Summer Program Archives - ��ý��Ƶ

Finding Their Flight Path: Students Explore Careers in Aviation

Communications — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:20:06 +0000

For one week this summer, a group of aspiring aviators traded the classroom for airport ramps, flight simulators, physics lessons, and behind-the-scenes tours of the aviation industry. The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Aviation Camp gave students an opportunity to explore what a future in aviation could look like, not just from the cockpit, but across the many careers that keep the industry moving.

For many campers, the experience broadened their understanding of aviation in ways they hadn’t expected.

“I thought when I was first going into it, it was just going to be about being a pilot, but it really isn’t,” said Tess Weber of Neenah. “It gives you a view of the whole industry, and you get to see a lot of different things.”

Throughout the week, students visited Gulfstream, explored Fox Valley Technical College’s aviation facilities, toured the airport, experienced flight simulators, and learned foundational concepts ranging from navigation to physics. Rather than focusing on a single career path, each day introduced students to another piece of the aviation ecosystem.

Students presented their airport upgrades plan with the help of Appleton International Airport

For Camila Ruiz, who traveled from Nicaragua to attend the camp, that variety stood out immediately.

“This ��ý��Ƶ Aviation Summer Camp is different than others because it has a specific focus each day in a different aviation center,” she said. “We visited Gulfstream, we visited Fox Valley Technical College, where we did flight simulators, and now we’re at ��ý��Ƶ for physics classes.”

The hands-on approach left a lasting impression on students.

Trevor Lord assists one of the students as they explored airplane maintenance & repairs

Ruiz said one of her favorite experiences was learning how to perform a pre-flight inspection.

“The pre-checks were the most awesome thing that I could have done in the entire summer camp,” she said. “Before a flight, we need to check the plane—the fuel, the flaps, the wheels—so we can depart on time.”

Weber also appreciated that lessons didn’t stop with lectures.

“It’s more hands-on,” she said. “Everything you learn, you get to do it yourself.”

For Carter Wittlin of Greenville, the week reinforced a passion that has been growing for years.

“I’ve always been interested in airplanes,” he said. “When we would fly somewhere, I’d always be looking at the planes. Then I went to Hawaii, we got to see bigger planes, and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what I want to do.'”

One of his favorite experiences was touring Gulfstream and seeing private aircraft up close, but he said the camp also opened his eyes to everything that happens beyond flying the airplane.

Students got to experience sitting in the cockpit of a plane

“Seeing all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, not just piloting, but the airport, the gates, all the stuff that goes into it,” he said, “really helped me understand what goes into becoming a pilot.”

For Pilot Peppler of Hortonville, the personalized instruction helped transform challenging concepts into lasting knowledge.

“We were learning about the navigation systems, and I didn’t get it at first,” he said. “But then we went over it again, and I got it down and now I’ve got it down for the rest of my aviation career, probably.”

Peppler also believes the experience provides students with an early advantage.

“It gives you a first step, and maybe you’re a step ahead of other people,” he said.

Beyond the technical skills, campers repeatedly pointed to something less tangible: confidence. By the end of the week, aviation felt more accessible because they had experienced it firsthand, asked questions of industry professionals, and discovered careers they hadn’t previously considered.

“The most important thing is that you understand and not just learn,” Ruiz said. “You understand what you are learning.”

Students built and launched their own rockets with the help of ��ý��Ƶ Professors

That sentiment echoed throughout the week. Whether students arrived with dreams of becoming pilots or simply a curiosity about aviation, they left with a broader perspective on the industry, and a clearer picture of where their own interests might take them.

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��ý��Ƶ summer music programs bring nearly 80 young musicians to Appleton

Communications — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:22:27 +0000

��ý��Ƶ and the Appleton community welcome nearly 80 young classical musicians from across the United States and abroad this July as ��ý��Ƶ expands its summer music programming and brings a series of public performances to campus and downtown venues.

The summer lineup includes the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute, a weeklong program for high school musicians, and the return of the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, now in its third year on the ��ý��Ƶ campus, running July 18–Aug. 2.

��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute students perform at Memorial Chapel.

