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

New this summer is a Classical Voice track within the 麻豆影院 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.听

The 麻豆影院 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 麻豆影院 students and five 麻豆影院 alumni are among this year鈥檚 festival participants.听

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

The summer programming also connects directly with Appleton鈥檚 broader arts community. 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians during Mile of Music, the all-original music festival held in downtown Appleton July 30鈥揂ug. 2. The young musicians will create original arrangements and compositions and perform 50-minute sets at 麻豆影院 and downtown venues.听

麻豆影院 will also host multiple Mile of Music venues on campus and support Music Education Team programming led by 麻豆影院 faculty, students, and alumni.听

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

The programs also provide professional experience for current 麻豆影院 students. 麻豆影院 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 麻豆影院鈥檚 new Business and Entrepreneurship major鈥攊ncluding its arts entrepreneurship track鈥攂y connecting classroom learning with professional practice.听

麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival performances include:听

鈼� 7 p.m. Monday, July 20听鈥� Gibson Community Music Hall听

鈼� 7 p.m. Friday, July 24听鈥� 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

鈼� 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25听鈥� 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 1, 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

鈼� 1 p.m. Sunday, July 26听鈥� 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 2, 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

During Mile of Music, 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians to create original arrangements and compositions. Performances include:听

鈼� 11 a.m. Thursday, July 30听鈥� Mile of Music kickoff featuring the 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival, 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

鈼� 9 a.m. Friday, July 31听鈥� Music in Motion: An Interactive Concert for Adults and Children Ages 5 and Up听

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

鈼� 2 p.m. Friday, July 31听鈥� Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 2, Riverview Gardens, featuring Buddy Red听

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

鈼� 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1听鈥� Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 4, Appleton Public Library, featuring Kate Stenson 鈥�24 & Gold Standard听

Faculty for the 麻豆影院 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.听

麻豆影院 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 Ure帽a Gonz谩lez, percussion. Guest faculty include Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; Caitlin Sullivan, cello; Teagan Faran, violin/viola; Ben Russell, violin; and Leo Sussman 鈥�15, flute.听

About 麻豆影院 University听 麻豆影院 University 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.听

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra听

Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 | 2:30 p.m.听 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the season with a performance showcasing one of the nation鈥檚 premier orchestras and Wisconsin鈥檚 largest cultural institution.听

Since its founding in 1959, the MSO has built a national reputation for artistic excellence, innovative programming, and community engagement. The orchestra鈥檚 72 full-time professional musicians perform more than 125 concerts each season throughout Wisconsin, spanning classical, pops, family, education, and community performances.听

The MSO has presented world and American premieres by leading contemporary composers including John Adams, Philip Glass, and Roberto Sierra, while also becoming the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes. Beyond the concert hall, the orchestra reaches thousands of young people and families annually through its education and outreach initiatives.听

Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend听

November 6 鈥� 7, 2026听

Christie Dashiell听

Friday, Nov. 6, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.听 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

Kicking off the Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend, GRAMMY-nominated vocalist, composer, and educator Christie Dashiell brings her distinctive blend of jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, and soul to 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel as part of the Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in North Carolina, Dashiell is known for her improvisational artistry and rich vocal tone. A graduate of Howard University and the Manhattan School of Music, she first gained national attention performing with Howard University鈥檚 acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble Afro-Blue, which appeared on NBC鈥檚 The Sing-Off. Her sophomore album, Journey In Black, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album and was praised by DownBeat Magazine as a 鈥渕asterpiece.鈥� The recording explores themes of freedom, legacy, grief, and joy while drawing from multiple traditions within Black American music.听

Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Ensemble听

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.听 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

The Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend continues with the Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Ensemble. Pianist and composer Billy Childs is recognized as one of the foremost American composers of his generation, seamlessly blending jazz traditions with contemporary classical influences. Throughout his career, Childs has received 17 GRAMMY nominations and six GRAMMY Awards, including Best Instrumental Jazz Album honors for Winds of Change and Rebirth. Childs has also received a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, and honors from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His work as a composer, performer, and arts advocate has established him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary jazz.听

Kings Return听

Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027 | 7:30 p.m.听 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

Acclaimed vocal quartet Kings Return will bring its genre-blending a cappella sound to 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel. The Dallas-based ensemble first gained widespread attention through viral stairwell performance videos showcasing their lush harmonies and effortless blend. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Take 6 and Boyz II Men, Kings Return incorporates elements of R&B, jazz, gospel, pop, and classical music into its performances. Comprised of Vaughn Faison, Gabe Kunda, JE McKissic, and Jamall Williams, the quartet has built an international following through both live performances and online audiences captivated by the group鈥檚 rich vocal textures and musical versatility.听

Dreamers鈥� Circus听

Monday, April 5, 2027 | 8 p.m.听 Stansbury Theatre听

Dreamers鈥� Circus, one of the Nordic region鈥檚 most acclaimed contemporary folk ensembles, will perform at Stansbury Theatre. Blending Nordic folk traditions with classical lyricism, jazz improvisation, and pop influences, the Copenhagen-based trio has earned international recognition for its adventurous and genre-defying sound. The ensemble features Nikolaj Busk on piano and accordion, Rune Tonsgaard S酶rensen on violin, and Ale Carr on cittern. Since its formation, Dreamers鈥� Circus has released seven albums, toured internationally, and received major honors from the Danish Arts Foundation. Their latest album, Handed On, reflects on musical heritage while showcasing the trio鈥檚 inventive and dynamic approach to acoustic music.听

