BIRCH NO ES Issue No 68 - Fall 2019 CHANGING LIVES Birch Creek Music Performance Center | Egg Harbor | Door County | Wisconsin Reggie Thomas, Jazz II Faculty (far right), improvises on the Omega Double Keyboard Piano with three piano students—(clockwise from left) Solomon Lindenberg, Andrew Burgess and Tommy Edgar—at the Big Band Jazz concert “The Art of Rhythm and Swing” on August 9, 2019 Jeff Campbell, Jazz I and Jazz II Sessions Program Director and Bass Faculty, keeps rhythm, top center T H E S U M M E R O F 2019 the friendships made, life lessons learned and musical knowledge acquired here at Birch Creek will last a lifetime ~ Percussion & Steel Band Session Student Percussion & Steel Band students (back left to right) Dalaeny Erwin, Michael Takahashi, Lauren Rault and Eddie Brenmark perform alongside Percussion Program Director Dan Moore (left) at the “Playfully Percussive” concert on June 21, 2019 Symphony award winners: Bill Foye (left, Winner-Outstanding Woodwind Student, clarinet) and Vivien Ho (middle, Honorable Mention-Outstanding Woodwind Student, flute) receive their honors from Symphony Session Program Director, Ricardo Castañeda July 13, 2019 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MONA CHRISTENSEN “I cannot explain the joy Birch Creek has given me.” ~ 2019 Symphony Session Student What’s in a Name? As I write this letter, the academy students and most faculty have returned home, and the Adult Band Camp musicians are practicing on the recently named Stage of Stars in the Dutton Concert Barn Thousands of people have listened to our students and faculty artists perform amazing concerts At the same time, many of these people have come to understand that it takes no small army to make Birch Creek as special and impactful as it is This is why we need you! This summer our beloved stage in the Dutton Concert Barn was named the Stage of Stars to honor our faculty who are influential teachers and astounding performers The stage also honors our young student musicians as they dedicate two weeks each session to learn and perform as much as they can Our endearing gazebo is graced with every student at some point during their stay, either in pre-concert, intermission or post-concert performances under the stars Jackie and Steve Kane named the gazebo and are encouraging others to name locations, faculty chairs or scholarships so that the Birch Creek legacy continues long into the future When I think about naming opportunities at Birch Creek, I think of the heartfelt expression of appreciation and gratitude that stimulates passion to give toward a future that is so bright We often talk about the cycle of growth that occurs here We watch a pattern emerge as students mature Those who return step into places of honor established early on by faculty performing artists, which become pivot points at strategic times in their lives The cycle repeats with our donors They make commitments that assure Birch Creek will continue this cycle long into the future That’s the power of a significant naming gift Parents and students feel it, patrons see and hear it and together we honor the gift of performance-based music education that changes our lives Birch Creek’s main stage in the Dutton Concert Barn was officially named the “Stage of Stars” on June 26, 2019, thanks to a gift from the MMG Foundation Cynthia Stiehl, left Birch Creek is honored to be the recipient of several significant named gifts this year See below for recognition of those individuals, and if you are interested in pursuing naming opportunities please contact me Birch Creek changes lives at every angle We hope that you will be part of this enchanting legacy Musically yours, Executive Director The Steve and Jackie Kane Chair Jackie and Steve Kane at the dedication ceremony for the gazebo naming August 10, 2019 NAMING OPPORTUNITIES: When Giving Becomes Leading Both emerging and established Birch Creek donors are making a major naming gift with defining impact Since the start of our current campaign in 