Together, the programs bring high school, college-aged, and early-career musicians to Appleton for intensive training with ��ý��Ƶ faculty and guest artists while offering the community opportunities to hear rising young performers in concert.

New this summer is a Classical Voice track within the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute, joining the Piano & Strings program, now in its fourth year. The institute will bring 37 high school musicians from 12 states to campus for chamber rehearsals, private lessons, coaching, workshops, and performance preparation.

The ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival will bring 40 pre-professional musicians from 19 states and three countries to Appleton for two weeks of advanced chamber music study, collaboration, and public performances. Five current ��ý��Ƶ students and five ��ý��Ƶ alumni are among this year’s festival participants.

“We are continuing to expand summer music programming here at ��ý��Ƶ, and we are particularly excited to be creating unique opportunities for high schoolers, current ��ý��Ƶ students, and recent alumni,” said Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Piano and faculty member for the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival. “These programs allow us to deepen the ties between ��ý��Ƶ and Appleton while offering a unique, high-quality musical experience for the young artists participating. These programs are another way in which ��ý��Ƶ augments its national profile as a leader in music performance and education.”

The summer programming also connects directly with Appleton’s broader arts community. ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians during Mile of Music, the all-original music festival held in downtown Appleton July 30–Aug. 2. The young musicians will create original arrangements and compositions and perform 50-minute sets at ��ý��Ƶ and downtown venues.

��ý��Ƶ will also host multiple Mile of Music venues on campus and support Music Education Team programming led by ��ý��Ƶ faculty, students, and alumni.

One featured community event is Music in Motion, an interactive concert for adults and children ages 5 and older presented by Play Out, the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, and Mile of Music. Hosted by Caitlin Sullivan, the program celebrates music inspired by movement—from grooves, dances, strolls, and swings to a musical interpretation of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. The performance will include video art by Jorge Carvajal and live drawing projections by Caroline Chu.

The programs also provide professional experience for current ��ý��Ƶ students. ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Programs offer three internships in arts administration, giving students hands-on experience in marketing, artist relations, event production, and audience engagement. The internships complement ��ý��Ƶ’s new Business and Entrepreneurship major—including its arts entrepreneurship track—by connecting classroom learning with professional practice.

��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival performances include:

● 7 p.m. Monday, July 20 — Gibson Community Music Hall

● 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 — ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel

● 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25 — ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 1, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel

● 1 p.m. Sunday, July 26 — ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 2, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel

During Mile of Music, ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians to create original arrangements and compositions. Performances include:

● 11 a.m. Thursday, July 30 — Mile of Music kickoff featuring the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel

● 9 a.m. Friday, July 31 — Music in Motion: An Interactive Concert for Adults and Children Ages 5 and Up

● 11 a.m. Friday, July 31 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 1, Hilton Paper Valley Ballroom, featuring Ruby Mac

● 2 p.m. Friday, July 31 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 2, Riverview Gardens, featuring Buddy Red

● 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 3, Copper Rock Coffee Co., featuring Ron Artis II

● 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 4, Appleton Public Library, featuring Kate Stenson ’24 & Gold Standard

Faculty for the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute includes Samantha George, violin; Wen-Lei Gu, violin; Jenny Kozoroz, viola; Kivie Cahn-Lipman, cello; Mark Urness, double bass; Anthony Padilla, piano; and Michael Mizrahi, piano.

��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival faculty includes Tim Albright, trombone; Michael Clayville, trombone; Andy Hudson, clarinet; Erin Lesser, flute; Brigit Pacher, bassoon; Joe Connor, saxophone; and Jean Carlo Ureña González, percussion. Guest faculty include Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; Caitlin Sullivan, cello; Teagan Faran, violin/viola; Ben Russell, violin; and Leo Sussman ’15, flute.

��ý��Ƶ ��ý��Ƶ ��ý��Ƶ is a liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Its world-renowned Conservatory of Music offers rigorous training in performance, composition, music education, and related fields while connecting students with a broad liberal arts education.

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Summer at ��ý��Ƶ

Communications — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:34:21 +0000

��ý��Ƶ is excited to launch new summer pre-college experiences for highly motivated students who are ready to engage in college-level learning.

