Birch Creek 2023 Digital Program Book

Birch Creek Mission Statement

To provide intensive, performance-based instruction to promising young musicians by immersing them in a professional, mentoring environment.

Welcome to Birch Creek!

Welcome to Birch Creek Music Performance Center! We are extremely proud to be able to offer you another year of exceptional education and performance here in Door County. We are very pleased that you have chosen to be part of this outstanding music experience.

Birch Creek is a world-class residential music academy that provides our talented young musicians with the opportunity to learn from outstanding teachers and performers and to experience what it is like to be a professional musician. You are a very important part of fulfilling our mission at Birch Creek. You make the live performance opportunity possible for our students and provide the much-needed financial support required to offer this musical development to these gifted young musicians.

I know that this performance will leave you with greater appreciation for the commitment and hard work that our students, faculty, and staff all put into their growth as musicians and as quality individuals. So, sit back and enjoy a musical encounter I am sure you will not forget!

On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to thank you for your attendance and support. I hope we will see you back again!

President, Birch Creek Board of Trustees

Steven Gomoll, President

Scott Brunswick, Vice President

Lyn Huber, Secretary

Stephen Kase, Treasurer

Sam Carmen, Development Chair

Miriam Erickson, Past President

Board of Trustees

John Belmont

Jane Berg

Jim Blair

Carla Byrnes

Jim Flint

Joan Guasta

Bill Hensge, President, The Associates Volunteers

Steven Johnson

Lynn Kaczmarek

Bob Lindahl

Raymond Moulis

Carl Shakal

Diane Taillon

letter from the executive director

Dear friends and music lovers,

Welcome to Birch Creek’s 48th season! We are thrilled that you are here for today’s concert.

Birch Creek’s unique setting, its performance-based music education, live performances in a concert barn, and the fascinating career paths our students take after leaving Birch Creek speak to the richness of Birch Creek’s educational experiences. Our faculty provide a wealth of knowledge and model the life of a professional musician. Your attendance here today fulfills our mission to provide a live audience for our performing students and faculty.

It is important to note that every one of our four sessions is made up of completely different students and faculty from the others. Check out all four sessions! From Percussion to Symphony to Big Band Jazz, the students and faculty focus on their art and provide musical excellence and mentoring in all facets of teaching and performance. Our staff, faculty, Board of Trustees, and Associates Volunteers work tirelessly to provide the most outstanding and rewarding musical experience for friends and music loving concertgoers like you.

Once again at full capacity this summer, Birch Creek students and faculty will perform 30 concerts in the Dutton Concert Barn and another 30 free outreach concerts both on campus and in villages on the Door County peninsula. Check inside this program book for adult retreat concerts, the fall concert series, and special holiday concerts. We’re hoping you can join us often!

We know this 48th season will be tremendous because of you and your confidence in us. Thank you for joining us today and for your ongoing support of this unique, life-changing, and inspiring place.

From all of us at Birch Creek, enjoy the concert!

Musically yours,

Mona Christensen, Executive Director The Steve and Jackie Kane Chair

2023 Special Events

Friday, June 30 | 7:00 PM

James Dutton Memorial Concert

Join us for this special Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music concert in honor of Birch Creek’s Founder, the late James Dutton.

Tuesday, July 4

2:00 PM Social | 3:00 PM Concert

Independence Day Concert with Free Pie and Ice Cream Social

Celebrate the 4th of July with our famous pre-concert pie and ice cream social at 2:00 PM followed by a 3:00 PM concert. Patriotic music including Gould’s American Salute, John Phillip Sousa’s Washington Post March, plus selections from The Sound of Music and Jurassic Park Highlights. Children ages 11 and under are free.

Saturdays — July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12 | 1:00 PM

Free Family Community Concerts

Open to the public at no charge for family community concerts sponsored by the Town of Egg Harbor.

Wednesdays — July 26 & August 9 2:30-4:30 PM

Free Outreach Concerts

The Jazz Ambassadors with the Lab and Studio Bands from the Big Band Jazz Sessions (Jazz I and Jazz II) will each perform free concerts for the community at the Sister Bay Pavilion.

Thursday — July 27 | 5-7 PM

Harbor View Park, Egg Harbor Concerts in the Park

The Jazz I Ambassadors will perform in Egg Harbor as part of the Concerts in the Park series. For the full Jazz Ambassadors schedule, visit BirchCreek.org.

GROUP MEMBERSHIP

HIGH SCHOOLS. MIDDLE SCHOOLS. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

For busy educators, a PAS Group Membership makes it simple to access a wealth of expertise, advice, and opportunities for you and your students — all in one place.

STUDENT BENEFITS

• Experience an unforgettable masterclass with a renowned percussionist

• PASIC discount for four days of musical education - meet your heroes

• Access to the unmatched education experience of PAS student competitions

• Access to scholarships and grants

• Watch hours of performance and instructional videos on the PAS video library

INSTRUCTOR BENEFITS

• PASIC discount for hours of professional development

• Build relationships with other instructors

• Access to practice aids, repertoire, technique tips, and the extensive PAS video library

• Book an unforgettable masterclass

• Access to grants and awards

JOIN TODAY: bit.ly/pas-birch

A Birch Creek Timeline

1975

1976

The Duttons begin a music school in their A-frame home with 12 students. The A-frame is also the site of the first public concert. That winter, the 19th century farmstead that is Birch Creek’s home was purchased from the Tischler family of Baileys Harbor.

1977 - 1986

1977 The Granary is renovated for use as a student dorm, the barn for performances. First performance held in the barn.

1978 Student enrollment is 53; 11 concerts are performed over a 5-week session.

1979 Enrollment is 103, and faculty includes Russell Dagon, principal clarinetist with the Milwaukee Symphony, Lovel Ives, founder of the jazz program at UW-Green Bay, and UWGB marimbist Gordon Stout.

1980 Twenty-two concerts are performed in a full summer season including four free Sunday family matinee concerts.

1982 G. Allan O’Connor from Northern Illinois University begins the Steel Band program at Birch Creek; enrollment is 143, concert attendance 3,950.

1984 A new dormitory capable of housing 38 students and 6 faculty is built.

1986 Birch Creek’s 10th anniversary is celebrated with performances by Woody Herman And The Thundering Herd, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra conducted by Buddy Morrow.

1988 - 1998

1988 The Birch Creek Associates volunteer group is formed.

1990 The Picnic Grove is planted and the Gazebo is built by the Associates.

1991 Popcorn sales begin with all proceeds helping underwrite student scholarships.

1992 Birch Creek management passes to a reorganized Board of Trustees after the campus is purchased from the Duttons.

1994 A new administration building and a faculty dorm are built.

1995 20th Anniversary celebration includes dedication of the James N. Dutton Concert Barn.

1998 A new kitchen/dining room is added to the Student Dorm. Student enrollment is 178; overall concert attendance exceeds 9,000.

Birch Creek Founders Jim and Fran Dutton purchase the A-frame on County E across from the current campus.

1999 - 2003

1999 A music listening library is begun in the farmhouse. Jazz pianist Marian McPartland continues the tradition of great guest artists at Birch Creek. The Jazz Ambassadors band is formed as part of Birch Creek’s outreach program. Jim Dutton passes away.

2000 Birch Creek celebrates its 25th season, welcoming guest artists Peter Schickele, Gene Bertoncini, Harold Jones and Freddy Cole.

2001 A piano lab, popcorn stand and gift shop make their campus debuts.

2002 The Associates Bench Project begins. A stage extension is added to accommodate the growing number of student performers. The Dutton Concert Barn gets a new roof.

2003 The Farmhouse undergoes major refurbishment.

2004 - 2008

2004 Cliff Alexis, world-renowned steel pan builder and tuner, holds masterclasses for students and performs concerts for audiences.

2005 Birch Creek celebrates its 30th season.

2007 Perfect Pitch Capital Campaign begins on Opening Night with a goal to add three new buildings to the Birch Creek Campus.

2008 The newly built Miller Music Center, Faculty Dormitory and Maintenance Building are dedicated on June 30, effectively doubling Birch Creek’s footprint.

2010 - 2017

2010 To close out the Capital Campaign, the Final Pitch campaign is launched.

2011 “Jazz at Birch Creek” is recorded by Wisconsin Public Television in August and airs in 2012 throughout Wisconsin and in Rochester, NY.

2014 The Final Pitch campaign concludes. The Associates’ new concession stand in the East Granary opens in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Wisconsin Public Television records Symphony and Percussion & Steel Band sessions for broadcast in 2015.

2015 Birch Creek celebrates its 40th anniversary. The Fall Concert Series is introduced.

2016 The Dutton Concert Barn’s South Wall is replaced and a new infrastructure plan begins.

2017 New electrical service to the West Campus and an improved water filtration system are completed; the barn receives lightning protection and new stage lighting.

2018 - 2022

2018 Adult Band Camp returns for second year. In Phase III of the Infrastructure and Technology Plan, office systems are moved to the Cloud.

2019 Chamber Music Retreat for adults is offered for the first time in August. Dutton Concert Barn stage is named “Stage of Stars” and the gazebo is named by Jackie and Steve Kane.

2020 COVID-19 pandemic causes Academy sessions and all summer concerts to be cancelled. Birch Creek Online is launched.

2021 Erickson Listening Library is dedicated in the farmhouse. Academy reopens at half capacity student enrollment with outdoor concerts.

2022 Campus fully reopens. The Concerto Competition is named by Laurey and Phil Clampitt. A new fire alert system is installed in the West Dorm Building.

Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music

Dan Moore Program Director

Dan Moore is in his 25th year as a Birch Creek faculty member and has served as Director of the Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music Program since 2016. Dr. Moore is Professor of Percussion and Director of the award-winning percussion program at The University of Iowa where he received the Iowa Regents Award for Faculty Excellence in 2018. Moore is an internationally known musician, composer, and educator. He is a Yamaha international performing artist, a signature mallet artist for Innovative Percussion, and a performing artist for Sabian Cymbals, Gon Bops Percussion, and Grover Pro Percussion. His music is published by Row-Loff Productions, Innovative Percussion, Alfred Publishing, and Cricket City Music and Media. At Birch Creek, Moore leads the faculty ensemble and teaches marimba/vibes performance, improvisation, leadership, snare drum technique, ensemble performance, and musicianship.

