The Griffon String Quartet received $3,000 from the Women’s Fund of Door County to support student scholarships and school presentations.

Midsummer’s Music is pleased to announce that its resident ensemble, the Griffon String Quartet, was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Door County Community Foundation’s Women’s Fund to support student scholarships and school presentations. The grant was made possible from the following Door County Community Foundation funds: the Women’s Fund Endowment of Door County, the Diane and Pat Ford Family Fund, the Gail R. Fischer Fund, the Orlaine and Michael Gabert Fund, the Ed and Adele Douglass Fund, the Nancy A. Felhofer Memorial Fund, and the Trudy Gehring Fund.

The Griffon String Quartet is a full-time professional string quartet from September through May and resides in northeastern Wisconsin with a mission of educating, enriching, and exciting people by being actively embedded in the community and captivating every generation through music. Its members currently work with children in northeast Wisconsin via its Einstein Series, a highly interactive program for school-age children. The quartet’s B Double Sharp program presents miniconcerts for the aging or disabled, as well as their caregivers. Additional Community-Embedded programs are all-inclusive for families.

Allyson Fleck, Midsummer’s Executive Director and Assistant Artistic Director, expressed her appreciation: “This generous grant ensures that the Griffon’s music education includes lessons and performances for youth – and specifically young girls – through collaborations with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, and Door County schools. Activities include expanding school-age instruction, enhancing community outreach, and broadening horizons with new community partnerships. Through the diligent work of the Griffon String Quartet, we have already impacted the lives of over 100 families in Door County. With this grant, we intend to multiply this manifold impact, bringing the joy of music to every corner of our community. Thank you, Women’s Fund, for your support!”

One of the most vibrant and engaging quartets of its generation, Midsummer’s Music founded the Griffon String Quartet in the fall of 2018. The quartet enriches the lives of children and adults throughout northeast Wisconsin through concerts, workshops, and music education outreach. Griffon members are professional musicians who have performed with orchestras and ensembles in the finest halls around the globe – from Carnegie Hall and Brazil’s Teatro Municipal de São Paulo to Japan’s Suntory Hall – and have won prestigious music competitions and awards. All are equally dedicated to music education and inspiring the next generation of music lovers. They have advanced degrees and significant experience, both as educators and performers, and the ensemble has been recognized for “its youthful vigor, which is absolutely infectious!” Current musicians are Roy Meyer and Alex Norris, violins, and Jesse Nummelin, cello.

Midsummer’s Music was co-founded in 1990 by Jim and Jean Berkenstock, long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series, bringing thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the magical Door County Peninsula.

Griffon String Quartet Image:

https://www.midsummersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/october-griffon-cmyk.jpg

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For calendar listings:

Music for Food Concert

Music for Food is a musician-led initiative for local hunger relief. Music for Food concerts raise resources and awareness in the fight against hunger, empowering any musicians who wish to use their artistry to further social justice. The Griffon String Quartet, Midsummer Music’s resident ensemble, will perform. This benefit concert is open to the public and is in collaboration with the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club. 100% of the funds collected will go to the Door County Food Pantry Coalition. Midsummer’s Music is the Music for Food partner in Door County.

December 7, 11:30am: Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, Sturgeon Bay

Gather with the Griffon

“Gather with the Griffon” miniconcerts are designed for midday audiences. B Double Sharp programs engage the mind and spirit through music and conversation. Program TBD Roy Meyer and Alex Norris, Violins TBD, Viola Jesse Nummelin, Cello This is not a ticketed event.

December 14, 12:00pm: First Presbyterian Church, Green Bay

Griffon String Quartet Holiday Concert

Holiday Selections

String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135 – Ludwig van Beethoven

String Quartet No. 13 in G Major, Op. 106 – Antonín Dvořák

Roy Meyer & Alex Norris, Violins; Oryann Tsaig, Viola; Jesse Nummelin, Cello

Tickets for this concert are free but can be reserved at midsummersmusic.com or by calling 920-854-7088 during business hours. We ask that you pay what you can.

December 14, 5:00 pm: Art Garage, Green Bay

December 15, 5:00 pm: Hope United Church of Christ, Sturgeon Bay

December 16, 3:00 pm: Belgian Heritage Center, Brussels

December 17, 3:00 pm: Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor