Humanities Concert Series

Listening to Silence - Guqin, Tea, & the Healing Music of Nature

Monday, February 9,  2026 12-1PM
Eakins Lounge, Jefferson Alumni Hall

Join us for a Humanities Concert with Shuishan Yu, PhD, a fourth generation Mei’an School guqin player and a professor in the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University and Bin Wu, MA, tea scholar, contemplative arts practitioner, and Director of the Office of Campus and Community Engagement, Thomas Jefferson University.

Listening to Silence explores the restorative dimensions of traditional Chinese arts and culture and their continued relevance in contemporary life. Centered on the ancient Guqin—a zither with over 3,000 years of history—and the contemplative tea ceremony, this program offers an immersive experience in stillness, attention, and harmony. In a world of speed and noise, the Guqin teaches stillness and breath; in a world of fragmentation, the tea ceremony cultivates mindfulness and care. Together, they guide us toward reconnection—with ourselves, with others, and with the natural world—illuminating the enduring relationship between art, health, and humanities.

Co-presented by Jefferson Humanities & Health and the Office of Campus and Community Engagement, Thomas Jefferson University.

Sarah Fleiss

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 12-1PM
Eakins Lounge, Jefferson Alumni Hall

Described as “bright” and “stylish” by Opera News, American soprano Sarah Fleiss joins the exclusive international Baroque touring ensemble, Le Jardin des Voix of Les Arts Florissants for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 season productions, where she performs in Les arts florissants and La Descente d'Orphée aux Enfers by Charpentier under William Christie and in Il giardino di rose by Scarlatti under Paul Agnew. She also tours Latin America with Curtis on Tour during the 2025–26 season and performs solo recitals in the U.S. In Summer 2025, she attended the Georg Solti Bel Canto Accademia in Tuscany. During the 2024–25 season, Sarah performed the roles of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro under the baton of Nicholas McGegan with Curtis Opera Theatre, the soprano soloist role in Handel’s Messiah with Hudson Baroque and the soprano soloist role in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Dalton Chorale in New York City. Previous role highlights include the title role in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Ginevra in Handel’s Ariodante, and was a featured soloist in a staged production of Handel’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato. In concert, she performed as the soprano soloist in the Fauré Requiem with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Poulenc’s Gloria and Dvořák’s Te Deum with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, Sarah was a Renée Fleming Arist at the Aspen Music Festival, covering Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro under conductor Nicholas McGegan. Sarah is the 2025 winner of the Arthur W. Foote Award from the Harvard Musical Association.

Sarah completed her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees at Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to Curtis, Sarah attended Columbia University and its Juilliard exchange program.

Tambonito

Thursday, November 6

oin Tambonito in a rhythmic journey through Latin and Brazilian percussion across the Caribbean and South America! Tambonito is Jefferson Humanities & Health Artist in Residence Josh Robinson, Andrés Cisneros, and Alex Shaw. Highlighting the connections and innovations in rumba, samba, and salsa, Tambonito's highly-interactive performance delivers rich cultural and historical context and deepens our appreciation for the diverse ways these popular music traditions cultivate community, communication, and creative expression, inspiring audiences of all ages in this collective celebration of music and rhythm.

Sydelle Ross, MD, D.ABA

Thursday, September 25

Sydelle Ross, MD, D.ABA is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who currently practices hospice and palliative medicine. As a classical and jazz vocalist, she  incorporates music into her medical practice to provide comfort to patients and their loved ones in the context of  serious illness.  Dr. Ross also harnesses the power of music to mitigate the effects of burnout syndrome and promote resilience among healthcare workers.  

Dr. Ross has shared her work at the intersection of the arts and health at various conferences in the US and abroad.  Her work has also been featured in the acclaimed publication entitled Artists Remaking Medicine-The Practice of Imagination and the Power to Create a Better Healthcare Future. 

Dr. Ross serves on various arts in health committees and organizations, including the Music & Medicine Committee of the American Medical Women’s Association, and the International Association of Music and Medicine. 

The Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia

Tuesday, March 25

Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, now in its 151st season under Artistic Director & Conductor Dominick DiOrio, stands as one of America's most enduring musical institutions. Originally founded in 1874 as an eight-part male chorus by William Wallace Gilchrist, Mendelssohn Chorus now includes over 150 voices of diverse age, background, gender, and profession. Since its inception the chorus has balanced tradition with innovation, presenting beloved classics while championing new works. The chorus's commitment to excellence has garnered prestigious accolades, including ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, a GRAMMY nomination, and a Pulitzer Prize in Music for Julia Wolfe's Anthracite Fields, commissioned by the chorus in 2014. Beyond performances, the Mendelssohn Chorus serves as an incubator for emerging talent through its section leader and apprenticeship programs, and recently launched Joyful Abundance, a commissioning program for emerging composers and poets. Centering its mission to foster artistry, beauty and belonging, the chorus is dedicated to enriching Philadelphia's cultural tapestry by illuminating our shared human experiences. 

Under the direction of Assistant Conductor Ariel Alvarado, a select ensemble from the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia will present highlights from their recent concert "Never One Thing," featuring a diverse program spanning classical works to contemporary spirituals.

Sydelle Ross, MD, D.ABA

Thursday, February 13

Sydelle Ross, MD, D.ABA is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who currently practices hospice and palliative medicine. As a classical and jazz vocalist, she  incorporates music into her medical practice to provide comfort to patients and their loved ones in the context of  serious illness.  Dr. Ross also harnesses the power of music to mitigate the effects of burnout syndrome and promote resilience among healthcare workers.  

Dr. Ross has shared her work at the intersection of the arts and health at various conferences in the US and abroad.  Her work has also been featured in the acclaimed publication entitled Artists Remaking Medicine-The Practice of Imagination and the Power to Create a Better Healthcare Future. 

Dr. Ross serves on various arts in health committees and organizations, including the Music & Medicine Committee of the American Medical Women’s Association, and the International Association of Music and Medicine. 

Jaffna World / eastern fusion music ensemble

Wednesday, November 20

Jaffna is an acoustic, ethnic fusion ensemble consisting of Roger Mgrdichian (oud), Raji Malik (guitar), Branavan Ganesan (tabla) and Joseph Tayoun (dumbek). The Philadelphia-based group combines instrumentation and influences from the Middle East, India, and anywhere else that inspires them with original music both exotic and familiar. With roots in the eclectic 1990s world music scene centered around Philadelphia’s Middle East Restaurant, the group maintains its distinct style with compositions and performances that stretch the boundaries of their respective cultures.

Jaffna’s musicians have created a musical universe with oud, guitar, tabla, and dumbek, where they can all play together, eat, argue, and still stay good friends. Along with the strong Middle East and Indian flavors come unmistakable flamenco, rock, Balkan, and jazz influences, the result of jamming in and around the vibrant Philadelphia music scene for years.

Jaffna has produced two CDs of original music, Acoustic Allies and Mandala, and its members maintain a high level of activity in many world music projects such as  Barakka, One, Hindugrass, Arehm, Atzilut, and the Mid-East Ensemble.

The Tango Therapy Project Presents El Sesenta Dúo with Damian & Sarah Tango

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

There is a robust body of scientific research demonstrating tango’s unique benefits for people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), as well as older individuals and people affected by other motor and neurological disorders, and mental and physical conditions. Join us for a demonstration by The Tango Therapy Project with musicians El Sesenta Dúo and dancers Damian Lobato and Sarah Chung on the benefits of adapted tango for people with Parkinson's.

The Tango Therapy Project (TTP) was launched in 2023 with the mission to provide therapeutic benefit, improve quality of life, spark joy, and promote social connection through Argentine tango. Based in Philadelphia and NY, El Sesenta Dúo (Shinjoo Cho, bandoneón, and Alejo de los Reyes, guitar) brings to life the intimate conversations of the urban Buenos Aires and sprawling Argentina. Sarah Chung is an Argentine Tango dancer, teacher, and performer based in Philadelphia, PA whose dancing is characterized by a strong sense of the music and a playful connection with her partner. Born and raised in Argentina, Damian Lobato left his profession as a dentist in 2000 to devote himself to dancing professionally and since then has been teaching and performing in Argentina, Central America, Europe and the United States.