“A Conversation Through Us”: An Immersive Performance Ritual for Voice and Violin Premieres in Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, MI — On April 11 and 18, 2026, violinist Negar Dena Afazel and vocalist Tricia Tetzlaff will premiere “A Conversation Through Us,” a multidisciplinary performance exploring the continuum of the female experience.

Performance Dates & Details:
April 11, 7:00 PM: First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
April 18, 7:00 PM: Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalamazoo
Admission: Free (Donations appreciated)
Accessibility: Braille program notes are available

About the Performance: Featuring works by Holst, Villa-Lobos, Vaughan Williams, and Milhaud, the project serves as a "sensory sanctuary" in an age of normalized global aggression and digital isolation. By rejecting the traditional "stage-and-listener" divide, the performance pulls the audience into a shared psychological flow—a necessary sanctuary in a fragmented world.

At the heart of the work is Memory as a tool for Ownership. In an era defined by the "bold distances" of digital screens, our personal stories are at risk of becoming mere consumable data. This performance is a reclamation of those stories.
Through original narration by Hamidreza Ostovar, delivered as visceral testimonials, the audience is guided through a symbolic journey across history. It is an invitation to stop observing and start participating in a collective reflection on what it means to be human—and an individual—today.

Website: www.negardenaafazel.com