Jean Berkenstock Solo at Viking Hall, Rock Island 2012

Midsummer’s Music Festival is Door County, Wisconsin’s premiere classical music ensemble. Our world-class musicians are from organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, and the Marlboro Music Festival, and perform with faculty from notable Midwestern universities.

Lyric principles Jim and Jean Berkenstock (bassoonist and flutist) are the founders of Midsummer’s Music. They perform with our outstanding ensemble: violinist David Perry, violist Sally Chisholm, cellist Walter Preucil, hornist John Fairfield, pianists William Koehler and Bill Billingham, violinist Stephanie Preucil, and violist Allyson Fleck. Each year they are joined by accomplished musicians such as clarinetist Todd Cope from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and violist Elias Goldstein, the runner-up in the 2011 Primrose International Viola Competition.

David Perry solo in Svenden's "Romance" at Rock Island's Viking Hall

Midsummer’s Music performs in intimate and casual settings throughout Door County such as art galleries, retreats, churches, and private homes. All concerts include an inviting reception where you can meet our musicians.

From the great masters such as Mozart, Schubert, and Dvorak (to name a few), to some lesser-known but very accomplished composers, each concert is an unforgettable musical experience.

Midsummer’s Music has been a part of the Door County arts scene for 21 years. From mid-June to mid-July and over the Labor Day holiday, our festival is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, by people of all ages.

Midsummer’s Music Festival – The Best of the Best!

Also new in 2012 is the FLEX PAK. The new FLEX PAK contains 6 tickets to any $25 concert during the 2012 season for the price of 5. That is a savings of $25! Please call the Midsummer’s Music office at 920-854-7088 to place your order. You don’t even have to reserve your dates right now. Simply purchase the FLEX PAK now and call later to reserve your dates.

As always, 17 and under are admitted at no charge. This year Midsummer’s Music has added a discounted ticket for college students at just $10 per student. And it gets even better. A new FLEX PAK has been created for college students as well. You’ll get 6 tickets for the price of 5. That’s 6 tickets for $50! All you need is your current college ID and you qualify.

Phone orders are available now at 920-854-7088. Online orders will begin on April 1. Keep checking back because Midsummer’s Music will be announcing our Labor Day concerts very soon.

Let the music begin!

PRO ARTE QUARTET

Saturday, May 5 – Ephraim Moravian Church, 7:30 PM

Thursday, September 27 – TBA

PROGRAM A “Fantasy and Magic”

Friday, June 8, 7:00 PM, Birch Creek Performance Center, Egg Harbor
Opening Night Gala – Red Carpet Event.
Pre-Concert Champagne and Chocolate!
Special Guest Barbara Lawton!
Advance reservations are required. $45 per person.

Saturday, June 9, 7:30 PM., Ephraim Moravian Church. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Sunday, June 10, 7:30 PM, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sister Bay. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Fairy Tales, Opus 132 for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano by Robert Schumann

Quintet in A Major, KWV 5113 for Flute, Clarinet, Viola, Cello, and Piano by Conradin Kreutzer

Quintet in A Minor, Opus 107 for Piano and String Quartet by Joachim Raff

PROGRAM B “The Spirit of Summer”

Friday, June 15, 7:30 PM, Hardy Gallery, Ephraim. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Saturday, June 16, 7:30 PM, Sister Bay Moravian Church. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Sunday, June 17, 7:30 PM, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Tuesday, June 19, 5:30 PM, Whistling Swan/Fish Creek Village Hall
(Pre-Concert Reception 5:30 PM, Concert 6:30 PM). $85 per person.
or Fish Creek Town Hall (6:30 PM Concert Only). $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Nocturne and Scherzo (1918) for Flute and String Quartet by Arthur Foote

Serenade No. 1 (1932) for Clarinet, Horn, Three Violins, and Viola by Bohuslav Martinu

Divertimento in C Major, Opus 9 for Oboe and String Quartet by Bernard Henrik Crusell

Octet in E-flat Major, Opus 96 for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Strings by Antonin Reicha

PROGRAM C “The German Romantics”

Wednesday, June 20, 7:30 PM, Hellmich Residence, Carlsville. $50 per adult

Friday, June 22, 7:30 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ephraim.
$25 per adult. $10 per student.