Aimed at rising high school students, options include two distinct paths for high-achieving, AP-level students: The and The . Both of these elite learning opportunities are designed and taught by ��ý��Ƶ faculty. Applications/registrations are open now through March 22, 2026.

The Ascent Summer Institute is a one-week residential experience offered on the ��ý��Ƶ campus. It offers high school students a college-level, interdisciplinary learning and leadership development experience. Opportunities in the Ascent Summer Institute are designed to allow students to explore topics of scholarly interest they would not typically encounter in their regular academic curriculum. This program is open to high school freshmen through seniors.

The Odyssey Immersion Program allows participants to earn college credit as they engage in a three-week interdisciplinary exploration spanning three locations. It is taught collaboratively by three faculty members from different disciplines, providing a rich experience that delves into the topic area from unique points of view. The first week of their academic journey takes place on the ��ý��Ƶ campus. Week two brings students to Björklunden, ��ý��Ƶ’s “north campus” in Door County. Students complete the final week of their experience at ��ý��Ƶ’s London Centre, where students explore topics of interest through a global lens. Odyssey is open to rising juniors and seniors.

“These summer options will help ��ý��Ƶ to connect and engage with high-performing high school students who are academically curious and intrigued by a journey of learning and self-discovery,” said Trevor Lord, assistant vice president of Strategic Partnerships. “Students will experience real college rigor in an environment that values intellect, artistry, and purpose.

Primarily guided by ��ý��Ƶ faculty, students will engage in hands-on study, explore cultural connections, and build enduring friendships with peers who share their curiosity and drive.

“The greatest pleasure has been watching my creative colleagues come together to develop these incredibly cool and impactful course experiences that, through their interdisciplinary approach, reflect the best of ��ý��Ƶ,” said associate professor Elizabeth Becker.

These signature experiences will allow students to deepen their sense of purpose, discover unexpected connections between academic disciplines, and synthesize those discoveries into their lives in ways that point out new, previously unexplored pathways to learning, leadership and self-expression.

“Ascent Summer Institute and Odyssey Immersion Program at ��ý��Ƶ are the ideal summer choices for students to explore their interests, refine their goals, and strengthen their sense of purpose, all in an academically challenging, intellectually stimulating, college-level environment,” Becker said.

In addition to the new programming, ��ý��Ƶ continues to offer summer options for varying ages and interests.

Learn more about our summer programs for kids and teens offered at ��ý��Ƶ in music, theatre, athletics, and aviation.

Summer at ��ý��Ƶ (All Programs)

Learn more about the Björklunden seminar series for lifelong learners at ��ý��Ƶ’s north campus in beautiful Door County.

Björklunden Seminar Series

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��ý��Ƶ looks to continue momentum from two successful summer music programs

Communications — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 15:43:35 +0000

Hearing the music come alive at two ��ý��Ƶ summer music programs brought a smile to the face of Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music.

“A lot of my favorite memories as a music student were formed at summer programs,” said Mizrahi, who organized and directed two programs that debuted on campus this summer—the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute (LSMI) and the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival (LCMF).

Both programs offered intensive musical instruction, drawing participants from around the country and providing a transformative experience for aspiring musicians.

Celebrating 150 years of Conservatory of Music and ��ý��Ƶ Community Music School

The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute, held in mid-July, welcomed nearly 20 advanced high school pianists and string players to the Conservatory of Music. Participants engaged in a week of focused study that included chamber music coaching, individual instruction, and workshops led by ��ý��Ƶ faculty. The curriculum sought to refine music skills through hands-on learning and performance opportunities.

“We were able to pack a lot into that week,” Mizrahi said.

High school students attending the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute work on their repertoire under the tutelage of professor Michael Mizrahi. (Photo by Danny Damiani)

Amid a flurry of activities, students were grouped into chamber ensembles, each assigned a major chamber work. The program culminated in several performances, including a public performance at ��ý��Ƶ’s Harper Hall and community performances around Appleton, including at Eagle Point Senior Living, a local retirement home, and the Pillars Adult and Family Shelter. Students also were treated to a concert put on by Conservatory faculty.

