Salon Concert Series
Spring-Summer 2026
“ACROSS THE WATER” Mixed Blood
A project exploring the musical and social cross-currents, commonalities and differences between Somali and Eastern European Jewish klezmer traditions.
In partnership with Mixed Blood, CFI brings together the newly formed Somali band, Ardaa, and the Americana folk band Red Thread. After a set from each group, musicologist and performer David Harris leads a guided audience conversation. As a finale, the bands return to the stage, this time for an improvised merger of their music. A post-show reception with refreshments invites everyone to continue to connect.
Past Events
Jan 2026
EQUITABLE DINNER — Mixed Blood & Owamni
In January we partnered Owamni to host one of Mixed Blood’sEquitable Dinners — events that bring together strangers and neighbors from diverse backgrounds to talk about complex issues, over a meal, fueled by theater. After watching a one-act performed by local playwright-actor Sarah Agnew, guests enjoyed a meal and took part in a facilitated conversation about racial justice.
Nov 2025
JD Steele and Company in “THROUGH THE AGES”
Our inter-generational concert “Through the Ages” celebrates the perspectives of youth and experience, asking us to appreciate the differences and imagine greater collaboration between the generations… With music direction by JD Steele, the show premiered in November at Aster House, wowing a sold-out house. We look forward to encoring this show in the near future. For more info click here
Apr 2025
Meet You at the Crossroads – A Salon Concert
In April CFI convened internationally acclaimed music legend J.D. Steele (director, MacPhail Community Youth Choir) and writer-musician Ahmed Ismail Yusuf to co-create Meet You at the Crossroads. A guided conversation led by music scholar and producer David Harris deepened engagement; a post-performance reception encouraged conversation and connection. (The sold-out event, co-produced with the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies, later encored at St. John’s University.) For more info www.stthomas.edu
Mar 2024
“SELTZER NIGHTS”
Partnering with the St. Paul JCC, CFI presented Seltzer Nights, a vaudeville tribute to Yiddish theater’s influence on American culture. Building on that collaboration CFI created a cabaret-style lecture-demonstration tracing the evolution of New York’s Yiddish theater. Hosted by Beck Lee with live klezmer music, the program opened the Cantors’ Assembly annual conference in Minneapolis.
Winter 2023-2024
SPIDERWOMAN Midwest Tour
CFI organized a community-responsive Midwest tour for Spiderwoman, the oldest Indigenous theater company in the Americas. During residencies in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Native theater artists and community members were invited into the creative process. Social gatherings, and story workshops fostered interaction among Native and non-Native participants. Each residency culminated in a performance of “Misdemeanor Dream,” offering many audience members their first modern theatre spectacle with a distinctly Native worldview.
May 2023
Our First SALON CONCERT
Our first public event was a salon concert in May at the Hamilton Studios. At this intimate proof-of-concept event, Ahmed Yusuf performed several Somali songs and David Harris delved into ancient Sephardic repertoire. A mix of Jewish and Somali neighbors took part in a lively guided conversation followed by reception with refreshments.
“CFI’s ability to integrate cultural exploration into civic society is in complete alignment with what we do, and their approach bringing people of different backgrounds together blends seamlessly with our goal to further justice for those whose stories we uplift on our stage. We look forward to partnering with CFI on their upcoming Somali-klezmer concert ‘Across the Water.'” TOLU EKISOLA, Manager Community Organizing and Engagement Mixed Blood Theater