Our world-class musicians are from organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, Milwaukee Symphony and the Marlboro Music Festival, and perform with faculty from notable Midwestern universities. Over 25 chamber music concerts are presented each year at unique venues throughout Door County. Jim and Jean Berkenstock… [Read More]
Archive for Tag: Midsummer’s Music
Midsummer’s Music in Winter – Solving a Festival Jigsaw Puzzle
Every year, as the snow blankets Door County, Artistic Director Jim Berkenstock, and I work on scheduling the artists, the settings and concert events in our Midsummer’s Music Festival. Jim Berkenstock, a true master at putting the programs together, quietly researches and listens to one composition after another. I start… [Read More]
Rustic Door County Barns Featured During Midsummer’s Music Chamber Music Festival!
Midsummer’s Music wraps up their second program – Haunting Recollections – tonight at the Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor. As I write this, Jim Berkenstock is addressing the audience. This beautiful gallery, in a converted barn, offers excellent acoustics. Tonight we have the gentle sound of falling rain… [Read More]
Hungarian Composer with a Door County Connection Featured with “International Colors”
For our concerts coming up this weekend and beyond, we have chosen the title “International Colors.” The programs feature the works of composers from France, Italy and Hungary. The work by the Hungarian, Ernst von Dohnanyi, has a tangential tie to Door County. Dohnanyi was one of the triumvirate of… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Festival’s Door County Memories – Reflections by Zachary Preucil
This may be the first year that I will be performing with the Midsummer’s Music Festival, but it is also my twenty-first June spent in the beautiful Door Peninsula. I was only a seven-and-a-half-month-old baby during the premier season of MMF in 1991, and although I obviously do not… [Read More]
A Musical Journey through Door County for Midsummer’s Music Festival’s 21st Season
Midsummer’s Music will perform 21 chamber music concerts between June 10th and July 17th as a part of its 2011 Festival Season. ‘A Musical Journey‘ is the way this season is being characterized, and that refers to both a musical exploration and the opportunity to investigate and enjoy some of… [Read More]
A Good Time Was Had By All – Midsummer’s Music Adventure on Rock Island!
A few clouds and reports of storms couldn’t keep Midsummer’s Music away from the event of the year as we cruised to Door County’s historic Rock Island. The event, which sold out several weeks ago, was a huge success. With 120 people on board, including our outstanding ensemble, we… [Read More]
Door County’s Rock Island – A Concert Destination for Midsummer’s Music!
“A Musical Journey!” That’s what Midsummer’s Music Festival’s brochure proclaims, and the cover of our program book, too. And July 5th, it was a hellava trip! For the second time in as many years, we set sail from Door County’s Gills Rock aboard The Island Clipper – destination, Rock Island…. [Read More]
Unusual Undertakings: Tales of the Midsummer’s Music Festival’s Non-Musical Adventures in Door County
The caliber of musicianship in Door County’s Midsummer’s Music ensemble is rare, but even rarer is the friendly and fun-loving atmosphere conjured by its musicians. It is an understatement to say that the musicians see a lot of each other; the days preceding a new concert program are often… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Introduces Anthony Preucil to Door County Audience!
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… [Read More]
The Beginnings of Midsummer’s Annual Chamber Music Festival in Door County
It seems a small miracle to my friends and musical colleagues around the world that Door County enjoys such richness in the performing arts. Perhaps more miraculous is that so many have succeeded, and that new arts organizations, thankfully, spring up every few years. The legacy of community and volunteer… [Read More]
Pro Arte Quartet Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Door County!
Midsummer’s Music is proud to present the Pro Arte Quartet on Wednesday, May 11 at Ephraim Moravian Church in Door County, WI, 7:30 PM. The legendary Pro Arte Quartet is the oldest continually active string quartet in the world. They are celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2011/2012. The program features… [Read More]
Door County’s Premiere Chamber Music Festival
Midsummer’s Music – Planning our 2011 Summer Festival! We are very excited about the 2011 programming which will be announced soon. In the meantime, mark your calendar for the following dates: Friday, June 10 at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor Thursday, June 16 at Bjorklunden in Baileys… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Festival Prepares for Opening Night in Door County!
On Friday evening, June 10, we will be opening our twenty-first Midsummer’s Music season with a gala champagne toast and some wonderful music at Birch Creek. That’s what the calendar and my schedule says. That’s also what the pile of music on my music stand in my practice room says…. [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Violist Places Second in Primrose International Viola Competition!
The Primrose International Viola Competition announced that Elias Goldstein, who will be performing in the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin this season, is the runner-up in the intensive competition held in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past weekend. “We couldn’t be more thrilled for Elias, or for… [Read More]
Door County’s Classical Music Ensemble Hires Director of Development and Marketing
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… [Read More]
Door County’s Midsummer’s Music Festival Features Composition Written By Zachary Preucil
A Look Inside a Composer’s Brain: The Composition of “Fanfare for a Summer Evening” How does a composer write a piece? The question is simple, but its answer is complex. To a person who hasn’t dabbled in the noble art of composition, I could imagine the task seeming to… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Festival Announces 21st Chamber Season in Door County
The Door County arts scene jumps into full swing on June 10 as Midsummer’s Music Festival presents the 21st season of outstanding classical/chamber music in 16 intimate venues throughout the Door peninsula. The prelude and finales to our summer festival features one of the worlds’ distinguished string quartets, the Pro… [Read More]
Jim’s Blog – International Flavors 7/4/12
Midsummer’s Music has four concerts coming up from Friday, July 6 through Tuesday, July 10. They include music of one of France’s most famous composers, Camille Saint-Saens, and a big work by a composer well known in Norway, Christian Sinding (the most famous Norwegian composer after Edvard Grieg). The third… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Festival Chamber Concerts with the Preucil Family in Door County!
Cellist Walter Preucil has performed with Midsummer’s Music Festival since the very first concert 21 years ago. His wife, violinist Stephanie Preucil, joined the ensemble the following year. Now, 21 years later, two of their three boys will be performing with us this summer! The following article was written by… [Read More]
Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven – Classic Masters on June 29-30, 2012
Those of you who have attended Midsummer’s Music concerts for any period of time expect to hear a work or two by well-known composers. But, you are also used to enjoying some musical discoveries by lesser known lights. This routine has developed over the years because we have uncovered so… [Read More]
Historic Ephraim Moravian Church Hosts Midsummer’s Music Classical Concert in Door County!
Midsummer’s Music Festival returns to Door County’s historic Ephraim Moravian Church tonight, Sunday, June 12, as the second concert in their 2011 summer festival. “We love performing in Ephraim Moravian Church,” says Artistic Director, Jim Berkenstock. “Not only is it rich in history, but it has wonderful acoustics. Our… [Read More]
Midsummer’s Music Classical Music Concert at Björklunden, Baileys Harbor, Door County!
Midsummer’s Music presents the final concert tonight, June 14, in the ‘Youthful Exuberance’ program at Björklunden in Baileys Harbor. “This is one of our favorite places to perform,” explains Executive Director, Kathleen Pearson. “It’s a beautiful spot and the ambiance reflects the history and tradition of this retreat. It… [Read More]
Enthusiasm Rises for Door County’s Midsummer’s Music Festival’s Musicians!
June 9th was the first full day of rehearsal for our Midsummer’s Music band of musicians here in Door County. We did some rehearsing earlier in the week in the Chicago area, but the first phalanx of our group is here and hard at work – six hours today… [Read More]