2017, the following have been named: Places Stage of Stars Jackie and Steve Kane Gazebo Catering Kitchen in Honor of Lolly & Dave Ratajczak Faculty Room #108, In Honor of Don Makuen and Charlie Dickson, a gift of Tom and Marlys Regan Upper Farmhouse Housing, In Memory of Sarah Wright Chairs Steve and Jackie Kane Executive Director Chair Jazz I Robert and Judith Licata Faculty Lab Band Director Chair Howard and Miriam Erickson Faculty Drum Chair in Honor of Bob Chmel Jazz II Jane and W Gerald Berg Faculty Piano Chair Forever In Time Jazz II Faculty Guitar Chair Symphony Charlotte Lukes Concertmaster Chair Joan and Robert Schaupp Faculty Trumpet Chair Endowed Scholarships Brian T and Barry J Hynes Memorial Phyllis Ingwersen Memorial Ralph Pratt Memorial Stanley R and Robert E Wright Foundation for the Arts OVATI ONS We are thankful for the generosity of donors and grantors whose gifts provide endless opportunities They include: Greater Milwaukee Foundation Family Fund and the Raibrook Foundation have provided grants to partially underwrite the addition of a second well to Birch Creek’s campus, strengthening our emergency preparedness planning The Brian T Hynes & Barry J Hynes Memorial endowed scholarship was awarded to Evelynn Tylka, violin, Symphony The first scholarship from the Phyllis Ingwersen Memorial endowment, established in 2018, was awarded to Jasper Chambreau, bass, Jazz II Kiwanis Club of Northern Door County made a gift to the general scholarship fund upon disbanding in January 2019 The organization served the Door County community for 49 years and contributed scholarship support to Birch Creek students for many of those years Jazz II Session student Immanuel “Manny” Boyce (Drums) of Harvey, Illinois, was the winner of Birch Creek’s 2020 Dutton Memorial Scholarship Nancy Andriacci named scholarship went to Andrew Burgess, piano, Jazz II Erick Garduno, baritone saxophone, Jazz I; and Seth Hall, Percussion & Steel Band were the recipients of scholarships established by Anonymous Donors Birch Creek Associates scholarships were awarded to Asher Baron, trumpet, Jazz I; Simon Cooper, Percussion & Steel Band; and Jazz II students Tommy Edgar, piano; Olivia Garcia, trumpet; and Ethan Ille, trombone Birch Creek Associates Scholarship named for Joan Guasta was awarded to Gabe Wick, guitar, Jazz II The Burton Concerto Competition awards a $1,000 prize each to two students during the Symphony Session The award comes with the honor of performing as a featured soloist with the Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra in the following year Edgar (Hung Yuk) Lam, piano; and Ezequiel Navarro, oboe were the 2019 winners Paul Burton scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Bass, piano, Symphony, who returned to Birch Creek to perform as winner of the 2018 Burton Concerto Competition Nancy & William Carpenter named scholarships for Milwaukee High School of the Arts students were awarded to Roberto Antunez, guitar, Jazz I; and Aura Kostecki, trumpet, Symphony Herbert H Kohl Charities has provided grants for scholarships at Birch Creek since 1998 The Charity continued its annual support in 2019 with a grant for a partial scholarship for Wisconsin student Paige Givens, viola, Symphony MMG Foundation underwrote 17 named scholarships in 2019 Named for Cynthia Stiehl were scholarships awarded to Percussion & Steel Band students Christopher Neale and Jaz Rios; Jack Mansfield, drums, Jazz I; and Symphony students Hannah Bolender, violin; Alex Laverty, violoncello; Elyssa Peters, viola; Ezequiel Navarro, oboe; and Ava Peterson, harp Scholarships honoring Margaret Miller Gilson were awarded to Karelyn Malliet, Percussion & Steel Band; Oisin Leopold, piano, Jazz I; and Symphony students Jonathan Alday, violin; Elsa Martin, bassoon Receiving scholarships named for the MMG Foundation were Anthony Cruz, tenor saxophone; and Jeffery DeLaRosa, trumpet, both Jazz I students; and Symphony students Jared Peters, viola; Jack Thompson, oboe; and Callie Widi, tuba A Les