In 2022, SooJin Anjou started the concert & discussion series

“SPARK: Creative Processes in the Arts and Sciences”

at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, with the aim of bringing world-class musicians, composers and scientists into a thought-provoking dialogue, thus lighting the creative fire in their respective fields. At each event, the panelists and the audience share their insights and experiences, pose challenging questions, and learn from one another.

The concert – always featuring the premiere of a new composition — is followed by a conversation across disciplines, in which everyone is invited to reflect on questions such as: what can science and art learn from each other? How can we tackle current global and local challenges creatively?

SPARK 13

“Biases and First Impressions: The Hidden Lens in Art and Science”

JULY 1, 2026, 6:00PM

18-19h                               CONCERT

with SooJin Anjou, piano; Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin

James Helgeson (b. 1966)         Four Pieces for Piano (2024, world premiere)

                                               1. Rapsodia testarda

‍ Robert Saar (1925-1976)          Klavierstücke Op. 16 Nr. 3, 4, 6

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)     Sonata for Violin and Piano in g minor, D. 408

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)       Sonata for Violin and Piano

19.15-20h                       DISCUSSION

Biases and First Impressions: The Hidden Lens in Art and Science

with Noah Bendix-Balgley, James Helgeson, Frank Heppner, Gary Kruppa, Paula Leupold

Hosted by SooJin Anjou and Nikolaus Rajewsky