An exploration of what it means to be human - our suffering, hopes, mortality, and longing for something greater
EVENT INFORMATION

March 8, 2026 | 3:00 PM

St. Sebastian Catholic Church
5400 W. Washington Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53208
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Run time: approximately 65 minutes
​Know Before You Go

The Program
Bel Canto presents “Sonorous Silence” —a program exploring the beauty, meditation, and inspiration that can emerge from the stillness of silence. J. Aaron McDermid’s From Light to Light sets Susan Palo Cherwien’s poetry, giving voice to the earth itself at its creation. Alex Berko’s Sacred Place uses the structure of a Jewish service to set texts of various writers and thinkers who speak of the environment as a place of safety, comfort, and beauty. Eric Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine gives flight to innovation and inspiration, while Jake Runestad’s A Silence Haunts Me is a gripping portrayal of Beethoven’s inner turmoil and artistic resilience during the loss of his hearing. Join us for this compelling journey into sound, spirit, and silence. 

From Light to Light  |  J. Aaron McDermid
Sacred Place  |  Alex Berko
Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine  |  Eric Whitacre
A Silence Haunts Me  |  Jake Runestad
I Need Thee Every Hour  |  Sam Robson 

Deep Dive​

Jake Runestad discusses his piece, A Silence Haunts Me (YouTube)
About Jake Runestad
About Eric Whitacre

What You'll Hear