Appleton will welcome nearly 80 young classical musicians from across the United States and abroad this July as Lawrence University expands its summer music programming and brings a series of public performances to campus and downtown venues.
The summer lineup includes the Lawrence Summer Music Institute, a weeklong program for high school musicians running July 5–12, and the return of the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival, now in its third year on the Lawrence campus, running July 18–Aug. 2.
Together, the programs bring high school, college-aged, and early-career musicians to Appleton for intensive training with Lawrence faculty and guest artists while offering the community opportunities to hear rising young performers in concert.
New this summer is a Classical Voice track within the Lawrence 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. Students in the Lawrence Summer Music Institute are slated to give their final performances on Saturday, July 11, at Lawrence’s Harper Hall.
The Lawrence 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 Lawrence students and five Lawrence alumni are among this year’s festival participants.
“We are continuing to expand summer music programming here at Lawrence, and we are particularly excited to be creating unique opportunities for high schoolers, current Lawrence students, and recent alumni,” said Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Piano at Lawrence and Director of Summer Music Programs. “These programs allow us to deepen the ties between Lawrence and Appleton while offering a unique, high-quality musical experience for the young artists participating. These programs are another way in which Lawrence augments its national profile as a leader in music performance and education.”
The summer programming also connects directly with Appleton’s broader arts community. Lawrence Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians during Mile of Music, the all-original music festival held in downtown Appleton July 30–Aug. 2. The young musicians will create original arrangements and compositions and perform 50-minute sets at Lawrence and downtown venues.
Lawrence will also host multiple Mile of Music venues on campus and support Music Education Team programming led by Lawrence faculty, students, and alumni.
One featured community event is Music in Motion, an interactive concert for adults and children ages 5 and older presented by Play Out, the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival, and Mile of Music. Hosted by Caitlin Sullivan, the program celebrates music inspired by movement—from grooves, dances, strolls, and swings to a musical interpretation of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. The performance will include video art by Jorge Carvajal and live drawing projections by Caroline Chu.
The programs also provide professional experience for current Lawrence students. Lawrence 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 Lawrence’s new Business and Entrepreneurship major—including its arts entrepreneurship track—by connecting classroom learning with professional practice.
Public performances
Lawrence Summer Music Institute performances include:
● 7 p.m. July 8 — Faculty performance, Harper Hall
● 4 p.m. July 11 — LSMI: Classical Voice student performance, Harper Hall
● 7 p.m. July 11 — LSMI: Piano & Strings student performance, Harper Hall
● 10 a.m. July 12 — LSMI: Piano & Strings students performance, Copper Rock Coffee
Lawrence Chamber Music Festival performances include:
● 7 p.m. July 20 — Gibson Community Music Hall
● 7 p.m. July 24 — Lawrence Memorial Chapel
● 7 p.m. July 25 — Lawrence Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 1, Lawrence Memorial Chapel
● 1 p.m. July 26 — Lawrence Chamber Music Festival Young Artists Concert No. 2, Lawrence Memorial Chapel
During Mile of Music, Lawrence Chamber Music Festival participants will collaborate with visiting musicians to create original arrangements and compositions. Performances include:
● 11 a.m. July 30 — Mile of Music kickoff featuring the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival, Lawrence Memorial Chapel
● 9 a.m. July 31 — Music in Motion: An Interactive Concert for Adults and Children Ages 5 and Up
● 11 a.m. July 31 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 1, Hilton Paper Valley Ballroom, featuring Ruby Mac
● 2 p.m. July 31 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 2, Riverview Gardens, featuring Buddy Red
● 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 3, Copper Rock Coffee Co., featuring Ron Artis II
● 2:30 p.m. Aug. 1 — Mile of Music LCMF Young Artist Showcase No. 4, Appleton Public Library, featuring Kate Stenson ’24 & Gold Standard
Faculty for the Lawrence Summer Music Institute include 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.
Lawrence Chamber Music Festival faculty include Lawrence faculty Tim Albright, trombone; Michael Clayville, trombone; Andy Hudson, clarinet; Erin Lesser, flute; Brigit Pacher, bassoon; Joe Connor, saxophone; and Jean Carlo Ureña González, percussion. Guest faculty include Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; Caitlin Sullivan, cello; Teagan Faran, violin/viola; Ben Russell, violin; and Leo Sussman ’15, flute.
About Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Its nationally recognized Conservatory of Music offers rigorous training in performance, composition, music education, and related fields while connecting students with a broad liberal arts education.