Paul Foundation grant continued their support of jazz guitar instruction for the seventh year Palmer Foundation awarded a grant to support acoustical improvements in Juniper Hall John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation, Inc of Brookfield, WI has underwritten named scholarships since 2006 Peterson Foundation scholars for 2019 were Rufus Parenti, tenor saxophone, Jazz I; Daniel Brown, bass, Jazz II; Tierney Aldrich-Stanek, Percussion & Steel Band; and Yildis Rihter, violin, Symphony Peterson Charitable Foundation Scholars The Dwight & Linda Davis Foundation awarded Birch Creek a grant to support the migration of administrative operations to a Cloud-based platform, the redesign of Birch Creek’s website and the acquisition of a media computer to produce live streaming of concerts for parents Jane Dalton named scholarships were awarded to Nicole Koutun, piano, Jazz I; and Jason Watkins, trombone, Jazz II The James Dutton Memorial Scholarship for artistic excellence, for use in 2020, went to Immanuel Boyce, Jazz II drums Susan Gebhardt named scholarships were awarded to Takeru Satoh, Jazz I, alto saxophone; Jazz II students Immanuel Boyce, drums; Sydnee Galvin, tenor saxophone; Taitt Galvin, drums; and Avery Mitchell, alto saxophone; and Symphony students Quentin Ameline, bassoon; and Noah Briones, violin Rufus Parenti Jazz I Daniel Brown Jazz II Tierney Aldrich-Stanek Percussion & Steel Band Yildis Rihter Symphony Ralph Pratt Memorial endowed scholarship was awarded to Isaiah Vargas, tenor saxophone, Jazz II Raibrook Foundation named scholarships for Door County students were awarded to two students from Gibraltar High School, Fish Creek, who both enrolled in Jazz II: Byron Finell, guitar; and Solomon Lindenberg, piano OVATIONS co ntinued Robert & Joan Schaupp named scholarship recipients were Jazz I students Riichiro Fujiki, trombone; Ana Koch, guitar; Chris Pregmon, bass; and Russell Prichard, guitar; Jazz II students Jude Fleischman, drums; Adam Hobson, trumpet; Brandon Terwilliger, alto saxophone; and Symphony student Carson Aldrich, trombone The family of Bertha “Bert” W Schenker awarded four named scholarships in her memory in recognition of her love for youth and her gifts to music education Recipients were Dalaeny Erwin Percussion & Steel Band; and Symphony students Paige Givens, viola; Izabella Sand, harp; and Louis Vacha, trumpet Skinner Family Fund of the Door County Community Foundation continued its annual support of Artists in the Schools with support for 2019 clinics in February and October for Door County schools The Town of Egg Harbor and the Egg Harbor Business Association provided funding and marketing to support four free family/community matinee concerts at Birch Creek Roger & Lynn Van Vreede scholarship recipients were Jazz I students Linnea Morris, bass; and Gabrielle Traver, trumpet; Megan Rault, alto saxophone, Jazz II; Lauren Rault, Percussion & Steel Band; and Harry Graham, viola, Symphony Lou Williams Memorial Scholarship for 2019 was awarded to Catie Brenmark, bassoon, Symphony The Wisconsin Arts Board awarded Birch Creek a grant for operational support This is the 19th year of support from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts Stanley R & Robert E Wright Foundation for the Arts named scholarship recipients for 2019 were Jonathan Raymond, trumpet, Jazz I; and Faith Cramer, trombone, Symphony Also in 2019, the Foundation established a scholarship fund in the Birch Creek Endowment, with its first scholarship awarded to Edgar (Hung Yuk) Lam, piano, Symphony your donation is helping a new generation of musicians spread the gift of music ~ 2019 Jazz I Student PLAY IT FORWARD ANNUAL FUND The Play It Forward Annual Fund is used for operational expenses and is the fund that bridges the gap between tuition paid by families and the true cost of program delivery Did you know that every student automatically receives $2,760 in reduced tuition because of your support to this annual fund? Tuition: $4,860 Play It