Door County's Birch Creek brings dueling pianos, jazz, fusion, Christmas to fall concerts
EGG HARBOR - Dixieland jazz, traditional jazz, a "duel" between nationally renowned pianists, a tribute to a jazz fusion pioneer and a holiday tradition make up the six shows in Birch Creek Music Performance Center's 2024 Fall Concert Series, which was announced Tuesday.
The concerts include Birch Creek’s annual fundraiser sponsored by its volunteer support group, the Associates, to support its students. Birch Creek is a unique summer music academy that offers two-week sessions to students from across the country in Percussion, Steel Pan and World Music; Symphony; and Big Band Jazz (two separate sessions), rehearsing and performing alongside their teachers, renowned professionals who also come from across the country, during the day, then playing alongside them in concerts at night.
The series begins Sept. 7 with the return to Birch Creek of Talk of the Town, with clarinetist Kevin Van Ess leading his popular Dixieland/N'Awlins jazz band that mixes in hits from other musical genres. Van Ess is a highly sought-after musician from Green Bay who has played with fellow clarinetist and New Orleans jazz legend Pete Fountain and shared stages with Bob Hope and other national stars.
Next up, on Sept. 14, is "Jodie and Colin: Dueling Pianos," a night of banter, laughs and musical excellence with Birch Creek Symphony faculty member Jodie DeSalvo and special guest Colin Welford battling it out on two pianos.
DeSalvo completed her 28th year with the Birch Creek faculty this summer. She has recorded and toured extensively as a piano soloist, appearing with the Chicago, San Francisco, Geneva and Lucerne (Switzerland) symphony orchestras among others. DeSalvo also is a frequent soloist with the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic Orchestra and has a recital/lecture series at the Artis-Naples that is in its 20th season in 2024. In recent years, she has added interpretations of the routines of famed pianist/comedian of Victor Borge to her repertoire.
The British-born Welford, now living in Ephraim, made a name for himself in musical theater abroad, nationally and locally. Among many other roles, he served as music director for the London production of "The Lion King" and music supervisor for the same show's Broadway run; music director for runs in Chicago of "Wicked" and "Hamilton"; music supervisor for 13 productions worldwide of "Billy Elliot"; and as a past music director for Door County's Northern Sky Theater, for which he's also composed the music for several shows. Welford also has played solo at the White House and now serves as the organist for Ephraim Moravian Church along with playing concerts.
Next, trumpet player Marty Robinson leads his jazz quartet in a program titled "The Art of Jazz Standards" on Sept. 21. Fox Valley-based Robinson, who also is Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Trumpet at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, has been a Birch Creek Jazz faculty member for 24 years and directs the school's Jazz II Ambassadors small combo that plays numerous concerts across Door County. He also is a composer whose recent works have been played by Boston Pops and famed jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman.
A tribute concert to seminal jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra is next on the schedule when The Road Scholars take the stage Oct. 12. The Road Scholars feature Birch Creek Percussion program director Dan Moore, an internationally known performer on marimba, vibes and percussion and teacher of percussion. This concert serves as Birch Creek's annual fall fundraising concert with a pre-show social hour at 5:30 p.m. and catered hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m. from Alexander's restaurant in Fish Creek.
Two "Christmas at Birch Creek" concerts wrap up the season Dec. 7, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee performance with free admission for ages 11 and younger followed by a 7 p.m. concert. Both performances feature Birch Creek’s Symphony Brass, percussion director Moore, Door County’s Community Bell Choir and guest performers.
All Fall Concert Series concerts (except the Christmas matinee) start at 7 p.m. in Juniper Hall on the Birch Creek campus, 3821 County E, 3 miles east of Egg Harbor. Tickets for all shows except the Oct. 12 fundraiser are $25 for adults, $10 for ages 12 to 20, $6 ages 11 and younger (except the Dec. 7 matinee). Tickets for the Oct. 12 concert are $95. Proceeds from all Birch Creek events and concerts provide support for Birch Creek students.
For tickets or more information on the concerts, call 920-868-3763 or visit birchcreek.org.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Dueling pianos, jazz, fusion, Christmas: It's Birch Creek's Fall Concert Series
