About Baroque
Each summer from the last weekend of July through the first weekend of August, the Baroque on Beaver Festival presents world-class orchestral, chamber, and vocal performances on the most remote inhabited island of the Great Lakes. In 2022 the Festival celebrates 21 years of bringing classical music to Beaver Island. Baroque on Beaver is the signature event of the Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance (BIPAA).
For information about the mission and programs
visit the BIPAA page here→
Musicians
Ensembles of the Baroque on Beaver Festival
The Festival Orchestra
The centerpiece of the festival is composed of professional performers from Michigan (Grand Rapids Symphony, Michigan Opera Theatre, Ann Arbor Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Midland Symphony, Traverse Symphony), the Great Lakes region (Indianapolis Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic), the United States, and worldwide.
The Festival Chorus
Singers from Michigan and beyond join to create the Festival Chorus, which features its own concert and appears with the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra to perform major works for chorus and orchestra.
Chamber ensembles feature prominently throughout the week at Baroque on Beaver, with performances by string quartets, woodwind quintets, brass quintet, and other mixed ensembles.
Festival Orchestra 2022
Robert Nordling (2010)
Music Director and Principal Conductor
Sponsored by Paul & Anne Glendon
First Violin
James Crawford (2017), Concertmaster
Sponsored by Beaver island Boat Company
David Reimer (2013), Assistant Concertmaster
Adam Liebert (2016)
Connie Markwick (2010)
Second Violin
Jenna Buchner (2015), Principal
Sponsored by Sharon & Louis Nemser
Abderrahman Anzaldua (2013)
Kimia Ghaderi (2021)
Marla Smith (2011)
Viola
Michael Hall (2014), Principal
Sponsored by Robert & Lois Nordling Sr.
Dilek Engin-Stolarchuk (2014)
Kim Teachout (2018)
Ann Schoelles (2011)
Cello
Andrea Yun (2013), Principal
Sponsored by Nadra and Narhyn Johnson
in memory of Naomi Snavely Lather
Andrew Plaisier (2021)
Elizabeth Bert (2010)
Zachary Boyt (2011)
Bass
Mark Buchner (2015), Principal
Sponsored by Lipari Foods
Robert Johnson (2017)
Flute
Leslie Deppe (2009), Principal
Laura Schipper (2011)
Oboe
Jennet Ingle (2020), Principal
Sponsored by Jim Gavelek & Taffy Raphael
in memory of Jean B. Raphael
Mezraq Ramli (2018)
Clarinet
Andrew Sprung (2018), Principal
Sponsored by Emily Ruddell
Steve Landane (2009)
Sam Martin (2021)
Bassoon
Mark Ortwein (2019), Principal
Sponsored by Olson Construction
Deanna Erwin (2013)
Horn
Kurt Civilette (2015), Principal
Sponsored by Ward & Rebecca Bentley
Lisa Honeycutt (2005)
Trumpet
Pamela Smitter (2021), Principal
Sponsored by Tom & Barb Welke
Matt Taton (2015)
Trombone
Joseph Radtke (2012), Principal
Sponsored by Paul & Anne Glendon
Tuba
Jerry Young (2021), Principal
Sponsored by Bev and Larry Seiford
Keyboard
Dorothy Vogel (2018), Principal
Percussion
Timothy Mocny (2011), Principal
Sponsored by DeDe Fitch
Harp
Elizabeth Wooster Colpean (2021)
Sponsored by Louis Post & Clare Collins
On Leave
Batya MacAdam-Somer (2016)
Festival Chorus 2022
Kevin Simons (2009), Choral Director
Sponsored by Myles & Sally Rehkopf
Sarah Todd (2016), Accompanist
Sponsored by Emily Ruddell
Barb Almli (2011)
Karen Albert (2019)
Peter Amster (2006)
Thaddaeus Bourne (2019), section leader
Karen Cook (2019), section leader
Matthew Cook (2021)
Peg Curley (2018)
Annette Dashiell (2002)
Maureen Delaney-Lehman (2014)
David Horwath (2021)
Jeanne Howell (2002)
John Jansson (2019)
Jack Kelly (2003)
Tammey Kikta (2010)
Jonathon Lovegrove (2019), section leader
Lisa Mays (2016)
Erika Lawson-Morrison (2019), section leader
Steven Naylor (2018)
Louis Nemser (2019)
Jeanne Petersen (2014)
Don Taylor (2009)
Pierce Tyndall (2021)
Tiffany Wika (2018)
Chamber ensembles
Beaver Island String Quartet
James Crawford, violin
Jenna Buchner, violin
Michael Hall, viola
Andrea Yun, cello
Beaver Island Brass Quintet
Pamela Smitter, trumpet
Matt Taton, trumpet
Lisa Honeycutt, horn
Joe Radtke, trombone
Jerry Young, tuba
Emerald Isle Woodwind Quintet
Leslie Deppe, flute
Jennet Ingle, oboe
Andrew Sprung, clarinet
Kurt Civilette, horn
Mark Ortwein, bassoon
Donegal Bay Woodwind Quintet
Laura Schipper, flute
Mezraq Ramli, oboe
Steve Landane, clarinet
Lisa Honeycutt, horn
Deanna Erwin, bassoon
Festival Staff
Director
Matthew Thomas
Music Director and Principal Conductor
Robert Nordling
Choral Director
Kevin Simons
Operations Director
John Van Patten
Audio Engineer
Ryan Wert
Music Librarian
Laura Schipper
Piano Technician
William Schneider