Liam Teague Steel Band Director

2023 marks Liam Teague’s 28th season with Birch Creek and his eighth as Steel Band Director. Teague is Professor of Music and Head of Steelpan studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he also directs the renowned NIU Steelband. In April of 2022, Teague was selected as the school of music’s 2022 NIU Board of Trustees Professor. He is also the recipient of an NIU Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor Award. His commitment to demonstrating the great musical possibilities of the steelpan has taken him throughout the world, and he has received many awards from his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, including the Humming Bird National Award (Silver) and the Ansa McAl Caribbean Award for Excellence. Teague has also performed with many diverse ensembles which include: National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony, Czech National Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Panama National Symphony and Chicago Sinfonietta. He has appeared in concert with Grammy-Award winning musicians Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Samuels, Zakir Hussain and Dame Evelyn Glennie. Teague serves as arranger for the Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra at Panorama (the most celebrated steelband competition in the world).

Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music

Anthony Di Sanza World Percussion Ensemble Director

The summer of 2023 will mark Anthony Di Sanza’s ninth year with Birch Creek. Di Sanza is a Professor of Percussion at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has performed, presented master classes, and held residencies in North America, Europe and Asia. He has appeared as a visiting artist at over 45 colleges, universities and conservatories, and has performed as soloist and chamber musician in some of the world’s most important concert halls. Di Sanza can be heard on over 15 internationally distributed recordings with various artists, including; Sole Nero-Piano and Percussion Duo, Mark Hetzler Chamber Ensemble, Linda Maxey with Galaxy Percussion and Keiko Abe and the Michigan Chamber Players. In a review of his 2011 solo recording, On the nature of…, All Music Guide writes; “Di Sanza dazzles not only in the assurance and polish of his playing but in his tremendous vitality and spontaneity.” Di Sanza is an endorser of Encore Mallets, Black Swamp Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Remo Drumheads, as well as an educational endorser of Pro-Mark Drumsticks. At Birch Creek, he is a faculty performing artist, teaches a variety of world percussion styles, and directs small and large ensembles.

Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music Faculty

Scott McConnell, Chicago, IL

Wesley Morgan, Brookfield, IL

Peter Naughton, Platteville, WI

Emily Roane, Philadelphia, PA

Brad Stirtz, Naperville, IL

Rodrigo Villanueva, Janesville, WI

Symphony Faculty

Ricardo Castañeda Program Director, Sarah E. Wright Chair

2023 marks Ricardo Castañeda’s 26th year at Birch Creek. Castañeda received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance from Northwestern University, where he was a student of Ray Still, former Principal Oboist of The Chicago Symphony. He is a winner of the Northwestern University Concerto Competition and a recipient of the Wade Fetzer award for excellence in performance. Having made his solo debut with the National Symphony of El Salvador at age fifteen, he has since appeared as a soloist in Latin America, Europe, the United States and, more recently, Japan.

Castañeda is Principal Oboist with the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Sinfonietta, and solo English Horn with The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a member of the Chicago Ensemble and Barossa Woodwind Quintet. Previous positions include Principal Oboist with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra and solo English Horn with the Mexico City Philharmonic. An active freelance musician, Castañeda enjoys performing all genres of music. He has played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater and has been principal oboist for orchestras for The Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Joffrey Ballet, as well as numerous Broadway in Chicago shows.

Taka Matsunaga Conductor

As the recipient of the 2021 Conductor of the Year granted by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, as well as the third-place winner of the 2020 and 2021 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting, Taka Matsunaga is currently the Director of Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music at Elmhurst University, where he conducts the University Orchestra. He is also a Founder and Music Director of the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Matsunaga came to the United States in 1998 to pursue his violin studies with David Taylor, Joseph Golan and Robert Chen while attending Roosevelt University and Northeastern Illinois University, where he received his master’s degree in music. From 1999-2001, Matsunaga was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Matsunaga went on to join the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, where he served as an Assistant Concertmaster. As a conductor, Matsunaga made his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2018 with the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra. He has conducted in Vienna, Salzburg, Detroit and at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago.

Symphony Faculty

Alan Snow Concertmaster, Charlotte Lukes Chair

Alan Snow joined the Minnesota Orchestra as Associate Concertmaster in November 2022. He was previously 2nd Associate Concertmaster of the Omaha Symphony. Since his performance with the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra at age 13, Alan has performed solo and chamber works internationally, including appearances at Chicago’s Symphony Center, London Symphony Orchestra

St. Luke’s, la Sala Manuel M. Ponce in Mexico City, and others. Previous concertmaster appointments include the Evansville Philharmonic, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony, Festival Napa Valley Music Academy, Britten-Pears Young Artists Program, Indiana University’s top orchestras, Carmel Symphony and Music Academy of the West.

An avid chamber player, Alan studied closely under the Pacifica Quartet and the Takács Quartet and has recorded two chamber music albums. Alan also served as First Violin of the Eykamp String Quartet and was on faculty at the University of Evansville from 2018-2021. He studied with Gerardo Ribeiro at Northwestern University before receiving his Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University. Alan attended Birch Creek as a student in 2010.

Symphony Faculty

Principal Second Violin

Marcia Henry Liebenow, Peoria, IL

Violin

Betty Lewis, Wilmette, IL

Elizabeth York, St. Paul, MN

Viola

Susan Bengston Price, Chicago, IL

Cello

Mary Moster and Lou Williams Chair

Emily Mantell, Wheaton, IL

String Bass

Jeremy Attanaseo, Elgin, IL

David Scholl, Madison, WI

Flute/Piccolo

Shirley Stolley Chair

Shannon Finney, Kansas City, MO

Oboe

Ricardo Castañeda, Oak Park, IL

Clarinet

Katherine Kohler, Nashville, TN

Bassoon

John Gaudette, Chicago, IL

Horn

Dan O’Connell, Chicago, IL

Trumpet

Joan and Robert Schaupp Chair

Matthew Lee, Elmhurst, IL

Trombone

Steven Duncan, Chicago, IL

Tuba

Charles Schuchat, Chicago, IL

Percussion

Piero Guimaraes, Providence, RI

Piano

Stanley R. and Robert E. Wright Chair

Jodie DeSalvo, Naples, FL

Harp

Faye Seeman, Palatine, IL

Big Band Jazz Faculty

Jeff Campbell Program Director and Academy Jazz Orchestra Director, Jazz I & II

2023 is Jeff Campbell’s 35th year at Birch Creek and his 26th as Jazz Program Director. Dr. Campbell is Professor of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media and department chair at Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY. He has carved out an impressive career as a bass player fluent in both the jazz and classical idioms. As a jazz bassist, Campbell has performed with Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, Rich Perry, Trio East, Harold Jones, and the Eastman Jazz Quartet featuring Harold Danko. In high demand across the globe, he has performed at such prestigious European musical events as the Nice, Montreux, North Sea, Riga, and Parnu jazz festivals and has also appeared in the former Soviet Union and the Baltic Republics. Additionally, Campbell is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra bass section. He has numerous CDs to his credit.

Jazz I Faculty

Gil Wukitsch Lab Band Director, Anthony and Judith Licata Chair

Gil Wukitsch has been teaching at St. Charles East High School since 1997, where he teaches Jazz Band, Wind Symphony and AP Music Theory. Along with his teaching duties, Gil serves as the Lead Teacher for Fine Arts, overseeing the Drama, Music and Visual Arts departments. Wukitsch has a degree in music education from DePaul University, as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership from Aurora University. While at DePaul, he was a member of the nationally recognized Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra, and studied trumpet with Ross Beacraft and Bob Lark. Gil began attending Birch Creek as a student in 1989 and since then has been a member of the Academy Big Band as both a teaching assistant and faculty member, as well as serving as the Lab Band and Studio Band Director.

Jim Stombres Studio Band Director Chair named in his honor

2023 is Jim Strombres’ 35th season with Birch Creek. Stombres retired in 2015 after more than 30 years as director of bands in three suburban Chicago high schools, finishing his career at St. Charles North High School in St. Charles, Illinois. He holds a diploma in sacred music from the Moody Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State University, and a Master of Music Education degree from Northwestern University. He is active in the Illinois Music Educators Association and the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Under Stombres’ direction, the Naperville North Wind Ensemble performed at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival and received the DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Wind Ensemble. He is also a co-director of Birch Creek’s Wind Ensemble Retreat.

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Jazz I Faculty

Ambassador Director

Katie Ernst, Chicago, IL

Alto Saxophone

Sharel Cassity, Chicago, IL

Tenor Saxophone

Scott Burns, Chicago, IL

Piano

Michael Stryker, Chicago, IL

Jazz II Faculty

Trumpet

Joey Tartell, Bloomington, IN

Lennie Foy, Greencastle, IN

Trombone

Bill and Marti Thompson Chair honoring Audrey Morrison

Brendan Lanighan, Buffalo, NY

Trombone

Nelsen Campbell, American Fork, UT

Bass

Jeff Campbell, Rochester, NY

Drums

Howard and Miriam Erickson

Chair honoring Bob Chmel

John Bacon, Buffalo, NY

Guitar

Rick Haydon, Edwardsville, IL

Vocalist

Katie Ernst, Chicago, IL

Phil Crews Lab Band Director

Phillip Crews received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, IL. He directed the band programs at Thornton High School and is band director at Rich Central High School in Crete, IL. Crews was recognized in 2009 for excellence in teaching by the Illinois State Board of Education receiving the “Those Who Excel” award and was honored with the Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence in recognition of teaching excellence in music education at the 2018 Illinois Music Education Conference. He was inducted into Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters Fraternity in 2017. Crews was a Birch Creek student in 1989 and joins us for a ninth season as a faculty member.

Steve Sveum Studio Band Director

Steve Sveum is the retired Director of Bands at Sun Prairie High School in Sun Prairie, WI, where jazz ensembles under his direction were selected twelve times as finalists in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Essentially Ellington” national jazz competition, placing third three times. Sveum has been a faculty member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy and has worked as a clinician at festivals around the United States. He is a 2014 recipient of the DownBeat Jazz Education Achievement award. The 2023 season marks two decades for Sveum at Birch Creek’s summer music academy. Sveum also co-directs Birch Creek’s Wind Ensemble Retreat.