Saturday, June 23, 7:30 PM, Ephraim Moravian Church. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Serenade, Opus 73 for Oboe, Viola, and Piano by Robert Kahn

Sextet in B-flat Major, Opus 6 for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano by Ludwig Thuille

Quintet in F Minor, Opus 34 for Piano and String Quartet by Johannes Brahms

PROGRAM D “Classic Masters”

Sunday, June 24, 4:00 PM, Jerzak Residence, Green Bay. $50 per adult.

Tuesday, June 26, 7:30 PM, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Friday, June 29, 7:30 PM, Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church.$25 per adult. $10 per student.

Saturday, June 30, 7:30 PM, Sister Bay Moravian Church. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Divertimento for Strings in D Major, K. 136 for String Quartet and Bass
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony Number 104 in D Major, “The London” for Flute and String Quartet
(Salomon authorized arrangement) by Franz Joseph Haydn

Quintet in C Major, Opus 29 for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello by Ludwig van Beethoven

PROGRAM E “International Flavors”

Friday, July 6, 7:30 PM, Bjorklunden, Baileys Harbor. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Saturday, July 7, 7:30 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ephraim.
$25 per adult. $10 per student.

Sunday, July 8, 2:00 PM, The Clearing, Ellison Bay. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs, Opus 74 for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano
by Camille Saint-Saens

Sextet, Opus 45 for Piano and Woodwind Quintet by Theodor Blumer

Quintet in E Minor, Opus 52 for Piano and String Quartet by Christian Sinding

PROGRAM F “Hidden Masterworks”

Tuesday, July 10, 5:30 PM, Reception & Concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church,
and 8:30 PM Dinner at the Mission Grille, Sister Bay. $85.00 per person
or St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (6:30 PM Concert only). $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Friday, July 13, 7:30 PM – Fish Creek Town Hall. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Saturday, July 14, 7:30 PM, Dresselhuys Residence, Fish Creek. $50 per adult.

Sunday, July 15, 7:30 PM, Woodwalk, Egg Harbor. $25 per adult. $10 per student.

Quintet in F Major, Opus 41, #3 for Flute, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello by Andreas Jacob Romberg

Quintet, Opus 79 for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn by August Klughardt

Sextet in G Minor, Opus 178 for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Two Cellos by Joachim Raff

Midsummer’s Music Festival is proud to announce and welcome Jami Stutting as the Nonprofit’s Director of Development and Marketing. Stutting will be responsible for fundraising, grant writing, public relations and social media administration.

Midsummer’s Music Festival is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has been bringing classical concerts to Door County for over 20 years. Under the Artistic Director and Founder, James T. Berkenstock, Midsummer’s Music Festival has grown from two concerts per summer to over 20 concerts between June and mid-July. And more recently, concerts are now available in May, Labor Day Weekend and during the Christmas holiday season. World-class musicians from organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, and the Marlboro Music Festival, along with faculty from notable Midwestern universities, perform in intimate and casual settings throughout Door County such as art galleries, retreats, churches, and private homes. All concerts include an inviting reception where audience members can meet the musicians.

From the great masters such as Mozart, Schubert, and Dvorak (to name a few), to some lesser-known but very accomplished composers, each concert is an unforgettable musical experience.

“Jami’s passion is exactly what we’ve been looking for to help us grow our audiences and reach our long-term goals,” states Kathleen Pearson, Executive Director of Midsummer’s Music Festival.

Stutting earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, where she focused on writing, editing, and publishing. She served as the Community Relations Director for Angelus Retirement Community in Clintonville, WI, before moving to Door County in 2006. Since moving to Sturgeon Bay, Stutting served as the Operations/Financial Development Assistant at the Door County YMCA, and more recently, as the Circulation Sales Coordinator for The Door County Advocate, where she was responsible for marketing The Door County Advocate, Kewaunee County News, and Door County Magazine.

Stutting is active in the community as a member of The Noon Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay, The Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church Choir and Altrusa of Door County. She also volunteers for many other organizations.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to work for such a fine organization. Just think, world-renowned musicians, playing beautiful music in intimate settings, on a picturesque peninsula…it sounds more like heaven than a job,” Stutting chuckled. “I can’t wait to start speaking to different organizations and groups in order to educate more people about this unique treasure I’ve discovered in Door County.”

If you would like to have Jami speak about Midsummer’s Music Festival to your group or organization, please call 920-854-7008 or email MidsummersMusic@gmail.com. For general or ticket information please check out the website at www.MidsummersMusic.com.

The Clearing - Photo by Bill Jacobs

Midsummer’s Music Festival is Door County, Wisconsin’s premiere classical music ensemble. Our world-class musicians are from organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, and the Marlboro Music Festival, and perform with faculty from notable Midwestern universities.

Lyric principles Jim and Jean Berkenstock (bassoonist and flutist) are the founders of Midsummer’s Music. They perform with our outstanding ensemble: violinist David Perry, violist Sally Chisholm, cellist Walter Preucil, hornist John Fairfield, pianists William Koehler and Bill Billingham, violinist Stephanie Preucil, and violist Allyson Fleck. Each year they are joined by accomplished musicians such as clarinetist Todd Cope from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and violist Elias Goldstein, the runner-up in the 2011 Primrose International Viola Competition.

David Perry solo in Svenden's "Romance" at Rock Island's Viking Hall

Midsummer’s Music performs in intimate and casual settings throughout Door County such as art galleries, retreats, churches, and private homes. All concerts include an inviting reception where you can meet our musicians.

From the great masters such as Mozart, Schubert, and Dvorak (to name a few), to some lesser-known but very accomplished composers, each concert is an unforgettable musical experience.

Midsummer’s Music has been a part of the Door County arts scene for 21 years. From mid-June to mid-July and over the Labor Day holiday, our festival is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, by people of all ages.

Midsummer’s Music Festival – The Best of the Best!

The Clearing - Photo by Bill Jacobs

If you want to hear classical music the way it is meant to be heard, then Door County’s Midsummer’s Music Festival is the place to be this weekend!

“The Door County’s arts scene is not complete without Midsummer’s Music,” explains Executive Director, Kathleen Pearson. “We add a vibrancy to Door County’s performing arts in a way that no one else can. Our world-class ensemble performs in intimate settings throughout the County. If people choose, they can sit close enough to the musicians to read their music.”

In fact, violist Sally Chisholm (from the renowned Pro Arte Quartet)  has said repeatedly that Midsummer’s Music is the best gig she’s ever played. Sally has been with Midsummer’s for several years and will be joined this weekend by violinists David Perry (also from Pro Arte) and Stephanie Preucil, cellist Walter Preucil, flutist Jean Berkenstock, and pianists Bill Billingham and Bill Koehler. These established musicians look forward to the Festival and while the schedule can be intense at times, they are also able to enjoy much of what Door County has to offer, including the lasting friendships they have with the audience.

Violist Sally Chisholm

Midsummer’s Music Festival opens the second of two programs ‘Rising Sensations’ on Friday, September 2, featuring the music of Schoenfield, Babadjanian, and von Dohnanyi. Friday’s concert will be at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church at the top of the Ellison Bay hill, overlooking the waters of Green Bay. The concert begins at 7:30 PM. This program will be repeated on Sunday, September 4 at The Clearing in Ellison Bay at 3:00 PM, and Monday, September 5 at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor at 3:00 PM.

The last of program ‘Father and Son-in-Law’ will be presented on Saturday, September 3 at Ephraim Moravian Church at 7:30 PM. This program features the music of Weisman, Suk, and Dvorak and has received rave reviews and standing ovations.

To learn more, visit midsummerSmusic.com or call 920-854-7088.

Flutist Jean Berkenstock. Photo by Bill Jacobs.

Midsummer’s Music opened the first of six Labor Day concerts at Bailey Harbor’s Bjorklunden in Door County, WI on Wednesday night. The very enthusiastic audience gave a standing ovation to the sounds of Weismann, Suk, and Dvorak as performed by their world-class ensemble: violinist David Perry, violist Sally Chisholm, cellist Walter Preucil, flutist Jean Berkenstock, and pianist Bill Billingham.

“It’s difficult to know which piece is my favorite,” said one audience member. “They were all phenomenal!” Other people joined in with comments such as, “We are so fortunate to have this world-class talent in Door County!” and, “No one should miss this program. I’m coming back Saturday night to hear it again!”

Violist Sally Chisholm

Indeed, Program A – ‘Father and Son-in-Law’ will be repeated on Thursday, September 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in north Ephraim; and Saturday, September 3 at Ephraim Moravian Church. Both concerts start at 7:30 PM.

