Birch Creek’s 50th Season Symphony Concert Series to Feature Guest Artists and Six Performances, July 3–12
EGG HARBOR, Wis. (June 25, 2025) – Birch Creek Music Performance Center continues its 50th anniversary season with the Symphony Session, presenting six concerts from July 3–12 at the historic Dutton Concert Barn. The Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Taka Matsunaga, and guest conductor Brian Groner on July 4, features advanced student musicians performing alongside a professional faculty orchestra, with four alumni guest artists joining as soloists during the session.
The concert series opens on Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 PM with Rising Stars: 2024 Clampitt Concerto Competition Winners, spotlighting top student soloists William Maeda (violin) and Owen Driscoll (bassoon). Pieces include Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Weber’s Andante and Hungarian Rondo, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
On Friday, July 4 at 3:00 PM, Birch Creek presents its annual patriotic matinee, A Birch Creek Symphonic Fourth, with selections by Berlin, Wilhousky, and other patriotic favorites. The 90-piece Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra will be led by guest conductor Brian Groner. A free pie and ice cream social will precede the concert at 2:00 PM.
The series continues with four evening performances, each beginning at 7:00 PM, with a 6:20 PM student prelude at the Kane Gazebo:
· Saturday, July 5 – Romantic Reverie
Featuring guest violist Matthew Lipman, one of the world’s leading young soloists, performing Viola Concerto (adapted from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto K.622). The program also includes Wagner’s Rienzi Overture and Gounod’s Faust Music for the Ballet.
· Thursday, July 10 – Triumph and Pageantry
Trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden joins the orchestra for Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto, paired with Elgar’s Cockaigne Overture and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
· Friday, July 11 – Mastery and Myth
Acclaimed pianist Jonathan Bass performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. The evening also features Suppé’s Poet and Peasant Overture and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
· Saturday, July 12 – Celebrating 50 Years: The Music of Michael Thurber
A culminating celebration featuring composer and bassist Michael Thurber as guest artist, performing his original work Orchestral Dances, along with pieces by Eccles, Weber/Berlioz, and Gounod.
The Birch Creek Symphony program is renowned for its unique student-mentor approach, where advanced students rehearse and perform alongside world-class faculty. This immersive environment allows students to receive personalized attention and accelerate their musical development. Over two weeks, seven public performances featuring five different orchestral programs will be presented, helping students to cultivate excellent practice and rehearsal habits.
In addition to Birch Creek’s orchestra concerts, students perform in one or more chamber music ensembles. In culmination of this unique learning opportunity, the Town of Egg Harbor is sponsoring a free Family Concert on Saturday, July 12 at 1:00 PM in Juniper Hall. Dozens of student chamber groups will perform. Free admission may be reserved at BirchCreek.org/Tickets and the audience may come and go anytime between 1:00 – 4:00 PM.
Concert tickets are available for purchase online at BirchCreek.org/Tickets or by phone at (920) 868-3763. Ticket prices are $33 for adults, $10 for students, and $6 for children (11 and under). Premium seating in the front-center section of the Dutton Concert Barn is available for $40. Group rates are offered for parties of 10 or more. For a full concert schedule, please visit BirchCreek.org/Tickets. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the Box Office is open on concert nights from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.