Lottie Sherwood, a first-year student from San Antonio, Texas, said she chose to attend ��ý��Ƶ after taking part in the LSMI. She had already been considering ��ý��Ƶ after a previous experience in the Conservatory of Music. This year’s LSMI experience sealed the deal.

“The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute provided me with the opportunity to work with faculty for more than just a short trial lesson,” she said. “It also gave me a glimpse into what college life would be like. By the end of the week practicing in the Con, I wanted my chamber piece to be the first of many pieces I will practice and perform at ��ý��Ƶ.”

Following LSMI, the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival ran from July 21 to Aug. 4. Aimed at pre-professional musicians ages 18 and up, it attracted more than 40 participants from around the world who play strings, wind, brass, percussion, and piano. Although the program included traditional chamber repertoire, its scope extended beyond classical music.

“We have a pretty special curriculum that’s unique to ��ý��Ƶ with LCMF where we collaborate with Mile of Music,” Mizrahi said.

Participants in the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival perform with Julie Williams during Mile of Music. (Photo by Danny Damiani)

Mile of Music, a major annual musical festival in Appleton, features original music across numerous genres. For the LCMF participants, a collaboration with Mile of Music offered a compelling opportunity to blend classical training with more contemporary, cross-genre efforts that better position music students for a professional life in the music industry.

In addition to preparing public performances of classical chamber works, students were split into “super groups” and collaborated with professional singer-songwriters from Mile of Music to assemble new arrangements of their songs, which were subsequently premiered at the festival. The featured songwriter collaborators included Julia Blair ’11, Ben Mulwana, Julie Williams, and the bands Pegasis and Founders.

“There were these amazing moments throughout the festival’s concerts: you’d see a traditional chamber ensemble, and later, in the same program, eight trombones and four trumpets would do a fanfare arrangement of a popular piece,” Mizrahi said.

The diverse range of instruments allowed for non-traditional chamber combinations, which were a highlight of the festival.

“At a summer program, you can do those kinds of really cool combinations,” Mizrahi said. “You can get students working with all the different coaches on all the different instrument groups and it’s always a big hit at the concerts, those mixed pieces, as are all the chamber works.”

More on Conservatory of Music

Integrate intellectual and musical virtuosity in a supportive, creative community that will empower you to find your musical path.

LCMF also offered ��ý��Ƶ students a hands-on experience by offering internships in arts administration. These internships, part of the ��ý��Ƶ Research Fellows (LURF) program, allowed eight students to work behind the scenes, gaining practical skills in organizing and managing the festival.

“It’s like a live laboratory for these students who work on planning the logistics, programming, budgets, relationships with venues and with presenters, bringing in guest faculty, dealing with all of the things that go into running a music festival,” Mizrahi said.

Senior Alexander Poplawski was among the LCMF interns.

“I got to interact closely with the participants and faculty in both programs and I was greatly inspired by the relationships that were being formed—between students, faculty, our local community, and ��ý��Ƶ,” he said.

Among the skills he developed, Poplawski highlights social media managing, ad campaigning, and collecting of testimonials, alongside stage management.

“This experience was a nice reminder that oftentimes administrators are learning and running into unforeseen challenges that no one looking in from the outside sees,” he said. “Yet, it also showed me how great things can emerge from a clear vision and a heavy dose of adaptability.”

Looking ahead, Mizrahi and his team are exploring ways to strengthen both festivals in future years. For LSMI, they hope to bring in an even larger group next year. As for LCMF, its combination of classical and contemporary collaborations has already gained notice that sets it apart from traditional music programs.

“We’ve hit on a great formula, and these are programs that have the potential to be successful for years to come,” Mizrahi said.

The dates for next year’s summer programs are set:

July 6-13, 2025: ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute
July 19-Aug. 3, 2025: ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival

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Two summer music programs to debut at ��ý��Ƶ, offering multiple public performances

Communications — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:40:28 +0000

Two new summer music programs at ��ý��Ƶ are launching in the coming days, both delivering immersive training to promising young musicians while providing live music opportunities in Appleton.