Jazz II Faculty

Ambassador Director

Marty Robinson, Appleton, WI

Alto Saxophone

David Bixler, New York, NY

Tenor Saxophone

Todd Williams, McCordsville, IN

Trumpet

Charlie Carr, Rochester, NY

Clay Jenkins, Rochester, NY

Trombone

Steve Horne, Glenview, IL

Clarence Hines, Jacksonville, FL

Piano

Jane and Gerry Berg Chair

Reggie Thomas, DeKalb, IL

Bass

Jeff Campbell, Rochester, NY

Drums

Dennis Mackrel, Woodstock, NY

Guitar

Forever in Time Chair

Rick Haydon, Edwardsville, IL

Vocalist

Mardra Thomas, DeKalb, IL

Bravo!

2022 Student Awards

The Birch Creek Student Awards are presented at the end of each two-week session and are based on musicianship and leadership. First-place winners are eligible for a partial tuition scholarship for the following season. In the event that a first-place winner cannot return, the runner-up or honorable mention is eligible for the scholarship. The two first-place winners of the 2022 Clampitt Concerto Competition are eligible to perform one movement of a concerto on opening night of the following season. In the event that a first-place winner cannot perform, the runner-up or honorable mention is eligible for the honor. An asterisk (*) indicates the award recipients who you will see on stage at Birch Creek in 2023.

Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music

Outstanding Performer

Winner: Ashley Hatland*

Runner-up: Anaïs Griffith-Oh*

Most Improved Student

Winner: Savannah Elgin*

Runner-up: Dimitri Lal

Symphony

Dutton Memorial Scholarship

Winner: Beatrice Sjostrom

Outstanding String Student

Winner: Charles Kritsch*

Honorable Mention: William Maeda*

Honorable Mention: Laura Perry

Outstanding Woodwind Student

Winner: Catherine Brenmark

Honorable Mention: Adam Blayney

Honorable Mention: Sal Monastero

Outstanding Brass Student

Winner: Callie Widi*

Honorable Mention: Paul Krumpe

Honorable Mention: Anthony Lopez*

Outstanding Percussion / Harp / Piano Student

Winner: Philip Hanifin

Honorable Mention: Ellison Xu

2022 Clampitt Concerto Competition

Winner: Charles Kritsch*

Winner: Sal Monastero

Honorable Mention: Adalyn Sidon*

Honorable Mention: Callie Widi*

Jazz I

Outstanding Rhythm Section Player

Winner: Phillip Perea

Runner-up: Ryan Weaver*

Most Improved Rhythm Section Player

Winner: Victor Pavlov*

Runner-up: Bethany Reed*

Outstanding Wind Instrument Player

Winner: Skylar Harris

Runner-up: Jacob Merrill

Most Improved Wind Instrument Player

Winner: Kristen Engelhardt

Runner-up: Matthew Thompson

Jazz II

Outstanding Rhythm Section Player

Winner: Thomas Andersen*

Runner-up: Roland Fay

Most Improved Rhythm Section Player

Winner: Madilynn Adams*

Runner-up: Collin Yablonsky*

Outstanding Wind Instrument Player

Winner: Hudson Lybarger*

Runner-up: Owen Ruszczyk*

Most Improved Wind Instrument Player

Winner: Amanda Austin

Runner-up: Caroline Severson*

Ricardo Castañeda, Symphony Program Director, far right, presents awards to Miguel Rodriguez, Bill Foye and Vivien Ho, left to right.

Winner of the Dutton Memorial Scholarship Beatrice Sjostrom with Ricardo Castañeda, Symphony Program Director.

Panorama of Birch Creek in 2009. Photo by Tony Hodges

For the Safety and Convenience of Our Patrons

Birch Creek has policies in place on several important subjects. Please comply with instructions provided.

• Birch Creek concerts are professionally recorded for educational purposes. Due to copyright and performance contract restrictions, personal electronic devices including phones, tablets, recording or personal communications must be turned off once the concert has started. Recording during a concert is strictly prohibited.

• Service Animals that serve as active guides are permitted. Therapy animals and pets are not allowed on Birch Creek grounds.

• Weapons are prohibited without exception. As an educational institution, violators will be subject to law enforcement action.

• Weather alert information will be provided by Birch Creek staff in the event of potentially dangerous weather conditions.

• To ensure the health of our residential living environment for our faculty and students, we ask that the public and volunteers remain distanced from the performance areas.

O ering trending fashions for women & men

Downtown Egg Harbor

Horseshoe Bay Road & Highway 42

Artists in the Schools / Community Outreach

Birch Creek’s Artists in the Schools outreach program (AIS) brings nationally acclaimed Birch Creek faculty members back to Door County after the summer performances have concluded to serve as clinicians for Door County public school music students. Faculty members offer powerful insights into music practice and performance and demonstrate techniques that can be immediately applied in the classroom.

After a two-year pause due to COVID-19, AIS safely returned on October 10, 2022, to Sevastopol, Southern Door, and Sturgeon Bay schools when three members of the Birch Creek Jazz II faculty renewed the joyful exchange between professional musicians and Door County students.

The 2022 presentation of Artists in the Schools was underwritten by donations in memory of Birch Creek board member and exceptional educator, Lolly Ratajczak, who together with educator and Birch Creek board member Miriam Erickson founded the AIS program in 2002.

Land Acknowledgment

Birch Creek Music Performance Center campus is located on the ancestral homeland of the Menominee, Oneida and Ho-chunk nations. As an organization that stewards our land and educates generations of music students, we acknowledge these nations who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We acknowledge the history of genocide and the forced cessation of their lands and pay respect to their elders past and present. This acknowledgment does not take the place of authentic relationships with indigenous communities; it serves as the first step in honoring this land and the people who cared for it.

Performing and sharing their personal stories as jazz musicians at Sevastopol High School in 2022 are Birch Creek faculty Jeff Campbell, bass, Rick Haydon, guitar, and Reggie Thomas, piano.

Milestones

Birch Creek honors faculty who have accumulated 20 years and 30 years or more of service to the academy. Members of the Birch Creek “20 Year Club” and “30 Year Club” are:

The 20 Year Club

Inducted in 2000

Tom Streeter Jazz

Retired with 23 years of service

Inducted in 2005

Jim Warrick Jazz

Retired with 25 years of service

Inducted in 2009

Robert Chappell

Inducted in 2012

Brian Groner Symphony

Retired with 28 years of service

Inducted in 2013

Betty Lewis Symphony

29 years

Jeff Stitely Percussion & Steel Band

21 years

Inducted in 2014

Matthew Lee Symphony 29 years

Vicki Peterson Jenks

Percussion & Steel Band

27 years

Inducted in 2017

Joey Tartell Jazz

26 years

Mike Lee Jazz

20 years

Ricardo Castañeda Symphony

26 years

Inducted in 2018

Mardra Thomas Jazz 27 years

Inducted in 2015

Liam Teague

Percussion & Steel Band 28 years

Inducted in 2016

Jodie DeSalvo Symphony

27 years

Dan Moore

Percussion & Steel Band 25 years

Marcia Henry Liebenow Symphony 25 years

Inducted in 2019

David Bixler Jazz

24 years

In loving memory

Milestones

20 year club continued

Tom Garling Jazz

22 years

Rick Haydon Jazz 23 years

Marty Robinson Jazz

23 years

Inducted in 2021

Robert Everson Symphony

22 years

The 30 Year Club

Honored in 2003 for 25 years

Al O’Connor

Percussion & Steel Band

Retired with 30 years of service

In loving memory 1944-2019

Steve Horne Jazz

22 years

Alan Steiner Symphony

Retired with 20 years of service

Inducted in 2022

Michael Stryker Jazz

21 years

Inducted in 2023

Steve Sveum Jazz 20 years

Honored in 2003 for 25 years

Brad Stirtz

Percussion & Steel Band 44 years

Inducted in 2017

Jeff Campbell Jazz 35 years

Inducted in 2018

Jim Stombres Jazz 34 years

Morrison Jazz 34 years

in 2021 Bob Chmel Jazz 32 years

Ricardo Castañeda, Symphony Program Director, far right, presents awards to Miguel Rodriguez, Bill Foye and Vivien Ho, left to right.

Reggie Thomas, Jazz II faculty, receives recognition for 30 years of teaching and performing at Birch Creek. Congratulating him is Executive Director Mona Christensen during the August 12, 2022 concert. In 2022, Faye Seeman, Symphony faculty, also received recognition for 30 years of service. Michael Stryker was inducted during the Jazz I session for 20 years of service.

Inducted in 2022

Faye Seeman Symphony 32 years

Reggie Thomas Jazz 31 years

2023 Inductees

New inductee in 2023 into the Birch Creek “20 Year Club” is:

Steve Sveum - The 20 year club

Steve Sveum is the retired Director of Bands at Sun Prairie High School in Sun Prairie, WI, where he taught for 35 years. Jazz ensembles under his direction were selected thirteen times as finalists in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Essentially Ellington” national jazz competition, placing third three times. Sveum has been a faculty member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy and has worked as a clinician at festivals around the United States. His Jazz Ensemble also performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic with Wynton Marsalis. He is a 2014 recipient of the DownBeat Jazz Education Achievement Award. The 2023 season marks two decades of Sveum’s teaching at Birch Creek’s summer music academy. Sveum also co-directs Birch Creek’s Wind Ensemble Retreat.

Since retiring, Steve has remained active as a clinician, mentoring band directors and working with students around the country. As a member of Carter’s Jazz Clinics, he has worked on four virtual jazz festivals and spent a week working with bands in the Tampa Bay, Florida School District. Recently, he has worked with jazz and concert bands in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois at both the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. He continues to be a consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center.

A Birch Creek Associates Fundraiser

Jazz

Experience the captivating sounds of jazz mallets and the mesmerizing grooves of Latin percussion instruments with this one-of-a-kind concert.

October 7, 2023

Juniper Hall

"We love having the students perform at the winery each summer. The parents, teachers, musicians, and Birch Creek staff should all be incredibly proud of their hardwork! Our guests are delighted to enjoy their fine wine and tapas with live Jazz!"

-- The Staff at Stone's Throw Winery

premier, all-California grape winery

James R. Smith • Richard A. Hauser • Jon R. Pinkert • Jennifer C. Hobart • Amy M. Sullivan • Tyler D. Plu

Hannah J. Smith • Peter A. Bazianos • Zachary J. Buchta

Play It Forward Annual Fund

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.

