St Michael’s is a unique church in the heart of the city. Unique for its relevant, contemporary preaching that embraces and inner wellbeing as its core message.
Sunday services include a mix of traditional and modern presentations interspersed with inspirational music performed by world-class musicians.
St Michael’s affirms and encourages the best expression of humanity, not only through the Sunday service but though our wellbeing programs and our commitment to counselling and psychotherapy. We believe faith, spirituality and a meaning to life are vital ingredients for our health and wellbeing and that there is a need to get hold of a more authentic religious understanding.
Sunday services commence at 10am.
Esther Schöpf (Violin) and Norbert Groh (Organ and Piano)
Visiting from Germany, the Duo Esther Schoepf and Norbert Groh is renowned for its diversity and liveliness – its broad repertoire spanning nearly all musical genres from classical concerts to so-called „easy-listening“ music.
Besides their own performances, Esther and Norbert regularly work together on numerous projects with theaters, film-makers, performance artists and also compose music for radio plays. Over the past years they have arranged the music for over 40 features and plays for the “Bayerische Rundfunk“ – including the six-part series „Die Kinder der Manns“ (The Children of the [Thomas] Mann Family) which also appeared as an audiobook.
The Duo´s latest CD production „Begegnungen“ (Encounters) was released in the Fall, 2015 under the label „Stringendo“ (Stringendo Music); under which they have also collected and recorded numerous chamber music works suitable for young aspiring musicians.
Music between the readings: Allegro moderato from the Sonata in A major for piano and violin – César Franck (1822-1890)
Music during the offering: Etude No 2 in C sharp minor for piano, opus 2 – Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
The Postlude: Romanze in G major for violin and organ, opus 26 – Johan Severin Svendsen (1840-1911)
Esther Schöpf (violin)
Born in the Odenwald region of southern Hesse (Germany), Esther started playing violin at the age of four and after graduation from high school went on to study violin and chamber music at the Music Conservatories of Munich (Germany) and Geneva (Switzerland). Together with her chamber music ensembles “Schwabinger Klaviertrio” and “NonSordino” she frequently performs at various national and international festivals (e.g. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Würzburger Mozart Festspiele and Heidelberger Frühling). She is concertmaster of the Munich Daimler Orchestra and of the Chamber Orchestra Stringendo. In addition, Esther develops projects combining music and literature that regularly lead to co-productions with various theaters in Munich. Numerous CD productions document her artistic work.
Norbert Groh (piano, organ)
Born near Bamberg in Bavaria (Germany) Norbert started playing piano, organ, cembalo and accordion at an early age. His exceptional versatile musical talent soon earned him numerous awards in various competitions. He went on to study music at the “Musikhochschule” (University-level College of Music) of Munich, Karlsruhe and Vienna. In addition he studied conducting at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, which led to positions at the Augsburg Municipal Opera and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.
As soloist (piano, organ, cembalo), as chamber musician and as conductor, Norbert regularly performs at various national and international venues such as the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, the Munich Opera Festival, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival and the festival “amici della musica, Milano”. Concert tours have led him to the USA, Spain, Finnland, and other countries. He also composes and arranges music for radio plays for the “Bayerischer Rundfunk” (Bavarian Radio) and an audio-book publisher. Numerous CD and radio productions document his artistic work.