The second program – ‘Rising Sensations’ features the music of Schoenfield, Babajanian, and Dohnanyi and will be performed on Friday, September 2 and Shepherd of the Bay in Ellison Bay at 7:30 PM; Sunday, September 4 at The Clearing in Ellison Bay at 3:00 PM; and Monday, September 5 at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor at 3:00 PM.

For more details, visit midsummerSmusic.com or call 920-854-7088.

Jean Berkenstock solo at Rock Island's Viking Hall.

Midsummer’s Music Festival’s “A Musical Journey” continues with six concerts from August 31 – September 5. Returning for the finale of Midsummer’s 21st season are violinists David Perry and Stephanie Preucil, violist Sally Chisholm, cellist Walter Preucil, flutist Jean Berkenstock, and pianists William Koehler and Bill Billingham.

Midsummer’s will present two programs at venues throughout Door County. The first program, titled ‘Father and Son-in-Law’ features the music of Weismann, Suk, and Dvorak. “The title of this program is appropriate,” explains Artistic Director, Jim Berkenstock. “Josef Suk was a student of Dvořák and later became Dvořák’s son-in-law.”

‘Father and Son-in-Law’ will be performed on Wednesday, August 31 at Bjorklunden in Baileys Harbor; Thursday, September 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in north Ephraim; and Saturday, September 3 at Ephraim Moravian Church. Each concert begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25 per adult. 17 and under are free.

Violinist David Perry. Photo by Bill Jacobs.

The second program is titled ‘Rising Sensations’ and features the music of Schoenfield, Babajanian, and Dohnányi. “This is a fun program, starting with Schoenfield’s ‘Carolina Reveille’,” says Berkenstock. “The very opening suggests an awakening, perhaps in the misty clouds of the Great Smokey Mountains.” The masters of Babadjanian and Dohnanyi round out this dynamic program.

Rising Sensations will be performed on Friday, September 2 at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay at 7:30 PM; and Sunday, September 4 at The Clearing in Ellison Bay at 3:00 PM. The cost is $25 per adult for these two concerts, and youth 17 and under are free.

The finale to Midsummer’s 21st season is Monday, September 5 at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor at 3:00 PM. There will be a pre-concert champagne toast, the Rising Sensations concert, and a delectable post-concert reception. Tickets are $35 per adult. 17 and under are $10.

Advance reservations are recommended for all concerts although tickets are available at the door. To learn more, visit www.midsummerSmusic.com or call 920-854-7088.

The Clearing - Photo by Bill Jacobs

Midsummer’s Music Festival is Door County, Wisconsin’s premiere classical music ensemble. Our world-class musicians are from organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, and the Marlboro Music Festival, and perform with faculty from notable Midwestern universities.

Lyric principles Jim and Jean Berkenstock (bassoonist and flutist) are the founders of Midsummer’s Music. They perform with our outstanding ensemble: violinist David Perry, violist Sally Chisholm, cellist Walter Preucil, hornist John Fairfield, pianists William Koehler and Bill Billingham, violinist Stephanie Preucil, and violist Allyson Fleck. Each year they are joined by accomplished musicians such as clarinetist Todd Cope from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and violist Elias Goldstein, the runner-up in the 2011 Primrose International Viola Competition.

David Perry solo in Svenden's "Romance" at Rock Island's Viking Hall

Midsummer’s Music performs in intimate and casual settings throughout Door County such as art galleries, retreats, churches, and private homes. All concerts include an inviting reception where you can meet our  musicians.

From the great masters such as Mozart, Schubert, and Dvorak (to name a few), to some lesser-known but very accomplished composers, each concert is an unforgettable musical experience.

Midsummer’s Music has been a part of the Door County arts scene for 21 years.  From mid-June to mid-July, our festival is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, by people of all ages.

Our 2011 musical journey wraps up August 31 – September 5, 2011. Check out our Calendar of Events: CALENDAR.

Midsummer’s Music Festival – The Best of the Best!

Anthony Preucil

There he was, just north of his fourteenth birthday, violin bow moving with high energy and precision, neatly in sync with the other string players on either side. He was in the midst of some of the finest musicians in the country. In fact, on his left sat the recent runner-up in the International Primrose Viola Competition. As I watched the first rehearsal of Edvard Grieg’s masterful Holberg Suite for strings, I was intrigued by this stark juxtaposition. I wondered what was running through young Anthony Preucil’s mind.