True Cost of Program Delivery: $5,100

Play It Forward Donor Support: -$2,700

Remaining Student/Family Tuition Cost: $2,400

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-ofpocket costs, while also raising additional tuition assistance dollars to help those for whom even our subsidized tuition is a challenge.

Your gift, in any amount, will ensure affordability to a broad and inclusive spectrum of promising young musicians. Donate online at BirchCreek.org/Support or contact the office at (920) 868-3763 or MainOffice@BirchCreek.org.

Each student’s program cost is underwritten by $2,700 through gifts to Play It Forward.

PLEASED TO SUPPORT BIRCH CREEK AND PROVIDE MUSIC ENJOYMENT FOR DOOR COUNTY!

Special Thanks to our 2023 Concert Sponsors

Anonymous Donor

Anthony and Priscilla Beadell and Family

Tom and Penny Beerntsen

Birch Creek Board of Trustees

Jane and Gerry Berg

Laurey and Phil Clampitt

Fran Dutton

Jim and Barbara Flint

Joan Guasta

Steve and Jackie Kane

Stephen and Kathryn Kuhn

Anthony and Judith Licata

Charlotte Lukes

MMG Foundation

Audrey Morrison

Mary Moster

Ray and Claire Moulis

Jim and Peggy Ryan

Ben and Jane Stephen

Marti Thompson

Roger and Lynn Van Vreede

For more information on concert sponsorship opportunities, contact us at (920) 868-3763 or email MainOffice@BirchCreek.org. Birch Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation; your donation will be receipted for tax purposes.

2023 Summer Concerts

Thursday | June 22

Opening Night: Percussion at the Movies

Thursday | June 29

Artistry in Steel Pan featuring Liam Teague

3:00 PM Matinee & 7:00 PM Concert

Tuesday | July 4

A Birch Creek Symphonic Fourth

3:00 PM Matinee Only

Friday | June 23

Wild Percussion: Music in Nature (Tribute to Roy Lukes)

Friday | June 30

Percussion: Fun and Funky with Swedish Vibes Artist, Anders Åstrand

Thursday | July 6

Rising Stars: 2022 Clampitt Concerto Competition Winners Walton, “Viola Concerto” Hindemith, “Viola Concerto ‘Der Schwanendreher’” Mussorgsky/Ravel, “Pictures at an Exhibition”

Thursday | July 13

A Romantic Evening

Piazzolla, “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” featuring Concertmaster Alan Snow

Tchaikovsky, “Italian Capriccio”

Dvořák, “Symphony in D Major, No. 6

Wednesday | July 19

Swing into Summer

Wednesday | July 26

The Styles and Sounds of Big Band Jazz

Wednesday | August 2

Swing and The American Songbook

Wednesday | August 9

Big Band Jazz Summer Favorites

Thursday | July 20

Basie, Miller, and Ellington

Thursday | July 27

The Joyous Sounds of Swing

Thursday | August 3

Jazz & Blues: Big Band Style

Thursday | August 10

Swing, Blues, and Big Band Jazz

Friday | July 14

Symphonic Ballets: La Valse Koussevitzky, “Bass Concerto” featuring Jeremy Attanaseo, String Bass Ravel, “La Valse” Respighi, “Belkis, Queen of Sheeba”

Friday | July 21

Basie, Miller, and Ellington

Friday | July 28

The Joyous Sounds of Swing

Friday | August 4

Jazz & Blues: Big Band Style

Friday | August 11

Swing, Blues, and Big Band Jazz

Saturday | June 24

Percussion at the Movies

3:00 PM Matinee Only

Saturday | July 1

Closing Night: Percussion’s Greatest “Hits” with Swedish Vibes Artist, Anders Åstrand

Friday | July 7

Saturday | July 8

Passion: Wagner & Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky, “Symphony No. 6” Wagner, “Tristan und Isolde” Debussy, “Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun”

Saturday | July 15

Musical Show and Tell: Highlights of the Season

Tchaikovsky, “Italian Capriccio” Wagner, “Tristan und Isolde” Mussorgsky/Ravel, “Pictures at an Exhibition”

Saturday | July 22

Swing into Summer

Saturday | July 29

The Styles and Sounds of Big Band Jazz

Saturday | August 5

Swing and The American Songbook

Saturday | August 12

Big Band Jazz Summer Favorites

2023 Fall Concert Series Featuring

Birch Creek Faculty

Juniper Hall | All concerts at 7:00 PM unless noted below.

September 9

Talk of the Town featuring Kevin Van Ess and his Dixieland Jazz Band

Back by popular demand, this nationally recognized Bourbon Street Dixieland Jazz group returns to fill the air with infectious energy and upbeat rhythms.

September 16

Dan Moore & Friends featuring Wesley Morgan and Rodrigo Villanueva

This ensemble’s exceptional chemistry enables them to push the boundaries, coaxing creative improvisations from well-known melodies in jazz and popular music genres.

September 23

Jazz Faculty Favorites featuring Katie Ernst, vocals; Michael Stryker, piano; and Scott Burns, Saxophone

Birch Creek’s world-class jazz talent reunite for a musical experience that will captivate your senses with silky smooth jazz virtuosity.

October 7

Percussion Combo: Brad Stirtz & Friends

Jazz Mallets & Latin Vibes Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Experience the captivating sounds of jazz mallets and the mesmerizing grooves of Latin percussion instruments with this one-of-a-kind concert.

A Birch Creek Associates Fundraiser

Social | 5:30 PM

Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and Cash Bar | 6:00 PM Concert | 7:00 PM

Reservations at BirchCreek.org/Tickets

December 2

Christmas at Birch Creek

featuring Birch Creek Symphony Brass and Guest Performers Ring in the holiday season at Birch Creek with this cherished holiday tradition featuring the sounds of joy and celebration.

Family Matinee | 2:30 PM Evening Concert | 7:00 PM

Planned Giving at Birch Creek

A planned gift is any major gift made during one’s lifetime or in their will that is part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning. Planned giving allows donors to keep their philanthropic values alive and active through Birch Creek’s mission. Planned Giving categories include The Endowment, The Legacy Circle and Named Gifts.

Planned Giving - The Birch Creek Endowment

The Birch Creek Board of Trustees began the process of building an endowment of permanently held funds in 2000. They designated four funds for donors’ gifts within the Birch Creek Endowment, each focusing on different aspects of Birch Creek’s mission. A donor may place contributions in one of the four funds, thereby restricting how earnings from their gifts may be used. The Endowment principal (the gift itself) is everlasting. Listed here are the Funds and the sub-funds within them where a donor has met the minimum gift requirement needed to establish a sub-fund; or, a donor has pledged a significant contribution to name a building, place within a building, faculty chair, or one of Birch Creek’s flagship programs. In italics are the names of those whose gifts were received between May 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023.

FUNDS

BUILDING FOR TOMORROW FUND

Capital campus improvements

Gifts to the Fund Principal

Susan Caldwell

Rev. Thomas Lijewski

William and Raetta Mirgain

Sub-funds

Robert Koehler Memorial

Brad and Mary Koehler

Kaye M. Wagner Memorial

In Memory of Kaye M. Wagner

Anonymous

Dick and Kit Conner

LIFETIME FOR EDUCATION FUND

Curriculum components including faculty and guest artist fees

Gifts to the Fund Principal

The Buckingham Family

John and Natalie Docter

Nat Geissel and Lisa Brewster

Roy and Betsy Gill

Rachel Hickson

In Memory of Lolly Ratajczak

Patti Jo Hedeen

In Memory of Jeanne Barnard

Kate Rericha

BUILDING FOR TOMORROW FUND LIFETIME FOR EDUCATION FUND

NOW & FOREVER FUND

SCHOLARSHIPS FOREVER FUND

LIFETIME FOR EDUCATION FUND continued

Sub-funds

Greg and Becky Britton

Lucile Grams Memorial

Gordon and Grace Gunnlaugsson

In Memory of Lolly Ratajczak and In Honor of Dave Ratajczak

Gordon and Grace Gunnlaugsson

Permanently Named Faculty Chairs

Jane and Gerry Berg Jazz II Piano Faculty Chair

Jane and Gerry Berg

Howard and Miriam Erickson Jazz I Drum

Faculty Chair honoring Bob Chmel

Anthony and Judith Licata Jazz I Lab Band Director Chair

Charlotte Lukes Concertmaster Chair

Mary Moster and Lou Williams Symphony

Cello Faculty Chair

Mary Moster

Joan and Robert Schaupp Symphony

Trumpet Faculty Chair

Shirley Stolley Symphony Flute Faculty Chair

Jazz I Studio Band Director Chair honoring James Stombres

Bill and Marti Thompson Jazz I Trombone

Faculty Chair honoring Audrey Morrison

Marti Thompson

The Birch Creek Endowment

Permanently Named Programs

Laurey and Phil Clampitt Concerto

Competition

Laurey and Phil Clampitt

In Memory of Jim Rericha

Jane and Gerry Berg

Scott and Lynn Brunswick

Dave and Mona Christensen

Peter and Myra Cristall

Joan Guasta

Bob Lindahl and Wilma Van Arragon

Kate Rericha

Patricia and Steve Vickman

Permanently Named Places on Campus

Jackie and Steve Kane Gazebo

Faculty Dorm Room #108 In honor of Don

Makuen and Charlie Dickson, a gift of Tom and Marlys Regan

Wright Housing, In Memory of Sarah E. Wright

NOW and FOREVER FUND

Revenue stream which supplements the cost of day-to-day operations

Gifts to the Fund Principal

Anonymous

Sub-funds

Alan and Virginia Eades

Joan Guasta

Wes and Cookie Kramlich Memorial

Roy and Charlotte Lukes

William and Ruth Melzer Memorial

Bonnie and Peter Platten

Robert and Catherine Tilden

Permanently Named Faculty Chairs

Forever in Time Jazz II Guitar Faculty Chair

Anonymous

SCHOLARSHIPS FOREVER FUND

Scholarships for students of high musical skills, personal merit, and financial need