The Westerlies听

Friday, April 30, 2027 | 7:30 p.m.听 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel听

The season concludes with a performance by The Westerlies, the GRAMMY-nominated brass quartet praised for blending jazz, classical, and folk traditions. Described by The New York Times as 鈥渁n arty quartet鈥ixing ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk,鈥� The Westerlies have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Coachella while redefining expectations for brass chamber music. The ensemble, Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet and Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon on trombone, has released 10 critically acclaimed albums and collaborated with artists including Caroline Shaw, Bill Frisell, and Nico Muhly. This performance is also part of 麻豆影院 University鈥檚 New Music Series.听

Fearless Empathy: Bringing the Story of Ruth Coker Burks to the Opera Stage

(2-minute Video) Copeland Woodruff, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Director of Opera Studies, and Kristin Roach, Assistant Professor of Music and conductor of the performances, share what makes this production special.听

Blending lyrical intensity with intimate storytelling, A Nearer Mother听explores compassion, chosen family, and moral courage in a time of national fear and silence.听

鈥淲e wanted to write a piece that centers around allyship,鈥� said composer Evan Mack. 鈥淩uth Coker Burks represents the kind of clarity that cuts through fear. This work is not just about the AIDS crisis鈥攊t鈥檚 about what it means to show up for another human being when the world turns away.鈥�

McGuire added, 鈥淩uth鈥檚 story forces us to look within. Given the same stakes she faced, the same fears present in the face of that crisis鈥斕齱e can ask, would we step up to help? I like to think the opera helps people dig deep and find that little voice that says 鈥�I can鈥�,听no matter what they鈥檙e facing.鈥�

The world premiere of A Nearer Mother reflects 麻豆影院 University鈥檚 commitment to presenting new works that engage contemporary social themes while fostering meaningful artistic dialogue between artists, students, and the wider community.听

鈥淐ommissioning this opera is a true gift for the community,鈥� said Copeland Woodruff, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Director of Opera Studies at 麻豆影院. The process is in its fourth year, so many students over those years were able to interact personally with the development of the work and to learn about hidden and erased histories in the LGBTQIA+ community. In a time when we are witnessing minorities face hardship, erasure, and violence, Ruth鈥檚 story gives us all an example of allyship through action and fearless empathy.鈥�

Kristin Roach, Assistant Professor of Music and conductor of the performances, noted, 鈥淪ometimes artists wonder if their performing makes a difference to the wider world. Working on this opera has affirmed that, indeed, storytelling through opera performance is a current, vibrant, and necessary tool for building a world we are proud to live in.鈥�

The evening also will feature The Clever Artifice of Harriet & Margaret, a one-act chamber opera with music and libretto by Leanna Kirchoff. Adapted from Alice Gerstenberg鈥檚 1913 play, Overtones,听the opera explores themes of rivalry, love, and societal roles among women.听 Kirchoff will attend the March 6 performance and participate in the post-production talkback.

Tickets are available now at .

Related Community Events听

In partnership with local organizations, 麻豆影院 will host additional free public events during the week following the performances:

Monday, March 9 | 7:00-9:00 p.m. The Velvet Fox 501 N. Richmond St., Appleton, WI 鈥淪haring Histories and Perspectives:鈥澨�An intergenerational LGBTQ+ event, co-sponsored with Diverse & Resilient.听

Tuesday, March 10 | 6:30-8:00 p.m. Appleton Public Library 200 N. Appleton St., Appleton, WI 鈥淎llyship in Action,鈥� co-sponsored by Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities and Fox Cities PAC.听

These events extend the opera鈥檚 themes of allyship, remembrance, and community dialogue beyond the stage and into the broader Fox Cities community.听

Land of Winter has been praised on 鈥淏est of 2025鈥� lists by The New York Times, Boston Globe, and Gramophone as well as in reviews by The Washington Post, National Public Radio and other notable news organizations.听

Michael Clayville, instructor of music in entrepreneurial studies and social engagement at 麻豆影院, is one of the founding members of Alarm Will Sound, a contemporary chamber orchestra led by Artistic Director and Conductor Alan Pierson. A trombone player, Clayville met some of the group鈥檚 founding musicians while a student at Eastman School of Music. The experience, he said, reflects the importance of a shared journey with fellow music students that he now encourages through his courses at 麻豆影院 University.听

Erin Lesser, who is married to Clayville, joined Alarm Will Sound as a flute player more than a decade ago. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Lesser has been a professor of flute at 麻豆影院 since 2011, where she prepares students for the contemporary music landscape, including work by living composers such as Dennehy, and using music to engage with pressing issues.听听

For both 麻豆影院 professors, their experiences as practicing musicians, and now GRAMMY award winners, show up in their teaching and in their classrooms.听听

The 麻豆影院 University Conservatory of Music offers four degree options and 28 areas of study with an emphasis on preparing students for the evolving world of music. For more information on programs available in the Conservatory of Music or in 麻豆影院鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, contact the Office of Admissions at鈥�admissions@lawrence.edu鈥痮r 920.832.6652.听

Roach credits the entire team for the recognition.

