Summer is just around the corner, and GRSMA musicians look forward to performing the 2025 summer season of the Grand Rapids Symphony in July (https://www.grsymphony.org/family-fare-picnic-pops).

 

However, you can catch us in action elsewhere. Those additional opportunities give GRSMA musicians a chance to work with others and, in turn, bring fresh and new perspectives back to the GRS in the fall.

 

Locally, GRSMA violinist Haijin Choi is the Curator of the Sunday Strings program at Meijer Gardens. Now in its sixth season, Sunday Strings has built a strong following in the West Michigan community. GRSMA musicians who will be performing include cellists Shirley Kim, Andrew Plaisier, and Jinn Shin; violinists Haijin Choi, Clara Schubilske, and Jaewon Seo, and violists Barbara Corbato and Paul Swantek. Their website gives details, at https://www.meijergardens.org/strings/.

 

By the lakeshore, the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck has been in existence for nearly forty years and has included many GRSMA musicians. GRSMA violinist Kimia Ghaderi is the newly appointed Artistic Director of CMFS and has planned a terrific six-week program, running from July 10th to August 15th. Other GRSMA musicians who will be joining Kimia on the CMFS stage include cellists Alicia Eppinga, Andrew Laven, and Andrew Plaisier; clarinetist Georgiy Borisov; flutist Dominique Kim; violinists Grace Kim and Clara Schubilske; and violist Barbara Corbato. Visit the CMFS website for more information. https://www.saugatuckmusic.org

 

On the other side of Lake Michigan, the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin is in its 73rd season. Their orchestral performances are in August and conducted by Music Director Rune Bergmann. Members of the PMF orchestra include GRSMA musicians Richard Britsch and Erich Peterson (horn), Andrew Genemans (contrabassoon), Grace Kim (violin), and Andrew Laven (cello). https://musicfestival.com

 

Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival performs in Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. GRSMA timpanist Daniel Karas is the Grant Park Orchestra's Principal Timpanist. Their ten-week season runs from June to August, with details at https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com.

 

If your travels take you to New Mexico this summer, be sure to attend a performance of the Santa Fe Opera in their stunning outdoor venue. Stop by the orchestra pit to congratulate GRSMA trumpeter Charley Lea for his thirtieth season with the SFO. https://www.santafeopera.org

 

Come hear us this summer!