Dance performance and Concert
Arriving guests will pause at different locations in our Gardens, where choreographer Christina Soriano brings her acclaimed tradition of engaging local workers and students in original performances. Following these prelude-delights, all will travel to our garden Teatrino for a ‘back by popular demand’ superlative band, led by Sam Farthing—whose unmatched playing of Django Reinhardt-style jazz will enthrall all in attendance.
Featured Biographies
Christina Soriano
PROFESSOR OF DANCE; CO-DIRECTOR OF NEUROARTS LAB; CO-DIRECTOR OF WAKE THE ARTS CENTER
Christina Soriano is the Reynolds Professor of Dance and the co-director of the Wake the Arts Center and the Neuroarts lab at Wake Forest University. At Wake Forest, she was also the Vice Provost for the Arts and Interdisciplinary Initiatives from 2018-2024. Christina has danced for many inspiring choreographers, including Alexandra Beller and Heidi Henderson. In addition to the new works she creates for the Wake Forest Dance Company, her choreography has been presented throughout New England, North Carolina, New York and in Vienna, Austria. Choreographic or teaching residencies have included the University of Virginia, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Amherst College, Trinity College (CT), Salve Regina University, Rhode Island College and Providence College. Christina has premiered a new work at the Music Carolina Festival in Winston-Salem since 2013. She often works with large, intergenerational casts of dancers, ranging in ages from 5-87. Since 2012, Christina has regularly taught a community dance class in Winston-Salem, NC to people living with Parkinson’s Disease and their carepartners, and has been involved in three scientific studies that look at the ways improvisational dance can improve the mobility, balance and cognition of older adults.
Sam Farthing
GUITARIST AND SONGWRITER
Twenty-one year old Sam Farthing is a skilled guitarist and songwriter from Baltimore, specializing in jazz manouche and gypsy music. At age ten Sam picked up the guitar and soon after started playing the music of his favorite guitarist, Django Reinhardt. With performances around the world at festivals like the Festival Django Reinhardt in France, Djangofest Northwest in Washington, Django sur Lennon in Ireland, Django a Gogo events around the USA, and the Charm City Django Jazz Fest at home in Baltimore, Sam has established himself as a notable figure in the genre. His commitment to musical authenticity and dedication to teaching have made him a respected mentor to many aspiring guitarists.
Brad Cokendolpher
RHYTHM GUITAR
Brad Cokendolpher (rhythm guitar) is the founder and leader of The Piedmont Hot Club (North Carolina). Brad began his musical journey at young age with bluegrass banjo, inspired by his great uncle. He later picked up the guitar in college and has since performed in a number of bands in the Piedmont region including the Hot Club of North Carolina, modern cabaret act Clare Fader and The Vaudevillians, and as multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with punk-folk group The Darnell Woodies. He has performed in North America, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands in a variety of musical groups. Now well into a 30+ year obsession, Django Reinhardt continues to be his greatest musical inspiration.
Julia Hornung
DOUBLE BASS
Julia Hornung (double bass), an outstanding bassist from Germany, has established herself as a central figure in the German jazz manouche renaissance. Her brilliant playing and innovative approach have made her not only the winner of the BMW Welt Young Artist Jazz Award 2021, but also an active advocate of fair working structures in the jazz scene. In addition to her work with her own bands such as the Collectif Julia Hornung and the Monaco Swing Ensemble, she is also a member of the avant-garde pop band SiEA. Hornung continues to promote talent, both through her publishing house Velvet Edition and her booking agency Upstroke Music.
Giacomo Smith
CLARINET
Giacomo Smith (clarinet), Born in Italy, Giacomo grew up in upstate New York. He picked up jazz very early on account of his mother’s great aSinity for Dave Brubeck. Piano lessons at 5, clarinet at 10, saxophone at 12. At each stage along the way, he developed a deeper interest in classical and jazz music. At university, Giacomo followed the classical performance path. He completed a Bachelor’s of Music at Boston University in 2009 and a Master’s Degree at McGill University in 2011, both in classical clarinet performance. From there, he moved to London to work in Boston University London
Programmes’ administrative office. His days were spent at the computer and nights learning the London scene at places like the Nightjar, The Haggerston, and Ronnie Scott’s. Don’t tell his mom, but he quit the day job. Now you can hear him regularly in London with Kansas Smitty’s House Band and at regular appearances at the top Jazz Manouche festivals across North America and Europe.
Giangiacomo Rosso
GUITAR
Giangiacomo Rosso (guitar), one of Italy’s leading jazz manouche guitarists, has conquered the stages of Europe with his talent and virtuosity. Inspired by Django Reinhardt, he has led a successful solo career as well as the quintet “Hot Club de Turin”, which is reminiscent of the master’s legendary group.
Rosso now plans to further expand his musical boundaries by collaborating with first-class Manouche jazz musicians from all over Europe. His upcoming appearances at prestigious festivals such as the Django Reinhardt Festival in Fontainebleau and Django l’H in Barcelona promise unforgettable musical
experiences.