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
Trang 1O S E N
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
Birch Creek Music Performance Center | Egg Harbor | Door County | Wisconsin Issue No 68 - Fall 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
CHANGING LIVES
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
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.
Trang 2FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MONA CHRISTENSEN
“I cannot explain the joy Birch Creek has given me.” ~ 2019 Symphony Session Student
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
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.
Jackie and Steve Kane at the dedication ceremony for the
gazebo naming August 10, 2019
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 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
Trang 3Nancy 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.
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.
We are thankful for the generosity of donors and grantors whose gifts provide endless opportunities They include:
OVATIONS
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
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
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.
Jazz II Session student Immanuel “Manny” Boyce (Drums) of
Harvey, Illinois, was the winner of Birch Creek’s 2020 Dutton
Memorial Scholarship
Rufus Parenti
Jazz I
Daniel Brown
Jazz II
Tierney Aldrich-Stanek
Percussion & Steel Band
Yildis Rihter
Symphony
Peterson Charitable Foundation Scholars
Trang 4Roger & 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.
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
OVATIONS continued
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
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.
PLAY IT FORWARD ANNUAL FUND
your donation is helping a new generation of musicians
spread the gift of music ~ 2019 Jazz I Student
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
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
Trang 5Thank You to Our 2019 Concert Sponsors!
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
CYCLES OF PERFORMANCE
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
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
Percussion & Steel Band students perform on stage
with Birch Creek Steel Band Director, Liam Teague
(4th from left) June 21, 2019
Dave and Vonnie Callsen
of Main Street Market
Upcoming Performances
in Juniper Hall
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 7
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
Trang 6Birch 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
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 Gifts in memory of Al and Cliff may be made by using the enclosed donation envelope
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
Monica Baldwin (violoncello, 2019) Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN;
dual major - business and communications as a prerequisite for law school
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
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
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 1
(920) 868-3763
Birch Notes is published bi-annually by
Birch Creek Music Performance Center,
Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
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.
PASSING TONES
Al O’Connor in 2012 at his
retirement from Birch Creek as the Director of Percussion & Steel Band.
2019 Percussion & Steel Band student
Christopher Neale is attending the
University of Trinidad and Tobago.
OFF TO COLLEGE
Cliff Alexis conducts a steel pan
masterclass at Birch Creek in 2005.
Miranda Towler Jack Kurtz