Kirsten Hanninen is a songwriter and vocalist based in Shakopee, Minnesota. Kirsten has a BA in Music Education from Gustavus Adolphus College, where she studied voice with Shannon Stuckey and performed three of her original songs (which included string orchestra and piano accompaniment) at her Senior Vocal Recital.

From 2016-2019, Kirsten created and organized a teen Christian band from Eden Prairie, Minnesota named Bridge 33.  She wrote several songs for this band and her daughter is the violinist. Bridge 33 performed Kirsten's original songs at many events, including a performance as the opening band for a Jason Gray concert in Eden Prairie, the Minnesota State Fair Talent Contest, and the Southwest Minnesota Junior High Youth Gathering in Willmar. 

In 2017, Kirsten was honored to work with Minnesota’s gospel icon JD Steele (singer/songwriter/producer) and he produced two of her songs (His Love and Guiding Light). Six of Kirsten's songs are currently available on iTunes, Apple Music and all other major music sharing sites:  His Love, Wild, The King of Love, Holy Water, Prayer Song, and Risen (All the Angels Sing). 

Kirsten currently has 22 voice and piano students, teaches group fitness classes at Dakotah Sport and Fitness, and directs a Children’s Choir at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie.

Kirsten is one of four winners of Zeitgeist's 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Kirsten's winning composition, Holy Water, will be featured on Zeitgeist's annual Playing it Close to Home concert, March 6-8 at Studio Z. 

In November 2018, Kirsten and her dog went for a walk. The rough sound of a new song started running through her head. Later, she finished writing Holy Water for Bridge 33 to perform at the “Bridge 33 Farewell Services” on May 19, 2019 at St. Andrew in Eden Prairie. (All 6 band members were seniors in high school and preparing to leave for different colleges.) After May 19, the song continued to evolve until the final recording session on August 5. Kirsten and a large team of people also created a music video for “Holy Water.” Check it out below! ​

Iris Hu is a ten-year-old pianist and fifth grade student at The Blake School in Minneapolis. She started playing piano at age 4 under the guidance of Jennifer Geise, and continued her training with Dr. Irina Elkina at MacPhail Center for Music. She began composing at age 9, under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Miller, also at MacPhail. Nirvana is her first composition, and was placed first in the Minnesota Junior Composers State Contest this year. Iris has performed at numerous MacPhail recitals including the Honors Recital, Master Class, and Crescendo Gala. Iris is a member of her school’s choir and recorder ensemble. In addition to music, Iris has many hobbies including art, drawing, digital art, semi-realist art, photography, fashion illustration, and math (to an extent). As a ballet dancer, she has performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy and the Strawberry Festival.

Iris is the youth winner of Zeitgeist's 25th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Iris will perform her winning composition, Nirvana (for solo piano), at Zeitgeist's annual Playing it Close to Home concert, March 6-8 at Studio Z. 

Iris explains her winning piece, Nirvana: 
"It wasn’t the kind of peace that came with material pursuits. It was peace in a new form, peace as you’d never seen it before, peace transcending money, happiness, and life itself. The peace blinded you with white, the little plane of existence on which you lived blank, waiting, ready for a new world to spring from the old world’s ashes. You forgot everything unimportant in that moment, the memories rushing out of your still body, lifeless yet so full of lively energy. Only the most profound whispers from your past remained, agreeing to stay until it was time to say goodbye. As you lay there, barely aware of your body and the cold, smooth surface beneath you, you let go. Finally let go, of the sentimental things in your old life, the hopes for your new one. You could feel yourself leaving the floor, floating, hovering above the ground, whooshing through the air, going to a new place beyond death, but you didn’t care anymore."