BIRCH CREEK ANNOUNCES FALL LINEUP

On Sept. 24, Talk of the Town will deliver high-energy renditions of New Orleans-style crowd favorites to Birch Creek.

Birch Creek’s Fall Concert Series will comprise five concert dates and an Oct. 8 fundraiser.

On Sept. 10, Jodie DeSalvo, a Birch Creek Symphony Session piano faculty member, will perform classical and contemporary pieces on the Omega double-keyboard piano with Susan Wenckus of Lawrence University, who’s also a Fox Valley freelance pianist. This unusual double-keyboard piano, built by Peter Nehlsen of Washington Island, made its Birch Creek debut in 2019 to sold-out audiences. 

Recent Birch Creek faculty members José Encarnación, saxophone, and Dane Richeson, percussion, will return to perform original compositions and exciting interpretations of jazz standards Sept. 17. They’ll have with them the rest of the Lawrence University Jazz Quintet, made up of fellow Lawrence faculty members Tim Albright on trombone, Mark Urness on bass and Bill Carrothers on piano. 

On Sept. 24, Talk of the Town, featuring Kevin Van Ess and his Dixieland Jazz Band, will deliver entertaining antics and high-energy renditions of New Orleans-style crowd favorites to Birch Creek. 

Birch Creek’s annual fundraiser, sponsored by the Associates volunteers, is set for Oct. 8. It will feature a jazz-filled evening in Juniper Hall with faculty performers from the Big Band Jazz II session: Jeff Campbell on bass, Rick Haydon on guitar, and Reggie Thomas on piano and vocals. Alexander’s will provide a catered menu. Social time will begin at 5:30 pm, followed by heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at 6 pm, and the concert at 7 pm. Tickets are $85 per person. All proceeds will benefit Birch Creek students. 

On Dec. 3, Birch Creek will present two holiday concerts in Juniper Hall: a 2:30 pm family concert and a second performance at 7 pm.

Learn more and purchase tickets at BirchCreek.org or by phone at 920.868.3763.