Forward Support: $2,760 Student/Family’s Cost: $2,100 Birch Creek continues its commitment to community outreach: Jazz II students play Big Band Jazz selections for the beachside audience at a free outreach concert at the Sister Bay Pavilion on August 7, 2019 We want to ensure that our tuition fees are affordable to most families by covering the gap between the cost of educating a Birch Creek student and the family’s out-of-pocket costs, while also raising additional tuition assistance dollars to help those for whom even our subsidized tuition is a challenge Together, your gifts to Birch Creek provide life-changing opportunities and help fulfill our mission ADULT MUSIC PROGRAMS The learning continues at Birch Creek for adult music students who arrive on campus soon after the academy students complete their summer sessions 2019 was the third successful year for Adult Band Camp and was the inaugural year for the Chamber Music Retreat Photos: 2019 Adult Band Camp musicians; inset, Chamber Music Retreat concert performance on August 24, 2019 CYCLES OF PERFORMANCE On July 11, 2019, Peter Nehlsen’s Omega Double Keyboard Piano made its Birch Creek debut Jodie DeSalvo (left), Birch Creek Symphony Faculty, and Jeannie Yu (right) of Midsummer’s Music, played the “Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor” by Francis Poulenc Jazz I Studio Band member Megan Manthey, Fond du Lac, WI, plays trombone at the Lab Band performance on July 26, 2019 Robert Everson, Symphony Session Faculty (Percussion) gave a stunning solo performance of Michael Daugherty’s “Raise the Roof: For Timpani and Orchestra” on July 5, 2019 Photo by Heidi Hodges Photography Upcoming Performances in Juniper Hall Saturday, September 14 7:00 PM Omega Double Keyboard Piano with Jodie DeSalvo and Nicholas Towns Saturday, October 12 A Birch Creek Associates’ Fundraiser Jazz Combo with Jeff Campbell, Rick Haydon and Reggie Thomas 5:30 Social | 6:00 Reception | 7:00 Concert $65 per person Saturday, December Christmas at Birch Creek Matinee 2:30 PM | Evening Concert 7:00 PM Order tickets by phone: (920) 868-3763 or online: birchcreek.org/tickets Percussion & Steel Band students perform on stage with Birch Creek Steel Band Director, Liam Teague (4th from left) June 21, 2019 Thank You to Our 2019 Concert Sponsors! Anonymous W Gerald & Jane Berg Birch Creek Associates Birch Creek Board of Trustees Paul Burton The Cordon Family Foundation Door County Coffee & Tea DoorCountyDailyNews.com Door County Medical Center Egg Harbor Business Association The Town of Egg Harbor Miriam Erickson Jim & Barbara Flint Mike & Connie Glowacki Joan Guasta Dick & Jan Johnson Steve & Jackie Kane Anthony & Judith Licata Charlotte Lukes Main Street Market David Minarcik Ray & Claire Moulis MMG Foundation Mary Moster Peter & Leila Nehlsen Nicolet National Bank On Deck Clothing Company Tom & Marlys Regan Jim & Peggy Ryan The Shallows Resort Staudenmaier Chiropractic Wellness Center Marti Thompson Roger & Lynn Van Vreede White Gull Inn Dave and Vonnie Callsen of Main Street Market Birch Creek’s mission is to provide intensive, performance-based instruction to promising young musicians by immersing them in a professional, mentoring environment BOARD OF TRUSTEES Steve Gomoll, President Mary Moster, Vice President Miriam Erickson, Secretary Steve Kase, Treasurer Steve Kane, Development Chair Barbara Flint, Past President TRUSTEES Jane Berg Greg Britton Scott Brunswick Carla Byrnes Joan Guasta Lyn Huber Jan Johnson Lynn Kaczmarek, President, The Associates David Long Charlotte Lukes Debra Merkle-Schubert Raymond Moulis Patti Vickman ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Executive Director − Mona Christensen Facilities − Jim DuFrane Finance/Donor Outreach − Carol Boudreau Grants/Development − Kate Rericha Marketing − Emily Maher Registrar/Office Manager − Michelle Naese PROGRAM DIRECTORS Percussion & Steel Band − Dan Moore Symphony − Ricardo Castañeda Jazz I and II − Jeff Campbell FALL/WINTER OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday | 9am to 4pm Friday | 9am to 2pm Closed holidays and Dec 24 - Jan (920) 868-3763 www.birchcreek.org Birch Creek is supported in part by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts Birch Notes is published bi-annually by Birch Creek Music Performance Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation PASSIN G TONES Birch Creek remembers two giants in the steel pan world who had a profound influence on Birch Creek’s Percussion & Steel Band program G Allan O’Connor and Clifford Alexis were legends in the world of steel pan We knew them as educators, performers, builders, tuners and friends Each had a natural ability to teach and inspire Birch Creek students G Allan “Al” O’Connor was a visionary educator in world music and founded the world-famous Northern Illinois University Steel Band in 1968 Al started the steel band component of Birch Creek’s Percussion & Steel Band session in 1982 and retired from Birch Creek in 2012, having led the steel band program for 29 years With O’Connor’s enthusiasm and skilled instruction, students were performing the steel pan for concertgoers within days of arriving on Birch Creek’s campus Al passed away on June 9, 2019, in DeKalb, IL He was 75 Al O’Connor in 2012 at his retirement from Birch Creek as the Director of Percussion & Steel Band Clifford “Cliff” Alexis, native of Trinidad and Tobago, was in high demand for his skill as a pan builder, technician and performer From 2002-2017, Alexis tuned pans for Birch Creek, and conducted masterclasses and guest performances here in 2005 Mr Alexis’ wife, Yuko Asada, is the Assistant Steel Band Director for Birch Creek Cliff died January 29, 2019 at age 82 Cliff Alexis conducts a steel pan masterclass at Birch Creek in 2005 Gifts in memory of Al and Cliff may be made by using the enclosed donation envelope O F F TO COL L E G E Percussion & Steel Band Session Karelyn Malliet (2017-19) University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; percussion Christopher Neale (2019) University of Trinidad and Tobego; percussion Lauren Rault (2018-19) University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; percussion Symphony Session Carson Aldrich (trombone, 2019) St Olaf College, Northfield, MN; environmental studies and music 2019 Percussion & Steel Band student Monica Baldwin (violoncello, 2019) Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; Christopher Neale is attending the dual major - business and communications as a prerequisite for law school University of Trinidad and Tobago Jonathan Bass (piano, 2014, 2015 Symphony & Jazz II, 2016-19) Lawrence University, Appleton, WI; dual major – piano performance and English or math (undecided) Lauren Culver (violin, 2019) Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL; dual major - music education and violin performance Ezequiel Navarro (oboe, 2018-19) Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL; music education Chris Nimick (violoncello, 2019) University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; aerospace engineering Gabriel Roethle (violin, 2018-19) Lawrence University, Appleton, WI; composition and violin performance Jazz I Session Jonathan Brown (drums 2019) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL; jazz performance-drums Lucy Croasdale (tenor saxophone 2018-19) Lawrence University, Appleton, WI; music Jack Kurtz (trumpet 2019) Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; music performance major & business minor Miranda Towler (trumpet 2017-19) Sean Jones Studio, Peabody Institute of Music, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; jazz performance Miranda Towler Jack Kurtz Jazz II Session Jackson Campbell (bass 2013-19) Brigham Young University, Rexburg, Idaho; music education with an emphasis in double bass Jasper Kashou (tenor saxophone 2017-19) Lawrence University, Appleton, WI; jazz performance and music education Megan Rault (alto saxophone 2017-19) Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL; jazz studies