I could sense a bit of unease at first. Although he knew that this was going to be a very different experience from his normal youth orchestra routine, it was one thing to anticipate it and another to actually take part in it. There was going to be no careful first reading of the score or detailed look at the more demanding passages like he was used to. No, from the first beat, every musician plunged into the work as if their life depended on it. No hesitation, no second guessing – this was full bore playing of the kind you expect on opening night.

Anthony Preucil lower left

I think it’s safe to say Anthony was caught a bit by surprise, but within a short time he could see what was expected. He had to be one of them, and the beauty of it was, he had ten models for the best behavior a string player can exhibit, playing their hearts out all around him. It didn’t take long for the lesson to take effect. He was soon moving bow and body with the rest of them. He was sensing the direction of the phrases and responding to the emphasis the music suggested right along with the others. As alert as he was, on the edge of his chair, he seemed to relax a bit and grow more confident. I could see his growth as a musician happening before my eyes.

It all took me back many years ago to my graduate student days. I had a friend who taught clarinet at Northwestern University. She was an excellent player who frequently played with the Chicago Symphony. Every year, she gave a solo recital at NU. One day she asked if I would perform on her upcoming recital. She said she wanted to do the Mozart Quartet for Piano and Winds. I jumped at the chance. Then I asked her who else would be playing on this great masterpiece. She said Larry Davis would play piano. That didn’t surprise me because he was a pianist on the faculty and my friend had used him before, but I knew he was really top-notch – the kind of pianist a major operatic singer would choose as an accompanist for a Carnegie Hall recital. Then she told me that Dale Clevenger would be the horn player and Ray Still the oboist. I gulped! Dale Clevenger is still the Principal Horn with the Chicago Symphony and Ray was then the Principal Oboe. These were gods, and I was so mortal it wasn’t funny – a mere graduate student still playing on what at the time was a very good student instrument. I was elated and scared silly at the same time.

The rehearsals were the experience of a life-time. I still remember it vividly after forty years. I was transported to a whole new realm of musicianship in the matter of minutes. I couldn’t absorb everything fast enough. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A million couldn’t do this justice. I was reborn. They taught me, mostly by example, and encouraged me as well. Every minute of every rehearsal I improved. The performance went quite well. I had gone toe-to-toe with the best. I swam with the sharks and made a huge step toward growing fins. I still remember what this experience did for me.

When I had a chance to talk with Anthony after one of his rehearsals, I could tell, he was growing some fins himself, and he knew it. He talked about how it was both easy and challenging to operate at this rarefied strata. He thought it was worth months of private lessons. Our June/July season is now over and Anthony is back in Illinois, but he will never be the same. The 21st season of Door County’s Midsummer’s Music has worked its magic on many audience members, but nothing compares with what young Anthony Preucil experienced. We will be back in the week leading up to Labor Day with two different programs and six concerts. Come hear and watch the magic unfold before you ears and eyes. Call 920-854-7088 or visit www.midsummerSmusic.com for reservations or more information.

Jean Berkenstock Flute Solo "Night Soliloquy"

It seems like only yesterday when Midsummer’s Music Festival celebrated the opening of our 21st chamber concert season in Door County. Now, five weeks, 21 concerts, 16 venues, and six programs later, Midsummer’s has wrapped up their June/July festival. Where did the time go?

“I have mixed emotions about the end of the June/July festival,” explains Executive Director, Kathleen Pearson. “Although we all need a break, it’s never easy to say goodbye to our extraordinary musicians, especially those we won’t see for another year. The music has come to an end but we get to look forward to six more concerts over the Labor Day weekend.”

What happens during the six week hiatus? The musicians have all packed up and headed home or to their next engagement. Several Midsummer’s supporters return home, although the majority stay in Door County through September or October. And, not ones to rest on their laurels, the Midsummer’s Music Board of Directors and committees begin planning for 2012. “It’s important to look at what we’ve accomplished during this festival and how to improve upon that for next year,” says Jim Berkenstock, President and Artistic Director.

Searching for venues and the programming happens during the fall and early winter months. “Our website is updated as soon as new venues/dates are added,” says Ms. Pearson. “We always try to add one or two new venues or homes each season. This year we performed in the Sister Bay Historical Society’s barn – a first for us and them. We also had the privilege of performing in three homes that have never been on our schedule. In all cases, the concerts were very successful.”

Tickets are available for the Labor Day programs which run from August 31 through September 5.  For more information, visit midsummerSmusic.com or call 920-854-7088.