Join us for two unique events coming to Barrington’s White House:
3rd Thursday Art Night Out The Eclectic Art of Jill Funk – July 18 @ 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Meet Jill and view the life’s work of this multi-faceted artist and Kaleidoscope founder. From clay sculpture to mosaic, from oils to pencil drawing, Jill’s work is rich with color, fantasy and the beautiful human form. Jill studied Fine Art at the Cleveland Institute and achieved success as a professional artist participating in numerous juried art shows, commissioned projects and commercial work, as well as teaching art. Tickets available here.
Dedicated to sharing the joy of art and the fierce belief that art is for everyone, Jill founded Kaleidoscope School of Fine Art in 1986—a non-profit gem in Barrington that has enriched the lives of countless students through the visual arts with classes, outreach programs and scholarships. As well, Jill was responsible for starting Art in the Barn and the Art Gallery at Good Shepherd Hospital. Before moving to Barrington, Jill founded Bay Crafters in Bay Village, Ohio, which is still flourishing today.
Jill is truly an art advocate and community leader for the arts, and we honor her at this special 3rd Thursday event. Also enjoy live demos by Kaleidoscope teachers, Jazz Du Jours’ live music; an auction to benefit Kaleidoscope’s scholarship and outreach programs which includes artworks from different artists, jewelry, watercolors and Jill’s bronze angel; delicious treats, a cash bar and more! A night to remember. Please join us.
Amarins Wierdsma Performs with Ravinia’s Steans Institute Colleagues – July 21 @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Amarins is the daughter of clarinetist Nancy Braithwaite of Amsterdam and the granddaughter of Bill and Dyllis Braithwaite of Barrington. Tickets are available here.
Born in Utrecht in 1991 to a musical family, Amarins studied with Coosje Wijzenbeek at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and with Vera Beths at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. In 2013 she moved to London to study with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama completing her Masters and Artist Diploma distinction and is currently completing a Fellowship.
During her studies Amarins has won numerous awards including the RPS Emily Anderson Prize, 3rd Prize at the 2013 Dutch National Violin Competition Oskar Back, the Young Music Talent of the Year Prize in the Netherlands (2007), 1st Prize at the Davina van Wely (2005), Iordens Viooldagen (2004) and Princess Christina Competitions. She was a finalist of YCAT 2017 at Wigmore hall. She has participated in Open Chamber Music and masterclasses at IMS Prussia Cove, the International Holland Music Sessions, Kronberg Academy and East Neuk Festival retreat. In 2017 Amarins was selected to perform at Wigmore hall during the finals of the Young Classical Artists Trust.
During 2017 Amarins has given a series of recitals at the Slovak Philharmonic Hall Bratislava, the Concertgebouw, and throughout the Netherlands as part of The International Holland Music Sessions Masters on Tour series. As a soloist she has performed Prokofiev’s Concerto No.2 at the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in London, Vaughan Williams’s Lark Ascending at Cadogan Hall with the Mozart Symphony Orchestra, Brahms’s Concerto with the Westbourne Symphony Orchestra and Bach’s Double Concerto with the Fancy Fiddlers in Utrecht. Further afield she has given concerts in the USA and Indonesia.
A committed chamber musician, Amarins is first violinist in the Barbican Quartet. Formed in 2014 at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Quartet has appeared at Wigmore Hall (Maisie Lewis Award), Barbican, Milton Court, Casa de Musica (Porto), the Harmos Festival (Portugal) and Ashmolean Museum Oxford. Over the last year they have taken part in ProQuartet’s training programme in Paris, and undertaken a residency in Snape Maltings. In the autumn the Quartet continue their studies at the Reina Sofia School in Madrid studying with Günther Pichler.
Amarins has taken part in masterclasses with Isabella van Keulen, Gerhard Schulz, Nikolaj Znaider, Viviane Hagner, Ference Rados, Anras Keller, Pierre Amoyal, Ivry Gitlis and Anner Bijlsma, among others. She plays on a Landolfi violin (1755) on loan from the National Music Instrument Foundation in Amsterdam.
Barrington’s White House is a unique, historic venue located in the heart of downtown Barrington at 145 West Main Street. This meticulously restored 1898 mansion hosts cultural and community events, and is also available for rental for weddings, corporate meetings, non-profit fundraisers and family celebrations. Visit the web site or call 224-512-4292 for your private tour.
