Wisconsin’s oldest summer chamber music series celebrates its 35th season of presenting exceptional chamber music in the vacation paradise of Door County, Wisconsin. Concerts hailed as “exciting, pulse-pounding and riveting” are in cultural, historical, and scenic locations, including art galleries, museums, historic sites, and private homes, with several venues offering panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Green Bay waters. The 2025 season features over 40 concerts performed by world-class musicians, drawing on the extraordinary talent of artists from the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Marlborough Music Festival, Detroit Symphony, the Ravinia Festival, and the renowned Pro Arte Quartet, among others. Standard repertoire and gems from lesser-known composers – especially woman composers and ethnically diverse composers – attract a growing, dedicated following of concertgoers every year, plus thousands more who join in via Wisconsin Public Radio, Live from Chicago’s WFMT Radio, Sirius XM Radio, and social media Facebook, YouTube, and the Violin Channel.
Providing unique and memorable musical experiences in inviting venues, the 2025 season is a three-month summer celebration featuring music including Schubert’s Octet, Piano Quintets by Schumann and Franck, and a wide variety of additional chamber music for winds, strings, and piano. In September, Door County’s favorite bluegrass virtuoso, Eric Lewis, teams up with Midsummer’s Griffon String Quartet for a series of enthralling and irreverent crossover concerts. Midsummer’s third annual Autumn Music Fest is set to be played in venues in Door County and Green Bay in October.
Highlights from the multifaceted organization’s summer season include opening night on June 12 with Wisconsin Public Radio’s Norman Gilliland, salon concerts at private residences, a spectacular 35th anniversary “Big Tent Door County” gala, and the annual Labor Day Gala at Björklunden in Baileys Harbor. In addition to Eric Lewis, selected guests include virtuoso fiddle player and composer George Meyer and bassist Kris Saebo, as well as Grammy-nominated composer Gernot Wolfgang, who will present his Impressions, a septet for winds and strings.
“An inviting, engaging, exciting, and welcoming experience awaits you,” says Jim Berkenstock, Midsummer’s Artistic Director. “We’re pulling out all the stops for a fantastic season of music and fun.”
Veteran favorite musicians will return, including violinist David Perry, pianist Jeannie Yu, flutist Heather Zinninger, and more. Post-concert receptions are frequently included and offer the opportunity for attendees to mingle with the musicians.
Midsummer’s Music continues its collaborations with local arts organizations, including Write On, Door County, and Peninsula School of Art featuring partnerships with local artists and noted poets who create original pieces inspired by the music being performed.