Gifts to the Fund Principal

Larry and Joan Balistreri

Rob and Robin Engl

Joan Pleuss

Dr. Barbara K. Sloan

4

SCHOLARSHIPS FOREVER FUND continued

Sub-funds

Otto and Jean Andreae Memorial

George (Lee) Bourassa Memorial

William and Nancy Carpenter

Connolly Family

Dr. and Mrs. Dennis and Bonnie Connolly

Donald and Lois Deane Memorial

Lucile Grams Memorial

Maihaugen Foundation

MMG Foundation

Allan Peterson Memorial

John Jenks and Vicki Peterson Jenks

Joseph and Marian Phelps Memorial

David and Peggy Babb

Ernest Seeman Memorial

Linda Clarke

Larry Seeman

William and Ann Taylor Memorial

Elliott and Shyla Wollman Memorial

In Memory of Elliott and Shyla Wollman

E and S Wollman Trust

Permanently Named Scholarships

Anonymously Named Scholarship

Bert, Marianne, and Ben Scholarship

Miriam Baer

Schenker Family

James Dutton Merit Scholarship

In Memory of Jim Dutton

Frances Dutton

Duane and Jane Feurer

David and Pat Long

In Memory of Sonja Stork

Don Stork

Brian T. Hynes and Barry J. Hynes Memorial Scholarship

Virginia and Alan Eades

Phyllis C. and James Ingwersen Scholarship

In Memory of Phyllis C. Ingwersen and In Honor of Jim Ingwersen

Gretchen Jordan

George Kress Foundation Scholarship

Ralph Pratt Memorial Scholarship

Sylvia K. Pratt

Frank and Carol Weber Scholarship

Stanley R. and Robert E. Wright Scholarship

The Birch Creek Endowment

FOUNDERS FUNDS

In the early years of establishing the Birch Creek Endowment, many memorial gifts were made to honor a donor or designee. Although these funds are no longer active, Birch Creek Board of Trustees recognizes the gifts that were so vital in beginning the Endowment. The principal remains in each fund as restricted by the donor and continues to generate earnings.

Lifetime for Education Fund, honoring Dick and Kit Conner

Erik Eriksson

Robert Hohman

G. Allan (Al) O’Connor

Now & Forever Fund, honoring Dick and Kit Conner

Mark and Ann Jinkins

John and M. Lynn Lees

Donald Makuen

John Pfeifer

The Legacy Circle

Scholarships Forever Fund, honoring

Robert Borgstede

Jay Dorschel

Marilyn Hanford Goldman and Harris Goldman

William Grimes

John Leick

Nancy Makuen

John (Jack) Mitchell

Irving Moberg

Eugene Stevens

Reverend William White

Legacy giving is a way for generous donors to sustain Birch Creek’s music education programming far into the future. By including Birch Creek in estate plans, those individuals and their families who have made a legacy commitment to Birch Creek are guardians of our future generations. For keeping the music alive, we thank them all.

As a Realtor and innkeeper, Di Taillon meets many visitors to Door County. With them, she shares Birch Creek’s story. We present her reason for being a member of the Legacy Circle at Birch Creek in her own words.

“My involvement with Birch Creek formally began in 2022 although I have enjoyed Birch Creek performances for many years. I am inspired seeing enthusiasm and eagerness in the faces of new students each year. Their energy, passion, and sense of opportunity is evident in everything they do.

“I deeply cherish the history of Door County, and so it is wonderful to see Birch Creek taking its place in that continuum. Future generations will be thankful for the fine work of today’s Birch Creek faculty and musical supporters including my friends of the Legacy Circle.”

Diane (DI) Taillon, 2023 Birch Creek Board of Trustees

The Legacy Circle

With admiration, we present the names of Legacy Circle members.

Legacy Circle Members

Anonymous

Anthony and Priscilla Beadell

Jane and Gerry Berg

Carla Byrnes and Sara Oswald

Sam and Vicky Carmen

Dave and Mona Christensen

Peter and Myra Cristall

Frances Dutton

Virginia T. Eades

Miriam Erickson

Cecilia Van de Kamp Freund*

Lucile M Grams

Charitable Lead Annuity Trust*

Joan Guasta

Phyllis C.* and James Ingwersen

Vicki Peterson Jenks

Steve and Jackie Kane

Stephen and Wendy Kase

Irene Daniell Kress Revocable Trust*

Henry and Dorothy Kuettner Endowment Fund*

Marguerite L. Lembke and Lillian A. Lembke Revocable Trust*

Anthony and Judith Licata

Charlotte Lukes

Fred Mann* and Charles Beasley

Marianne* and Ben*

Fredric and Christi Moritz

Mary Moster and Louis Williams*

Thomas Regan

Estate of Ernell F. Rothe*

Cynthia Stiehl

Diane (Di) Taillon

Bill* and Marti Thompson

Steven and Patricia Vickman

Adolf and Ursla Walser Revocable Trust*

Anne* and Jim White

Sarah E. Wright Charitable Trust*

*deceased

Named Gifts

For many donors, a natural “next step” in their philanthropy is to name a scholarship, building or faculty chair in the endowment. Beginning in 2022, naming one of Birch Creek’s flagship programs became available.

Symphonic music is Laurey and Phil Clampitt’s passion, and as a concert sponsor, Laurey Clampitt had the chance to meet two of the Symphony Session students before the performance. Laurey is flanked on the left by Brianna Booher, tuba, Sugar Grove, IL, and Ayden Hunt, horn, Chicago, IL (right).

After attending the 2022 Birch Creek Symphony concert in which two students who had received awards in the 2021 Concerto Competition performed, Laurey and Phil Clampitt – inspired and impressed by the quality of the students’ abilities – wanted to be certain that the competition would continue far into the future. With a pledged gift to the Birch Creek Endowment, the Clampitts permanently named the Concerto Competition.

Other uniquely Birch Creek programmatic activities are also part of naming opportunities for donors, including Jazz I Ambassadors, Jazz II Ambassadors, and Artists in the Schools. Currently, names of many faculty chairs and places on our idyllic campus are examples of naming opportunities that gratefully recognize donors whose gifts help shape and elevate our learning and performing environment.

Permanently Named Permanently named in 2022-2023

Laurey and Phil Clampitt Concerto Competition

Bert, Marianne, and Ben Endowment Scholarship

Bill and Marti Thompson Jazz I Trombone Chair honoring Audrey Morrison

Annual Giving at Birch Creek

Play It Forward Annual Fund

The Play It Forward Annual Fund is used for operational expenses and bridges the gap between tuition paid by families and the true cost of program delivery. See page 32 for more details.

Annual Scholarships

Scholarship donations provide sustaining, continuing tuition support enabling Birch Creek to recruit promising young musicians, encourage students to return in following years, and, for some families, remove barriers to a Birch Creek education that tuition imposes. See donors list on page 51.

Concert Sponsorship

Concert sponsorship allows Birch Creek to continue attracting some of the finest musicians and performers in the country, as well as providing our students with the invaluable experience of performing before live audiences. See page 36 for more information.

Capital Gifts

Capital gifts support campus infrastructure projects essential to ongoing student, faculty, and concertgoer safety, and necessary for planning for Birch Creek’s future. See page 68 for more information.

Acknowledgment of Our Donors

Birch Creek is privileged to receive many gifts throughout the year; listed here are gifts received between May 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. Birch Creek is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and donations are receipted for tax purposes.

Donation Levels

$100 to $249

Leadership Circle

Laurey and Phil Clampitt

Susie Gebhardt

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Private Family Fund

Joan Guasta

Gretchen Jordan

Henry and Dorothy Kuettner

Endowment Fund

MMG Foundation

Nicholas Family Foundation

Schenker Family

Marti Thompson

Roger and Lynn Van Vreede

Charitable Fund within the

Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

Adolf and Ursula Walser Revocable Trust

Wisconsin Arts Board

Milada Zinngrabe

Director’s Circle

Anonymous (2)

Jane and Gerry Berg

Glenn N. Bruck

Dr. and Mrs. Dennis and Bonnie Connolly

Dwight and Linda Davis Foundation

Faculty Circle

$1,000 to $2,499

Bravo

$1 to $99

Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Forbes/Berend Family Fund Care of Jim and Nancy Forbes

Irene M. Fox

Bob and Nancy Gellman

Gordon and Grace Gunnlaugsson

J and H James Foundation

EJ-DAF at The Chicago Community Foundation

Roger Johnson

Karen Mehigan and Jim Friel

Mary Moster Raibrook Foundation

Leo Reddy

Sargent Family Foundation

Connie Sweeney

Town of Egg Harbor

Faculty Circle

Charles and Mary Anderson

Charitable Fund, a Donor

Advised Fund of the U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Nancy Andriacchi

Anonymous

Paul Aspinwall

Miriam Baer

BCC Steel, Inc.

Charles Beasley

Tom and Penny Beerntsen

Jim and Pat Blair

Pamela Blanchard

David and Suzy Boerke

Nancy and David Borghesi

Joel Brown and Julie Strauss

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Anthony and Andrea Bryant Family Fund

David Burke and Wendy Lukes

John and Kathy Campbell

Rudy and Pat Carl

Sam and Vicky Carmen

Linda Clarke

Tom and Susan Corbridge

The Cordon Family Foundation

Robert and Lynn Doneff

Door County Medical Center

Frances Dutton

Alan and Virginia Eades

Karin Erickson

Diane S. Evenson

Roy and Betsy Gill

Joseph and Gwenn Graboyes Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Timothy and Barbara Graul

Tom and Carole Guyette

Barb and Jim Hansen

Patti Jo Hedeen

Roger and Denette Hilbert

Marian Hislop Charitable Lead Trust

John Jenks and Vicki Peterson Jenks

Dave and Mel Johnson

Steven and Jackie Kane

Barbara Keller

Dennis and Barbara Kessler

Family of Dr. Bruce Kirkham

Brad and Mary Koehler

Ed and Mary Langbein

Jerry and Carolyn Langley

Bob Lindahl and Wilma Van Arragon

Charles McKee

David and Marion Meissner

Fred and Christi Moritz

Sylvia K. Pratt

David Ratajczak

Kate Rericha

Rod and Marian Schlise

Robert and Carol Sorrentino

Jonathan Tobias Music Memorial

Chris and Lori Tolle

Steve and Patti Vickman

Kim Viney

Bill Vineyard Memorial

Carol Wakeman

Encore

5 Star Insurance Group, LLC

Janet Thomas Bailey

Nancy Bauer

Anthony and Priscilla Beadell

Carl and Susan Becker

John and Alice Belmont

John and Linda Blossom

Ken and Marie Bohnen

Mike and Marge Bork

Steve and Kathy Boulukos

Scott and Lynn Brunswick

Jim and Barbara Bunning

Susan Caldwell

Dave and Vonnie Callsen

Doug and Janie Carlson

Donald and Beverly Chappie

Dick and Kit Conner

Peter and Beverly Conroy

Karen and Andrew Cook Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Karen Cowan

Chris Cramer

Peter and Myra Cristall

Rob Davis

John and Pat DeLeonardis

Bob and Liz Dickson

Door County Coffee & Tea Co.

