Strings on the Bay
Upcoming Events
Beacon Arts Trio
Merged | Submerged
Poetry and Sound Converge in the Forest, Harlem, and the Depths of the Sea
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Bay College
2001 North Lincoln Road
Escanaba, MI, 49829
Embark on a vibrant musical journey with Emily Olson (flute), Lorrie Gunn (violin/viola), and Maurice Draughn (harp). Together, they invite you into lush poetic landscapes, moments of cultural renewal, and the full sweep of human emotion.
The program features Jacques Ibert’s contemplative Interludes, Mel Bonis’ Scènes de la forêt, a work that guides listeners into the mythical heart of the forest, and Miguel del Águila’s Submerged, adding a thrilling plunge into oceanic depths. Maurice Draughn offers a personal tribute to the Harlem Renaissance with his solo Harlem Suite. Additional selections include James Marson’s Suite for Flute and Harp, Astor Piazzolla’s exciting Escualo, and a brand‑new solo flute work by rising young composer Jonathan Mitchell, In Search of Aquatic Life.
This imaginative program promises an evening filled with wonder, adventure, and expressive storytelling!
Emily Olson, flute
Lorrie Gunn, violin/viola
Maurice Draughn, harp
Amy I-Lin Cheng & Alexander Burrow, Piano
Once Upon a Piano, There Were Four Hands
Tales of New Beginnings, Wonder, and Remembrance
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Bay College
2001 North Lincoln Road
Escanaba, MI, 49829
Join Amy I-Lin Cheng, Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and rising young artist Alexander Burrow for an evening of piano music featuring works for solo piano and piano four hands—two performers sharing one keyboard in a uniquely intimate musical collaboration.
Highlights include Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, K. 521, a radiant and joyful work that pays tribute to the series’ inaugural concert in 1968, and Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, a richly imaginative retelling of five beloved fairy tales through music.
This performance is dedicated to the memory of Rob Conway, a cherished and longtime contributor to this concert series, whose artistry and presence left a lasting legacy. Rob passed away in July 2025, and this concert pays tribute to Rob through new beginnings, wonder, and remembrance.
True North String Quartet
American Echoes
Artistic Archetypes and Eternal Optimism
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Bay College
2001 North Lincoln Road
Escanaba, MI, 49829
Paul Lundin’s cherished string quartet returns with a program that honors the enduring legacy of this concert series and rich cultural heritage of our country.
Featuring Paul Lundin and Joe Deller on violins, Janine Bradbury on viola, and Katri Ervamaa on cello, the concert opens with Ernő Dohnányi’s Serenade for String Trio. This graceful and spirited work has echoed throughout the series since one of its earliest performances in 1968. William Grant Still’s Lyric Quartette offers a vivid and expressive portrait of African American life, with each movement inspired by a distinct cultural archetype.
Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, affectionately known as the “American Quartet,” follows as a radiant expression of frontier optimism, composed during his time in the United States and infused with folk‑inspired melodies.
To conclude the evening, the quartet is joined by pianist Maurita Peterson Holland and a choir of local voices for a special performance of “We Call Ourselves Americans” by Jim Irwin. Community vocalists are warmly invited to take part in this finale, adding their voices to a shared moment of music‑making that embodies togetherness, reflection, and hope as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.
Those interested in singing in the choir may contact Emily Olson at emily@beaconartsmichigan.org to learn more and sign up. After the performance, audience members will be invited to join in the singing, ensuring that the entire community can participate in this uplifting closing tribute.
Paul Lundin and Joe Deller, violins
Janine Bradbury, viola
Katri Ervamaa, cello
Maurita Peterson Holland, piano
Hospitality Sponsor
Sponsorship Opportunities
While Strings on the Bay is supported by Bay College, the costs of hosting a professional series of this caliber are significant. We invite you to help sustain and grow this treasured tradition with a tax-deductible sponsorship of $130 or more. Your name(s) will be recognized in the concert program, and you will receive two complimentary tickets (valued at $90 total) to each of the three concerts with your donation receipt. If interested in becoming a donor, please either call or email the Foundation at (906) 217-1700 or foundation@baycollege.edu, or mail a check to:
Bay College Foundation
2001 N Lincoln Rd
Escanaba, MI 49829