鈥淎ny recognition of one member of an opera production belongs to the whole team,鈥� said Roach. 鈥淢ore than 100 Lawrentians worked on our production of one-act operas, onstage and backstage and in the pit and behind the scenes.鈥澨�

The 2024 production of Cendrillon at 麻豆影院 was paired with Alice Tierney, a piece by Melissa Dunphy and Jacqueline Goldfinger, to celebrate the contributions of women in the opera world.听

鈥淲e are always sharing resources between the two shows and really trying to present both these operas written by women,鈥� Roach said. 鈥淭rying to bring forward creators who might be underrepresented in the opera field is at the forefront of the opera program鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Meanwhile, Two Remain is based on the true stories of two Holocaust survivors, Krystyna Zywulska and Gad Beck.

Roach said one of the most powerful aspects of the theater is its ability to keep history alive by wrestling with challenging themes and stories.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so important that we continue to tell these stories through works in the theater,鈥� Roach said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we don鈥檛 lose the narrative, the truth behind what happened. Part of why we鈥檝e chosen to perform an excerpt of this work at LU this coming year is that our students are able to tell these important stories, keeping history alive and in the forefront.鈥�

The 麻豆影院 Opera Theatre program plans to perform a portion of Two Remain in their fall scenes program this year.

Looking ahead, Roach is excited by the upcoming season, which includes the world premiere of a new opera, A Nearer Mother, by composer Evan Mack and librettist Joshua McGuire. The piece was commissioned by Copeland Woodruff, director of opera studies at 麻豆影院, and the 麻豆影院 Opera Theatre program. For the past three years, Woodruff has worked closely with the creative team to bring the opera to life.

A Nearer Mother explores the story of AIDS activist Ruth Coker Burks, known as the 鈥淐emetery Angel,鈥� and her daughter Allison. Burks and her daughter will be in attendance at the March 2026 performance, which will be paired with the one-act opera A Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret, by composer Leanna Kirchhoff.听

鈥淚 am so excited about doing a brand-new piece; we will be working hand-in-hand with the creators of these works,鈥� Roach said. 鈥淲orking on this opera will continue to tell the story of the many important, wonderful people that we lost in the early years of the AIDS epidemic.鈥澨�

These latest honors are a testament to the talent and commitment of 麻豆影院 Opera Theatre. 麻豆影院 has received 11 awards in The American Prize, including two special judges鈥� citations and two productions tied for first place. Roach has won the prize in Conducting, College/University division, for Suor Angelica and the prize in Conducting both in Professional and College/University divisions. Woodruff has won the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing and was the first stage director to be given The Independence Day, Honored Artists Award for Sustained Excellence. 麻豆影院 is also in the National Finals of The American Prize for Best Production for Cendrillon/Alice Tierney, and Copeland Woodruff is once again up for the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing.听

Save the dates for this season鈥檚 performances:

• Fall Opera Scenes: Thursday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. in 麻豆影院 Memorial Chapel. Free Admission.

• Mainstage Opera: The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret and A Nearer Mother (world premiere): Thursday, March 5-Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre.

• Spring Opera Scenes: Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre. Free admission.

Update: Nov. 17, 2025

The 2024 麻豆影院 Opera Theatre production of Viardot’s Cendrillon and Melissa Dunphy’s Alice Tierney were also awarded third place in the American Prize competition for Opera Performance in the college/university division!听

The Music Education Team (MET)鈥攊ncluding 麻豆影院 Conservatory faculty, students, and alumni鈥攑resented 40 hands-on music-making workshops during the festival for people of all ages. Participants were able to experience everything听from bachata dance to Irish fiddle music, the blues harmonica to the didjeridu.

The 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival returned this year, allowing advanced instrumentalists the opportunity to collaborate and perform alongside Mile of Music artists. This year, there were 43 students from 20 U.S. state, plus international students, working with 麻豆影院 faculty and several guest artists. The four Mile of Music collaborators鈥擝ODHI, Natural Satellite, PEGASIS, and Whitney Mong茅鈥攔epresented several musical genres and geographic regions.

麻豆影院 venues drew thousands of festival-goers to campus for performances on the 麻豆影院 Lawn Main Stage鈥攍ocated in front of Ormsby Hall鈥擬emorial Chapel, and Harper Hall.听

麻豆影院 alumni Michael Murphy 鈥�23 and Kate Stenson 鈥�24 were among the festival performers. Murphy played two sets, accompanied by 麻豆影院 alumnus Ryan Erdmann 鈥�22. Stenson performed two sets alongside Jennifer Harlee, a member of her band Wine on Fridays (W.O.F.).听

麻豆影院 photographers captured the music-making in action. See a sampling above and . More photos will be added soon!听