Dr. Aaron and Monica Dunn

Anne and Richard Egan Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Michael Elkow

Scott Ellington

Miriam Erickson

Falb Family Charitable Foundation

Gretchen and Dan Farwell

The Feldman Family Charitable Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation

Paul and Sandy Fernstrum

Birch Creek is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Theo and Jan Abrahamson

Carol and Todd Allen

Katy Andino

Mary Andrus

Anonymous (4)

Charles and Stephanie Baer

Jim and Barbara Flint

Jack and Cindy Follick

Matthew and Linda Frank

Tim and Marsella Fults

Nat Geissel and Lisa Brewster

David George

Dottie Gerrits

Janet Tippet Goldsmith

Steven and Mary Gomoll

Gould Family Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Derek and Mary Gover

Jack and Nancy Greenwood

Greystone Foundation

Andrew and Gretchen Hall

Steve, Betsy and Drew Hansen

George and Judy Harmon

Heid Music Family Charitable Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

Paul Heim and Julie Watkins

Doug and Barbara Henderson

Bill and Jane Hensge

Herb Kohl Philanthropies

Mark and Michaela Holey

Karl and Lyn Huber

Nancy E. Hughes

Illinois Audio Productions

The Jerry James and Kitty Bliss Family

Jarosch Bakery, Inc

Mary Jelinek

Dennis and Donna Joannides

Ron and Carol Jochimsen

Albert and Cynthia Johnson

Blair Johnson

Sandra Johnson

Steven and Dawn Johnson

Wayne and Kristen Johnson

Debbie and Gary Jones

Lynn Kaczmarek and Mack Bonk

Donna Koehler

Dr. Sanford Koltonow and Dr. Mary Schlaff

David Kowalski

Martin Krebs

Rod and Carol Krueger

Steve and Kathy Kuhn

Jane Lacy

Beatrice Lapp

Charles and Estella Lauter

Gerald Lecy

Lynn Lees

David and Carrie Link

David and Pat Long

Jacquie Luke and Ken Rice

Charlotte Lukes

Douglas MacNeil

Greg Macola and Mary McEnerney

Patricia Malkemus

Rick Malkemus and Lisa Tetzloff

John Mangan

Chip and Mary Jo McCarthy

Sharon and Tom Michalsen

Scott and Christine Miller

Frank and Sherry Moon

Bill Moore

Mary J. Moore

Mike and Babs Mortl

Raymond and Claire Moulis

John and Nancy Munch

Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Tom Munns

J & G Myszkowski

David and Gail Nelson

David and Carol Nestingen

Newport Resort

Nicolet National Bank

Jiwoong Oh and Sally Griffith-Oh

On Deck Clothing Company

Dennis and Sandra Pearson

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson Charitable Foundation

Thomas Regan

Jeanne E. Reichert

Paul and Barb Ristau

Rob and Katie Robbins

Todd and Sheryll Rockway

Ross Estate Planning

Ron Rozmarynoski

Jim and Peggy Ryan

Rae Sanders

Randy and Sandy Sannes

Marcia K. Sarvela

Kirk and Donna Scattergood

Vernon Schabert

Carl and Barbara Shakal

James and Kathlin Sickel

Jerry and Nancy Sjostrom

Dr. Barbara K. Sloan

Ben and Jane Stephen

Stone’s Throw Winery

Don Stork

Diane Taillon

Tannenbaum Holiday Shop

Gabriel Tawil

Paul Teetor and Anna Speicher

Matt and Maureen Temple

John and Joan Tierney

Laurie Tremain

Bob and Tina Wagner

David and Nancy Wahlert

John and Roberta Walgren

Christ and Robin Walker

Tom and Lee Weikert

Welsing Foodland Inc.

Jim White

White Gull Inn

Richard and Jan Whittow

Gene and Carmen Witt

Sarah and Mark Woerfel

Nancy-Leigh Wolff

E and S Wollman Trust

Carl and Sandy Zapffe

Mentor’s Circle

Michael Abler

James H. and Sara Ellen Anderson

Robert and Melanie Andres

Anonymous (12)

Joan Auclair

Dave and Peggy Babb

Larry and Joan Balistreri

Bea’s Ho-Made Products

Ken and Janet Berggren

Sherry Billett and Joel Kitchens

Jim and Iveta Boyanchek

George and Twila Braden

Christine Bridenhagen

The Buckingham Family

Janet E. Bulin

Chris and Katie Callen

William and Nancy Carpenter

Dave and Kathy Cecil

Patrick and Mary Cerra

Chris Chambreau

Carlyle and Patricia Chan

William and Beth Chancellor

Donald Chapman

Dave and Nan Clinton

Trissa Crowley

Verne and Charlene Cutler

Sandra Dagon

Jodie and William De Salvo

Laura DeGrange

Tom and Judy DeMint

Michael Dereszynski

Door County Ice Cream Factory

Door Guide Publishing

Charles and Rita Doyle

Rob and Robin Engl

Tom and Andrea Esau

Hank and Mary Fasciotti

Linda Fass

Bruce and Chris Fenner

James Forbeck

Michael Fordney

George and Bernie Freeman

Fred and Barb Frey

Julie Gall

Jerry and Lois Garrity

Chuck and Lynn Grebus

Larry and Julia Griffith

Dave and Sue Gunderson

Carl and Donna Hanson

Dale and Linda Hernandez

James and Ina Heup

Rachel Hickson

Bernard and Mitzi Hlavac

Jim Holland

Don and Myrma Howard

Bonnie and Fergus Hughes

John and Judy Hundley

Jim Ingwersen

Dr. Peter and Jean Jacobsohn

Gail Jobelius

Dick and Jan Johnson

Jean Johnson

Dick and Suzi Jones

Judith and Thomas Kapellen

Robert and Jolene Kappes

Edward Kelly

Mike and Linda Kielas

Mel and Shirley Klatt

Tom and Brenda Koch

Ben and Lee Kordus

Keith and Jann Kostecke

Karen Kritsch

Gene and Pauline Kussart

John Landwehr

Jeffrey and Brenda Lange

Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc.

Ruth Langehough

Lautenbach’s Orchard Country

Laurie and Jack Lawlor

Skip and Annette Lee

Phoebe and John Lenhard

John and Jill Levi

Betty Lewis and Paul Zafer

Anthony and Judith Licata

Rev. Thomas Lijewski

Kenneth Lindberg

Mark and Kelly Lindekugel

Peggy Lott

Paul and Mary Luce

Mark and Kathleen Lundberg

Main Street Market

Sharon and Joe Malenda

Margret Mann

Jack and Sandy Mason

David McDonald

Scott McDonald

Jim and Cass McHolland

Patricia Meyer

William and Raetta Mirgain

Bill Morris

Joshua Moshier

Robert Motel and Louise Gross Motel

Carol Muckerman

Janet L. Nedoba

Kevin and Faith O’Neil

Frank and Kathy Pammer

Ted Pappas and Fe Quejada

Piggly Wiggly

Pink Bakery

Kent Planck and Tony Pastucci

Joan Pleuss

Larry and Devon Polly

Rae Potter

Thomas Prebble and Claudia Trimarco

John C. and Lynn M. Pullan

Maria Quejada

Lisa Rader

Taran A. Radloff

Randi Ragins and Bob Markowski

Megan Repar

Jim and Marianne Richards

John and Mary Rooks

Mark and Cathy Runion

Stanley and Dorothy Russell

Margie and Dave Saksewski

Martha Sauter

Scaturo’s Baking Co & Café

Terry J. Schneider

Paul Schubert and Debra Merkle-Schubert

Laura and Eric Schulz

Carol Scott

Seaquist Orchards Farm Market

Clinton Booth Seely

Larry Seeman

Timothy Selz

Art and Sharon Shoener

Sister Bay Bowl, Inc

Barb Skaer

Andrew Starck

Elaine Stenzel

Cynthia Stiehl

Scott and Janet Stolarick

Harriet Stoll

Stoneman-Schopf Agency

Bob and Rosemary Stuebi

Susan Sturm

Bob and Rita Sullivan

Maury and Ann Sullivan

Julie Sundaram

Sweetie Pies

Tom and Bozena Swiderski

Dorothy Tevoert

The Brookby Foundation

Dennis and Jan Thornton

Paul and Nina Trigg

Roy and Sandra Uelner

Karen and Roger Utnehmer

Myron and Carol Van deVen

Kevin Van Ess

Andrea Wagoner and Roger Ruggeri

Jim and Wendy Walker

Gary and Linda Wallace

Deborah Webber and David Alley

Stephen Weintraut and Joyce Haan Weintraut

Brad and Jo Ann Weir

Gale and Don Whitson-Schmidt

Joanne and Ron Widi

William Wildman

Donna Wilkinson

Amy Wolf

Eric and Barbara Wolf

Jessica Wolfe

Henk and Buttons Wolst

Norb and Judy Wolter

Wood Orchard Market

Glenn and Susan Word

Arthur and Shirlee Yeary

Jerry and Joan Zaug

Jack and Barbara Zilavy

Bravo

Grant and Tina Abert

Thomas L. Aerts

Donna Altepeter

Amazon Smile

Jill and Bruce Anderson

Mark and Margie Anderson

Anonymous (9)

