.

Laura enjoys an active and varied musical career and has distinguished herself as a highly respected chamber musician. She was the founding cellist of the award-winning Lark Quartet which, during her tenure, won the Bronze Medal at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and served as the Juilliard String Quartet’s teaching assistants at the Juilliard School. Two decades later, she was the cellist of the acclaimed Artaria String Quartet from 2007-2016. She plays as a substitute cellist with the Minnesota Orchestra and performs with the Twin Cities-based Isles Ensemble. She is the recipient of a 2020 Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to record a CD of works for cello and piano by composers Stephen Paulus, Paul Schoenfield, and David Evan Thomas. Ms. Sewell received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Juilliard School where she was a student of Leonard Rose, and her Master’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Alan Harris. At the age of seventeen, Laura had the unique opportunity to study with legendary cellist, Jacqueline du Pré.