During an exclusive, private event in Ephraim on July 30, Midsummer’s Music celebrated 20 years of concerts with world-renowned violinist David Perry.
Artistic Director Jim Berkenstock attributes great credit for the success of Midsummer’s Music to Perry: “When David Perry joined our ensemble as first violinist 20 years ago, it changed everything. His outstanding musicianship, leadership, and devotion to Midsummer’s Music has been an extremely positive driving force in our success over the last two decades, and we celebrate and salute this wonderful anniversary with him enthusiastically and thank him for his great contribution.”
Perry first appeared as a special guest performer in the Midsummer’s Music 1999 program entitled A Season of Solos. The entire season lasted a mere 17 days. For the organization’s 10th anniversary season in 2000, David returned as a permanent member of the group and quickly became an integral part of the Midsummer’s Music family.
Outside of Midsummer’s Music, David enjoys an international career as chamber musician, soloist, orchestral musician and educator, performing at Carnegie Hall and most of the major cultural centers of North and South America, Europe, and the Far East. He is a member of the Pro Arte Quartet, concertmaster of the Chicago Philharmonic, and a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty where he was granted a Paul Collins Endowed Professorship in 2003. Former concertmaster of the Aspen Chamber Symphony, Mr. Perry was on the artist-faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School for nearly two decades and continues to tour the U.S. annually as founding violinist of the Aspen String Trio. David has been a frequent guest concertmaster with such groups as the China National Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the American Sinfonietta, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Active with Orpheus since the late 1980s, he may be heard on many of the ensemble’s Deutsche Grammophon recordings. Perry’s discography also includes chamber and solo recordings on the Delos, Sonos and Naxos labels. A 1985 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, his first prizes have included the International D’Angelo Competition, National MTNA Auditions, and the Juilliard Concerto Competition.
Midsummer’s Music will be on break starting August 5 until concerts resume on August 25 with Perry performing in each of the eight late-August and early-September concerts that culminate with the magnificent annual Labor Day benefit, featuring the Mendelssohn Octet, at Björklunden.
On August 25, the Midsummer’s Music season resumes with a program titled Profound Piano Quartets: Brahms’ Quartet in C Minor, No. 3, Op. 60, Schubert’s Adagio and Rondo Concertante in F Major, D. 487, and Robert Kahn’s Quartet in A Minor, No. 2, Op. 30, featuring Midsummer’s musicians David Perry, violin, Sally Chisholm, viola, Walter Preucil, cello, and Jeannie Yu, piano.
The following are the Profound Piano Quartets concerts:
Sunday, August 25, 2019 3:00PM, Kress Pavilion with Write On, Door County Poet and optional Fireside wine pairing
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2019 7:00 PM, Hope United Church of Christ
Thursday, Aug 29, 2019 7:00 PM, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Friday, Aug 30, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Sunday, Sept 1, 3:00 PM, Juniper Hall, Birch Creek
The final series of concerts of the 2019 season feature a program anchored by Mendelssoh’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20. Other works on the program include Bohuslav Martinů’s Serenade III, H 218, and Ignaz Lachner’s Quartet, Op. 107, showcasing the talents of Midsummers artists Margaret Butler, oboe, JJ Koh, clarinet, David Perry, violin, Ann Palen, violin, Vinicius Sant’Ana, violin, Sally Chisholm, viola, Allyson Fleck, viola, and Walter Preucil, cello.
Special events include a dinner at The Shoreline Restaurant on August 31, and, on August 28, the Woodwalk Gallery owners invite attendees to enjoy the gallery and gardens at a pre-concert BYO picnic starting at 5:00pm.
Midsummer’s Music invites the public to celebrate the conclusion of their 29th season with a magical concert featuring the glorious Mendelssohn Octet, followed by a lavish reception including asilent auction, wine pull, and more. The annual Labor Day Benefit Concert will be held on September 2 from 3:00 to 6:30pm at Björklunden, 7590 Boynton Lane, Baileys Harbor, WI. Tickets for this special event are $95 for adults and $75 for students.
Tickets for season concerts are $29 for adults, $10 for students, and children 12 and under are free. Premium prices apply for salon/home concerts, dinner concerts and other special events. Flex-packs of six or eight tickets are available. Tickets and flex-packs can be ordered online at midsummersmusic.com or by phone at 920-854-7088 for the season, which continues through September 2.
Midsummer’s Music draws on the extraordinary talent of musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Chicago’s Lyric Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, China National Symphony and the Ravinia Festival, among others.
Midsummer’s Music was co-founded in 1990 by Jim and Jean Berkenstock, long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series, bringing thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the magical Door County Peninsula.