Roy and Terri Back

Nick Barrale

Mary and David Bell

Greg and Peg Berezewski

Katherine Billingham

Rita Bogosh

Carelyn Campbell

Charlene Carle

Harley and Jean Chapman

Trudy and Anthony Chelmecki

Dale and Betty Claus

Robert Cleasby

William and Mary Conkling

Mitch and Sandie Custer

Rick and Mary Dittemore

John and Natalie Docter

Douglas and Iris Dowden

Dale Ducat

Ian and Christine Duncan

Adrian Duszynski

Michael Dybas

Jim Ecker and Jan Moore-Ecker

Thomas and Hillary Egan

John Eichholz

Marla Eland

Buzz and Sue Enroth

Michael Feinerman

Duane and Jane Feurer

Mary Lou Fitzsimmons

Kerry Fox

Michael and Joan Franzen

Cheryl Frawley

Julie Frerichs

Gerri W. Friedberg

Sallie Goding and Allan Beaber

Mary Gordon

The Hancock’s

Mark and Sharon Helmar

Joseph Hetherington

Dawn Holsen

Louise Howson

Jim and Pat Hughes

Victoria Hull

Amy Jennings

Jim and Marcy Jennings

Dennis Joyce

Julie’s Park Café

Michael Kaiser

Darko Kalan

Patrick Kenney

Melanie Ketelsen

Garry and Patricia King

Jeffrey and Taylor Kroma

Carmen Lang

Richard Leccese

Dennis and Joan Lonstine

Robert and Donna Lucht

Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Ludford

Louise Lueck

Rachel Lurie

Mary Marcon

Wayne and Judith Marik

Tim and Lorie Markus

Jim and Judy Mayer

Susan L McCardell

Mike McCarty

The McCormack Family

Richard and Jean Mehring

Jim and Sally Mergener

Marian Miller

Sue and Mike Miller

David and Judy Morrison

James Murphy

Sarah Myers

Nancy Nehring

Matt Neu

Allen Nottke and Marcia Kirtland-Nottke

Jean Nye

PayPal Giving Fund

Kathleen Pechukas

Flora Perez

Jack and Stella Quirk

Mark Ranson

Lee Ann Reed

Robert Reid

Sandra Richey

Susan Rorison

Margaret Roslawski

Julie Rosner and David Fishman

Shari Salvador

Robert and Gloria Santilli

David and Marilyn Scherer

Greg and Renee Schmill

Ruth Schmitt

Charles Schneider

Lawrence Schulman

Richard Schultz

Mary Seeberg

Mary Seehafer

Alberto and Lisa Segre

Richard and Julie Seybold

Ann Sheridan

Kate Siegel

Dianne Siekmann

Richard Silhol

Judy Silva

Jerry and Mary Smart

Bob and Chris Snyder

Dick Snyder

Katherine Sorensen

Elizabeth L. Sperberg

Richard and Annette Steinke

The Stolley Family

Heike and Dennis Tavenner

Shirley Thompson

James and Susan Thorsen

Carol Tishler

Cheryl Turgeon

Linda Utz

Ronald and Janet Wanek

Tributes

Memorials

In memory of Jeanne Barnard

Anonymous

Bob and Liz Dickson

Kate Rericha

In memory of Russell Dagon

Susan Sturm

In memory of Jim Dutton

Janet Thomas Bailey

Frances Dutton

Duane and Jane Feurer

David and Pat Long

Marcia K. Sarvela

In memory of Dorothy Dybas

Michael Dybas

In memory of Sarah Frank

Carl and Jan Welle

Shirley Weese-Young

Mary Weisse

Carl and Jan Welle

Scott Weyda

Kate Wiegele and Giovanni Bennardo

Nick and Keven Wilder

Arthur Wille

Mary E. Wilson

Phillis Wilson

Terry and Debbie Wolf

Bill and Kathy Wolff

Glenn Worf

Mari-Jo Young

David Zuckerman and Judy Madsen

In memory of Cecilia “Katie” Freund

Mary Gordon

Mark and Sharon Helmar

Jim and Marcy Jennings

David and Marilyn Scherer

In memory of Nancy Grimm

Joan Auclair

Mary and David Bell

Wendy and Keith Jackson

The Jerry James and Kitty Bliss Family

Jim and Nancy Forbes

Steve, Betsy and Drew Hansen

J and H James Foundation EJ-DAF at The Chicago Community Foundation

In memory of Myron and Dorothea Hilliker

Marcia K. Sarvela

In memory of Phyllis C. Ingwersen

Gretchen Jordan

In memory of Marilynne Kowalski

David Kowalski

In memory of Alice Krebs

Martin Krebs

In memory of Fred Mann

Charles Beasley

Jane and Gerry Berg

Sam and Vicky Carmen

William and Beth Chancellor

Dave and Mona Christensen

Karen Cowan

Peter and Myra Cristall

Door Guide Publishing

Jim and Barbara Flint

Don and Myrma Howard

Dennis and Joan Lonstine

Margret Mann

Flora Perez

Kent Planck and Tony Pastucci

Kate Rericha

Kirk and Donna Scattergood

Heike and Dennis Tavenner

Sue Vineyard

In memory of Marianne and Ben

Miriam Baer

Schenker Family

Tributes (continued)

In memory of James McDonald

BCC Steel, Inc.

Garry and Patricia King

The McCormack Family

David McDonald

Scott McDonald

Robert Reid

Timothy Selz

In memory of Dale Norris

Kim Viney

In memory of Lon Radloff

Taran A. Radloff

In memory of Lolly Ratajczak

Anonymous

Jane and Gerry Berg

Peter and Myra Cristall

Gordon and Grace Gunnlaugsson

Barb and Jim Hansen

Patti Jo Hedeen

MMG Foundation

David Ratajczak

Kate Rericha

Mary Seeberg

Karen and Roger Utnehmer

In memory of Jim Rericha

Jane and Gerry Berg

Scott and Lynn Brunswick

Dave and Mona Christensen

Peter and Myra Cristall

Joan Guasta

Bob Lindahl and Wilma Van Arragon

Kate Rericha

Steve and Patti Vickman

In memory of Dr. Paul Sanders

Rae Sanders

In memory of Rod Schlise

Jane and Gerry Berg

In memory of Bob and Mary Jane Starck

Andrew Starck

In memory of Melvin Sarvela

Marcia K. Sarvela

In memory of Sonja Stork

Marcia K. Sarvela

Don Stork

In memory of Bill Thompson

Martin Krebs

In memory of Henry and Elsie Tischler

Carol Tishler

In memory of Dale Tremain

Laurie Tremain

In memory of Kaye M. Wagner

Anonymous

Dick and Kit Conner

In memory of Elliott and Shyla Wollman

E and S Wollman Trust

Honors

In honor of Christine Bridenhagen

Kirk and Donna Scattergood

In honor of Jim Ingwersen

Gretchen Jordan

In honor of Dave Ratajczak

Gordon and Grace Gunnlaugsson

In honor of Regina Salvador’s 64th Birthday

Shari Salvador

In honor of Cynthia Stiehl

Deborah Webber and David Alley

In honor of Owen Wahoske

J and G Myszkowski

In Kind

Bea’s Ho-Made Products

Door County Ice Cream Factory

Frances Dutton

Bill and Jane Hensge

Karl and Lyn Huber

Wayne and Kristen Johnson

Julie’s Park Café

The Family of Dr. Bruce Kirkham

Lautenbach’s Orchard Country

Main Street Market

Piggly Wiggly

Pink Bakery

Paul and Barb Ristau

Scaturo’s Baking Co and Café

Seaquist Orchards Farm Market

Sweetie Pies

Christ and Robin Walker

Jessica Wolfe

Wood Orchard Market

Milada Zinngrabe

Annual Scholarship Donors

Theo and Jan Abrahamson

Carol and Todd Allen

Donna Altepeter

Charles and Mary Anderson

Charitable Fund, a Donor

Advised Fund of the U.S.

Charitable Gift Trust

Mark and Margie Anderson

Robert and Melanie Andres

Nancy Andriacchi

Mary Andrus

Anonymous (7)

Charles and Stephanie Baer

Janet Thomas Bailey

Nancy Bauer

BCC Steel, Inc.