The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute, designed this year for advanced high school pianists and string players, will be held on campus July 14-21. It will welcome nearly 20 musicians for a week-long program focused on musical development through private lessons, workshops, chamber music coaching, and public performances, all under the guidance of ��ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music faculty. It includes two concerts that are free and open to the public: A LSMI Faculty Concert at 7 p.m. July 17 in Harper Hall (inside the Music-Drama Center), and a LSMI Student Concert at 6 p.m. July 19, also in Harper Hall. A “Community Day” on July 20 will have students performing at Eagle Point Senior Living and other venues in the Fox Cities.

That will be followed by the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, designed for advanced instrumentalists ages 18 and over. It is set for July 21-Aug. 4, with more than 40 young adult musicians from all over the world gathering for two weeks of chamber music workshops and high-level public performances under the tutelage of Conservatory faculty and special guest artists. It includes multiple public performances, including at the popular festival.

Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music and director of ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Programs, said both programs will become annual staples of the Appleton summer music scene.

“The summer is a beautiful time here and we have this great facility with the Conservatory and the performance halls,” Mizrahi said. “It really is an opportunity to create a vibrant summer music program.”

Michael Mizrahi celebrates contemporary composers with new solo piano release

Summer Music Institute: ‘A transformative experience’

The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute gives the high school participants an opportunity to work closely with Conservatory faculty, among them: violinist Samantha George, pianist Catherine Kautsky, violist Matthew Michelic, bassist Mark Urness, cellist Taide Prieto, and Mizrahi, a pianist.

“It’s an opportunity for the students to get to know our faculty, first of all,” Mizrahi said. “They’ll get to know our campus, sleep in the residence halls, eat in our dining hall. They’re really excited about those things. And they get to explore music in a way that for most of them will be the first time they’ve spent a solid week 24-7 on music. For many it’ll be a transformative experience. Some may be playing chamber music for the first time.”

The students will begin rehearsing with their groups on Monday, all working toward the July 19 performance.

“A lot of them will come in at the beginning of the week thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do it in five days,’ and then they all do it, and it’s a confidence builder,” Mizrahi said. “They’ll get lessons with our faculty to work on technique, tips on how to prepare an audition, learn about how to rehearse in a group.”

Chamber Music Festival: Exciting collaborations

The ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, meanwhile, will feature musicians who are more advanced, many of them preparing for or in the early stages of music careers.

“They’ll be in chamber groups but learning a lot more repertoire,” Mizrahi said. “They’ll have sessions on how to build your portfolio, how to engage with presenters, how to speak from the stage, how to work with donors—all the things that go into being an entrepreneurial musician and building a career.”

The first week of the two-week festival will include five performances free and open to the public. The second half of the two-week festival will revolve around collaborations with Mile of Music, the all-original music festival that takes over downtown Appleton Aug. 1-4. See details and concert information here.

Four Mile of Music artists—Julia Blair ’11, Julie Williams, Ben Mulwana, and Pegasis—will be partnered with groups of ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival participants. They will arrange some of their music with the chamber musicians and do some collaborative songwriting, all in preparing for Mile of Music performances.

“We have college and post-college students thinking, ‘I’ve never done this before; I don’t know how to play at a Mile of Music-style show with original material,’” Mizrahi said. “By the end of two weeks, they’ve got some stuff, they’ve arranged it. Maybe it’s three trombones, two pianos, violin, cello, clarinet, and bassoon, and they need to arrange for that. The songwriter has a backup orchestra for their stuff, which is really exciting for them.”

“This is a way to deepen ties with Appleton. It’s a way to recruit students. It’s a way to involve students in our new business program who are doing the arts administration track. And it’s a way to share live music with the community.”
– Michael Mizrahi

Recent partnerships between ��ý��Ƶ and Mile of Music have gotten rave reviews.

