Program Title: “Strands of Compassion.” Our October 19, 2024 program will feature a presentation by
Christoph Wagner, award-winning cellist and Joanne Kong, award-winning classical pianist.
Christoph Wagner, cellist and Joanne Kong, pianist, have been praised for their sensitive and
passionate artistry. Their unique event, Strands of Compassion, weaves together live music,
spoken reflections and visual imagery to illuminate how embracing the connections we have to the natural world and all beings can bring about transformative spiritual growth, positive change and planetary healing. Listeners have praised the duo for the power of their musical artistry to inspire an elevated sense of our innate compassion:
“Joanne Kong and Christoph Wagner gifted our hearts with healing, enchanting, vibrant messages of love,
connection and hope. The images, poetry, quotes, personal reflections and musical performance lifted our spirits as
they directly invited us to a profound compassionate awareness of and growth in our relationships with all beings
and all of nature. Every note and every syllable combined to embody and illuminate our participation in the
interconnected web of existence. The most memorable message of compassionate oneness was exquisitely delivered
and warmly received by those in attendance. I believe many left inspired to further explore how our actions and
choices impact our one common home. This concert/presentation can only be described in superlatives. It is a
priceless treasure to all sentient beings and the planet.” — Loretta Row
Be sure not to miss this one! See you there!
About Our Presenters: Christoph Wagner, a native of Germany, is a sought-after, award-winning cellist who has concertized on four
continents. Dr. Wagner holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rice University, and his current research focuses on the role of
nutrition in musical peak performance. A passionate advocate for Sustainability and Plant-Based nutrition, Wagner created Rice Vegan
Society in 2017, advocating for a more veg-friendly and zero-waste environment at Rice University, as well as sharing information about
the manifold benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle: environmental sustainability, animal rights, health, social justice, spirituality, and world
peace. Currently Dr. Wagner is Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of New Mexico.
Pianist Joanne Kong’s performances have been praised for “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), and “superb artistry” (San
Antonio Express-News) in works “sensitively played” (New York Times). She has received numerous national and international honors, and
in addition to her music career, speaks around the world as an animal, environmental and vegan advocate. Her TEDx talk, The Power of
Plant-Based Eating, has over 1 million views. Dr. Kong is on the faculty at the University of Richmond and draws upon a diversity of skills
as a writer, speaker and creative artist.
About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.
Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at the University of Richmond Campus, Perkinson Recital Hall (North Court Building), Choir Room, 421
Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173, on Saturday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Perkinson Recital Hall (in North Court, Building #40)
STEP ONE:
Arriving from the west:
I-64
Take Exit 183/Glenside Drive south. Continue south on Glenside Drive to Three Chopt Road. Turn left at light onto Three Chopt. (Go to
Step 2.)
US 250 (Broad Street Road)
Turn right on Glenside Drive. Continue south to Three Chopt Road. Turn left onto Three Chopt. (Go to Step 2.)
US 60 (Midlothian Turnpike)
Turn left on State Route 147 (Huguenot Road). Continue to River Road – turn left on River Road. (Go to Step 2.)
From the southwest:
US 360 (Hull Street Road) Turn left on State Route 653 (Courthouse Road). Continue on State Route 653; this will become State Route
147 (Huguenot Road). Continue to River Road – turn left on River Road. (Go to Step 2.)
From the north:
I-95 (Do not take I-295)
Take Exit 79 to I-64 West. Continue west on I-64. Take Exit 183-A/Glenside Drive south. Continue south on Glenside Drive to Three
Chopt Road – turn left on Three Chopt. (Go to Step 2.)
U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Route 301
Follow Parham Road south, left at Patterson Avenue, then right onto Three Chopt. (Go to Step 2.)
From the east:
From Downtown Richmond/The Fan
Take Grove Avenue to Three Chopt Road. Turn right on Three Chopt. Turn left on Towana. Pass the main UofR entrance on the left. At
end of Towana/College Road, turn left. Continue past Robins Center and the lake; turn left onto Westhampton Way. Take the rst right
onto Crenshaw Way; it ends at the Modlin Center parking lot. Parking is free.
I-64, US 60
West on I-64. Take Exit 183-A/Glenside Drive South. Continue south on Glenside Drive to Three Chopt Road – turn left on Three Chopt.
(Go to Step 2.)
From the south:
I-85 to I-95 North
Take Exit 79 to I-64 West. Continue west on I-64. Take Exit 183-A/Glenside Drive, South. Continue south on Glenside Drive to Three
Chopt Road. Turn left on Three Chopt. (Go to Step 2.)
U.S. Route 1
North on I-95 to West I-64. Take Exit 183-A/Glenside Drive south. Continue south on Glenside Drive to Three Chopt Road – turn left on
Three Chopt. (Go to Step 2.)
STEP TWO: To the Modlin Center Parking Area (no fee) *PERKINSON RECITAL HALL (in North Court – Bldg. 40)
FROM THREE CHOPT ROAD:
Turn west onto Boatwright Drive to College Road. Take College Road to Westhampton Way. Turn left onto Westhampton Way. Take the
rst right onto Crenshaw Way; it ends at the Modlin Center parking lot. Walk through the Modlin Center lobby, exiting the other side.
Follow the sidewalk to the LEFT. To get to Perkinson, cross the road and proceed left diagonally across the large open area. Perkinson is
located in the right section of the large brick building across the way. Enter the breezeway in that section; proceed through the glass
doors on the right. Door to Perkinson is on the left.
FROM RIVER ROAD:
Take River Road to College Road. Turn north onto College Road. Continue on College Road to Westhampton Way. Turn right onto
Westhampton Way. Take the rst right onto Crenshaw Way, which ends at the Modlin Center parking lot. Walk through the Modlin
center lobby, exiting the other side. Follow the sidewalk to the LEFT. To get to Perkinson, cross the road and proceed diagonally left
Upcoming Meetings:
November 20, 2024: Suzanne Munson, Richmond author, “Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying – A Metaphysical Journey.”
December 21, 2024: Peter Smith, Brisbane-based author of Quantum Consciousness and former CEO of The Michael Newton Institute.
January 18, 2025: Taliesin St. Clair, our 29th Anniversary Program, “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun.”
February 15, 2025: Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator and Quantum Energy Healer.