Tom and Penny Beerntsen

John and Alice Belmont

Ken and Janet Berggren

Pamela Blanchard

Mike and Marge Bork

Steve and Kathy Boulukos

Glenn N. Bruck

Janet E. Bulin

John and Kathy Campbell

William and Nancy Carpenter

Carlyle and Patricia Chan

Dale and Betty Claus

Dave and Nan Clinton

Dr. and Mrs. Dennis and Bonnie Connolly

Karen Cowan

Chris Cramer

John and Pat DeLeonardis

Tom and Judy DeMint

Robert and Lynn Doneff

Ian and Christine Duncan

Tom and Andrea Esau

Diane S. Evenson

Paul and Sandy Fernstrum

Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s

Forbes/Berend Family Fund

Care of Jim and Nancy Forbes

Kerry Fox

Matthew and Linda Frank

Julie Frerichs

Gerri W. Friedberg

Susie Gebhardt

Roy and Betsy Gill

Mary Gordon

Timothy and Barbara Graul

Tom and Carole Guyette

The Hancock’s

George and Judy Harmon

Mark and Sharon Helmar

Bill and Jane Hensge

Herb Kohl Philanthropies

Dale and Linda Hernandez

James and Ina Heup

Bonnie and Fergus Hughes

Jim and Pat Hughes

Dr. Peter and Jean Jacobsohn

Jim and Marcy Jennings

Dennis and Donna Joannides

Gail Jobelius

Blair Johnson

Robert and Jolene Kappes

Mike and Linda Kielas

Garry and Patricia King

Donna Koehler

Ben and Lee Kordus

Karen Kritsch

Jeffrey and Taylor Kroma

Gene and Pauline Kussart

Ed and Mary Langbein

Ruth Langehough

Laurie and Jack Lawlor

Lynn Lees

Bob Lindahl and Wilma Van Arragon

Mark and Kelly Lindekugel

Greg Macola and Mary McEnerney

The McCormack Family

David McDonald

Scott McDonald

Jim and Cass McHolland

Karen Mehigan and Jim Friel

Marian Miller

Sue and Mike Miller

MMG Foundation

Bill Moore

Joshua Moshier

Janet L. Nedoba

David and Carol Nestingen

Frank and Kathy Pammer

John and Carolyn Peterson

Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Larry and Devon Polly

Thomas Prebble and Claudia Trimarco

John C. and Lynn M. Pullan

Taran A. Radloff

Raibrook Foundation

Robert Reid

John and Mary Rooks

Ron Rozmarynoski

Mark and Cathy Runion

Margie and Dave Saksewski

Shari Salvador

Rae Sanders

Robert and Gloria Santilli

David and Marilyn Scherer

Scholarships Forever Fund in the Birch Creek Endowment Anonymous

Bert, Marianne, and Ben Scholarship

James Dutton Merit Scholarship

Brian T. Hynes and Barry J. Hynes Memorial Scholarship

Phyllis C. and James

Ingwersen Scholarship

George Kress Foundation Scholarship

Ralph Pratt Memorial Scholarship

Frank and Carol Weber Scholarship

Stanley R. and Robert E. Wright Scholarship

Paul Schubert and Debra Merkle-Schubert

Timothy Selz

Jerry and Nancy Sjostrom

Barb Skaer

Bob and Rosemary Stuebi

Connie Sweeney

Dorothy Tevoert

John and Joan Tierney

Jonathan Tobias Music Memorial

Roger and Lynn Van Vreede

Charitable Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region

Kim Viney

Bill Vineyard Memorial

Carol Wakeman

Gary and Linda Wallace

Carl and Jan Welle

Mary E. Wilson

Sarah and Mark Woerfel

Eric and Barbara Wolf

Glenn and Susan Word

Birch Creek Administration

Mona Christensen Executive Director, the Steve and Jackie Kane Chair

Mona Christensen became Birch Creek’s Executive Director in 2015 after a 27-year career at UW-Green Bay as the Director of Camps and Conferences. In addition, she served as Ministries Director at a large church in Green Bay for five years. Her lifelong administrative work engaged administration, faculty, staff and volunteers to serve youth to senior citizen clientele in both credit and non-credit programming environments. She is experienced in meeting the educational needs of musicians and students, as well as technologies needed to operate a music education program. Mona holds a music degree and an advanced degree in Administrative ScienceManagement. As a flautist, she taught flute privately for 20 years and has performed in a number of community and church bands, flute choirs, and orchestras over the years.

Kate Rericha Senior Grants and Development Manager

Kate is an arts educator with experience in a variety of environments including public and private education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Education Degree with a minor in English and has completed postgraduate courses in arts education and professional fund raising. Kate served her local and state communities through board leadership, arts advocacy, grant writing guidance, and as a grant review panelist for competitive grant programs. She has been with Birch Creek since 2005.

Michelle Naese Office and Registration Manager

Michelle started with Birch Creek in 2015 as Administrative and Office Support Assistant and she is currently the Academy’s Registrar and Office Manager. She holds an Administrative Professional Associate Degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College–Green Bay. Michelle has 10 years of experience as a law office clerk. A musician herself, she played the trumpet throughout middle school and high school.

Laura Smith Marketing Manager

Laura Smith joins the Birch Creek Staff with six years of marketing experience in the jewelry insurance industry. Her past work also includes a 15-year career as a TV news reporter and anchor serving Northeast Wisconsin. She is experienced in building relationships, communicating with people, video production and photography. She holds degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Paul Greenlaw Facilities Manager

Paul joined Birch Creek in late 2022 as facilities manager. With degrees in engineering and medicine, he brings a desire to ensure Birch Creek’s facilities work appropriately to allow the music and learning to continue. Paul played percussion in high school and as an undergraduate student.

2023 Support Staff

Office Support

Paige Givens, Box Office Intern, Appleton, WI

Annarose Keilty, PR Intern, DeKalb, IL

Camille Orgel, Volunteer Liaison, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Cynthia Quezada, Bookkeeping Assistant, Gilroy, CA

Kelly Robinson, Box Office Intern, Appleton, WI

Robin Walker, Administrative Assistant, Egg Harbor, WI

Maintenance

Bill Schutté, Lead Maintenance Technician, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Kitchen

Casey Andrews, Manager, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Mary Niedzwiecki, Cook, Baileys Harbor, WI

Brandon Burnett, Cook, Seattle, WA

Nick Szoblik, Kitchen Assistant, Palatine, IL

Concert Barn

Alex Andersen, Sound Technician Intern, BC, Canada

Leo Chavolla Barrera, House Manager and Lights Intern, LaCrosse, WI

Residential Living

Emily Brewer, Residential Manager/Head Counselor, Minneapolis, MN

Miguel Rodriguez, Co-Head Counselor, Elgin, IL

Maxwell Volk, Co-Head Counselor, Combined Locks, WI

Joshua Bedeau, Counselor, DeKalb, IL

Samantha Jeanquart, Counselor, Baraboo, WI

Aaron Marin, Counselor, Glendale Heights, IL

Paulina Walczak, Counselor, River Grove, IL

OUTDOOR

JUNE 14 –

2023 SEASON

Music by Paul Libman, Book & Lyrics by Dave Hudson

AUGUST

JULY 5 – SEPTEMBER 1

GUYS ON ICE

Book & Lyrics by Fred Alley, Music by James Kaplan

JULY 15 – SEPTEMBER 2

GUYS & DOES

Book & Lyrics by Frederick Heide & Lee Becker Music by Paul Libman

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 21

WHEN PIGS FLY! by Frederick Heide & Lee Becker

GOULD THEATER 9058 COUNTY RD A, FISH CREEK

Book by Scott Guy, Music by Dan Wessels & Ron Barnett , Lyrics by Robin Share, Additional Lyrics by Scott Guy, Developed in association with New Musicals Inc

The Birch Creek Associates Volunteers

Our dedicated group of volunteers - The Associates Volunteers - are the friendly faces you see greeting you around campus. For over 30 years, the Associates Volunteers have supported Birch Creek’s educational mission by helping with campus beautification, ushering at concerts, staffing the concession stand, assisting with registration, tending to our gardens, doing office work and preparing the campus for students, faculty and patrons. In a typical season, members provide more than 3,000 hours of service. The Associates Volunteers have raised more than $400,000 for scholarships, equipment purchases and capital projects. This group of volunteers are an integral part of Birch Creek’s success.

If you would like to learn more about the Associates Volunteers or become a member, please see one of the volunteers, a staff member or contact us at Associates@BirchCreek.org or 920-868-3763.

2023 Birch Creek Associates Volunteers

(as of April 30, 2023):

Dori Arbter

Steve and Sandy Bader

John and Alice Belmont

Jane Berg

John and Kathy Campbell

Rudy and Pat Carl

Sam and Vicky Carmen

Dave Christensen

Trissa Crowley

Charlene Cutler

Mary Dunworth

Chris Fenner

Chuck and Lynn Grebus

Joan Guasta

Dan Happ

Doug and Barbara Henderson

Bill and Jane Hensge

Karl and Lyn Huber

Dick and Jan Johnson

Steve and Dawn Johnson

Roger and Katherine Jones

Lynn Kaczmarek

Tom and Brenda Koch

Larry and Carol Lacombe

Carmen Lang

David and Pat Long

Charlotte Lukes

Katie Maples

Karen Mehigan

Sharon Michalsen

Bill and Raetta Mirgain

Jim and Gwen Mitsche

Fred and Laurie Mohr

Mary Moster

Janet Nedoba

Curt and Pat Neudecker

Frank Pammer

Denny and Sandy Pearson

Darnell and Donna Pettengill

Joan Pleuss

Patti Quinn

William and Sharon Rasmusson

Mary Reinsmoen

Jim and Marianne Richards

Robert Ross

Terry Schneider

Bryon Shea

Norene Swaney

Marti Thompson

Jeffrey Umland

Betty VanBellinger

Steve and Patti Vickman

Sue Vineyard

Donna Wilkinson

Jim and Bonnie Wirth

Sarah Woerfel

Eric Wolf

Nancy Wolff

Photo by Heidi Hodges Photography

Lynn Kaczmarek greets concertgoers at the Will Call tent.

Alice & John Belmont and Bonnie & Jim Wirth are ready to serve snacks to concertgoers in the Associates Play It Again Stand.

Supplies for camp, cabin, beach & boat. Unique local goods, gifts, wine, beer & spirits. Extraordinary sandwiches, soups, salads, and refreshments. Always changing with the seasons and open year-round!

4164 Main Street fishcreekmarket1892.com

PROVISIONS Enriching the lives of young musicians since 1965. Register, donate, or learn more

at youthmusicillinois.org

execdir@youthmusicillinois.org Central Illinois' Youth Symphony

Anita Graef

V3NTO Brass Trio Balourdet Quartet

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko

Reena Esmail

Adult Music Programs at Birch Creek

Music. Learning. Escape.

Experience the joy of learning and enhancing your music performance skills in the supportive, encouraging and peaceful environment of Birch Creek Music Performance Center. With a full daily schedule of rehearsals, sectionals, ensembles and masterclasses, you will refine your music performance skills and still have time to enjoy the allure of quintessential Door County.

Wind Ensemble Retreat

August 15-18

Wind Ensemble Retreat

Co-Directors

Jim Stombres

Steve Sveum

Charles “Chip” Staley

Chamber Music Retreat

August 21-24

Chamber Music

Retreat Director: Ricardo Castañeda

Piano Retreat

September 29 -

October 1

Piano Retreat Director:

Susan Tang

Assisted by:

Jodie DeSalvo

Geoffrey Duce

Advertisers

Please thank our advertisers for their generous support by patronizing their businesses. If you would like to receive 2024 advertising information for your business, please contact Marketing Manager Laura Smith at (920) 868-3763 or email laura@birchcreek.org.

The Birch Creek Campus - the Eighth Year

Groundwork for comprehensive infrastructure and technology capital improvements at Birch Creek began in 2015; by 2016, actual projects were underway. Each year—we call them Phases—Birch Creek repaired, upgraded, or completely replaced electrical, Internet, water, and technology systems through the contributions from donors who shared our vision.

This is our eighth year (Phase VIII) of implementing campus changes! It is marked by the remarkable addition of solar panels on the East Campus and the replacement of the fire alert system in the West Dorm and Kitchen Building. Both significant investments demonstrate the commitment of Birch Creek donors and vision of its leaders. We extend our admiration and appreciation to the donors listed (right) and to all those many people whose gifts have helped us raise $390,000 to protect Birch Creek’s past 48 years (approaching 50!) and frame the future 50 years of this unique place and its people.

Dwight & Linda Davis Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Private Family Fund

Birch Creek Capital Needs Reserve Account

Building for Tomorrow Fund in the Birch Creek Endowment

Adolf and Ursula Walser Revocable Trust

The south roof of the Miller Music Center. Aerial photography courtesy of Jeff Lutsey.

We invite you to the best seat on the bluff to enjoy delicious dinners and Sunday brunch with a full bar, award-winning food, and friendly and attentive service. We can’t wait to serve you!

Scan for our menu and hours and to book a reservation.