“They’ve been supportive of us coming to them with a 50-minute set,” Mizrahi said of Mile of Music organizers. “We’ll work with an artist like Ben Mulwana, and we’ll do two of his songs and arrange things for 15 minutes and then we’re going to bring in our stuff. Some old music, some contemporary classical music, and the Mile of Music audiences are so open-minded. (Mile of Music organizers) Dave Willems and Cory Chisel have created that mindset. And so, we’ll have 500 people in Memorial Chapel. Yes, they’re going to hear Ben Mulwana sing and hear the backup group, but then they’re going to hear the students play some Mozart and hear a curated set.”

It’s an eye-opener for the students as they tread into unfamiliar territory. It’s a gift to the audience as they take in vibrant, intimate music from talented young musicians, all free of charge.

“The students have to plan it to the minute, they have to do their transitions, they have to talk about the pieces, they have to banter with the audience,” Mizrahi said. “That is all stuff younger musicians might be a little scared to do. And they do it in front of 500 people in the Chapel or in a packed Copper Rock. It’s this beautiful moment where we get to put them out there at the end of two weeks. ‘Here you are, out in the world playing a major music festival.’ It’s really awesome.”

Faculty and guest artists for the Chamber Music Festival include Mizrahi, trumpet player Brandon Ridenour (Founders), violinist Ben Russell (Founders), percussionist Jean Carlo Ureña González, flutist Erin Lesser, trombonist Tim Albright, clarinetist Andy Hudson, flutist Leo Sussman, cellist Caitlin Sullivan, and violinist Teagan Faran.

Check here for updates on the music performances, including at Mile of Music.

Mizrahi called the debut of the two summer music festivals a significant moment for ��ý��Ƶ and the Fox Cities.

“This is a blueprint for solid summer programming,” he said. “This is a way to deepen ties with Appleton. It’s a way to recruit students. It’s a way to involve students in our new business program who are doing the arts administration track. And it’s a way to share live music with the community.”

More on Conservatory of Music

Integrate intellectual and musical virtuosity in a supportive, creative community that will empower you to find your musical path.

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��ý��Ƶ’s Conservatory of Music launches two new summer music programs

Communications — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 17:46:58 +0000

��ý��Ƶ is launching two new summer music programs in 2024, both delivering immersive training to promising young musicians.

The ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute, designed for advanced high school pianists and string players, will be held on campus July 14-21, 2024. It will welcome approximately 20 musicians for a week-long program focused on musical development through private lessons, chamber music coaching and performances, and workshops, all under the guidance of ��ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music faculty. Applications are now open at .

The ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival, designed for advanced instrumentalists ages 18 and over, will be held on campus July 21-Aug. 4, 2024. Approximately 30 young adult musicians will gather for two weeks of chamber music workshops and high-level public performances under the tutelage of ��ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music faculty and special guest artists. Applications are now open at www.lawrence.edu/LCMF.

Visiting students Naomi Peel and Bodhi Pavlik take part in a music program at ��ý��Ƶ last summer. (Photo by Deanna Kolell)

Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music and director of ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Programs, said these new offerings build on momentum from recent summer music programs.

“These programs will situate ��ý��Ƶ as an international hub for chamber music study and performance while dynamically engaging with our local community,” he said. “We’ll expand into the summer months the innovative programming, exciting performances, and experiential learning opportunities that ��ý��Ƶ does so well, while deepening our unique and popular relationship with Mile of Music.”

The ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival will overlap with the annual Mile of Music festival, giving participants an opportunity to perform in collaboration with festival musicians.

Members of Founders, a quintet with a national following, will return to campus as guest artists at the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival. Combining classical, folk music, original compositions, and pop arrangements, the New York-based group performed at ��ý��Ƶ in September 2023 as part of the Artist Series.

Both summer programs will give Conservatory faculty and visiting artists the opportunity to work closely with promising young musicians here in the Fox Valley and from around the world.

Brian Pertl, dean of the Conservatory, sees these programs as building blocks to greater community outreach.

“The ��ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music is on the forefront of integrating community collaboration, bold artistic exploration, and career readiness into our world-class music programs,” he said. “I am so excited that this same approach will now be shared more broadly with both aspiring high school musicians thorough the Summer Music Institute and aspiring pre-professional musicians through the ��ý��Ƶ Chamber Music Festival.”

