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Midsummer’s Music, Women’s Fund Highlight Women In Music

Midsummer’s Music Ltd. and the Women’s Fund of Door County are partnering in four concerts featuring works by three female composers.

When creating the repertoire for the 2017 festival season, Midsummer’s Music Artistic Director Jim Berkenstock and Assistant Artistic Director Allyson Fleck pondered a variety of ideas that would rival the appeal of the Downton Abbey program from 2016. One of the programs – “Indomitable Spirits” – that was already planned featured music by three female composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Melanie “Mel” Bonis, Louise Farrenc, and Amy Cheney Beach. Connecting with the Women’s Fund of Door County to present one of the concerts was a natural conclusion, and now the collaboration will last for all four “Indomitable Spirits” concerts.

Audiences will learn about the challenges and triumphs these composers faced in a music world that was dominated by men. Mel Bonis will be portrayed by Sara Oswald, Laura Vlies, and Moriah Grahl, while Lizz Thomas and Donna Johnson take turns as Louise Farrenc, and Claire Morkin will play Amy Cheney Beach.

The program includes “Suite in E Minor, Op. 59,” by Bonis; “Sextet in C Minor, Op. 40,” by Farrenc; and “Quintet in C Minor, Op. 52,” by Beach. Concerts will be at 7 pm, June 30 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; 7:30 pm, July 1 at Björklunden; 7 pm, July 7 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; and 2 pm, July 8 at The Clearing Folk School. Tickets are $29 for adults, $10 for students, and free for children 12 and under. For tickets, visit midsummersmusic.com or call 920.854.7088.

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