Email summermusicinstitute@lawrence.edu or chambermusicfestival@lawrence.edu for additional information.

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��ý��Ƶ Music Camp, Decoda Chamber Music Festival highlight musical summer

Communications — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:02:12 +0000

��ý��Ƶ will host the new ��ý��Ƶ Music Camp in mid-July, adding to a musical summer on campus that will again include the annual Decoda Chamber Music Festival and participation in downtown Appleton’s Mile of Music.

The ��ý��Ƶ Music Camp is a new week-long camp for high school musicians. Set for July 14-19, it will feature a free concert at 5:30 p.m. July 18 in ��ý��Ƶ’s Harper Hall. The camp provides a small group of high school pianists and string players the opportunity to hone their classical performance and chamber music skills. It will include chamber rehearsals and coaching, private lessons, symposia, and skills-development workshops led by faculty , violin; , cello; , viola; and , piano.

Discover how you can take your skills to the next level

Led by world-class instructors and musicians, the ��ý��Ƶ Summer Music Institute offers an immersive environment that provides the support and inspiration needed for young, high-school-aged musicians to develop their craft.

The , meanwhile, will be held on the ��ý��Ƶ campus for the third year, running July 24 to Aug. 5. It brings 28 pre-professional artists from all over the world to Appleton for instruction, collaboration, and a series of public performances. Decoda was founded in 2012 by musicians who first collaborated as members of Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the NYC Department of Education.

Decoda Chamber Music Festival students will again be part of Mile of Music. (Photo by Danny Damiani)

“We are continuing to expand summer musical programming here at ��ý��Ƶ, and we are particularly excited to be creating an opportunity for high schoolers with the new ��ý��Ƶ Music Camp,” said Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Piano at ��ý��Ƶ and director of both summer music programs. “These programs allow us to deepen the ties between ��ý��Ƶ and Appleton while offering a unique, high-quality musical experience for the young artists participating. These programs will be another way in which ��ý��Ƶ augments its national profile as a leader in music performance and education.”

This summer program will help advanced students grow their instrumental music skills.

Eight of the students attending the Decoda Chamber Music Festival are from ��ý��Ƶ. The festival is a two-week music program for college-aged musicians and provides multiple free public concerts in late July and early August. It relocated to Appleton from the East Coast two years ago and will again collaborate with Mile of Music, featuring several public performances.

, an all-original music festival in downtown Appleton, runs Aug. 3-6. In addition to Decoda’s participation, the festival will feature multiple venues on the ��ý��Ƶ campus and Music Education Team programming that is led by ��ý��Ƶ faculty, students, and alumni.

In addition to Mizrahi, Decoda faculty include Catherine Gregory, flute; Alicia Lee, clarinet; Brad Balliett, bassoon; Clara Lyon, violin; Dana Kelley, viola; Claire Bryant, cello; and Kris Saebo, double bass.

Support for the Decoda Chamber Music Festival includes grants from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, ��ý��Ƶ, Riverview Gardens, 91.1 The Avenue, and the Menasha Corporation Foundation.

Decoda performances include:

7 p.m. July 24: Decoda Concert No. 1, Gibson Community Music Hall
5:30 p.m. July 27: Performance class with Decoda artists, ��ý��Ƶ’s Harper Hall
7 p.m. July 28: Decoda in concert, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel
7 p.m. July 29: Decoda Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 1, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel
1 p.m. July 30: Decoda Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 2, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel

During Mile of Music, Decoda participants will collaborate with visiting musicians to create original arrangements and compositions, designing 50-minute performance sets. The performances include:

11 a.m. Aug. 3: Mile of Music kickoff featuring Decoda, ��ý��Ƶ Memorial Chapel
11 a.m. Aug. 4: Mile of Music DCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 1, Hilton Paper Valley Ballroom
2 p.m. Aug. 4: Mile of Music DCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 2, Riverview Gardens
10:30 a.m. Aug. 5: Mile of Music DCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 3, Copper Rock Coffee Co.
5 p.m. Aug. 5: Mile of Music DCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 4, Fox Valley Performing Arts Center

Sarah Pedlar ’25 contributed to this report.

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