Midsummer’s Music, Wisconsin’s longest running summer chamber music series, celebrates its 30th season with an online gala featuring special guest guitar, banjo, and mandolin superstar Eric Lewis and performances by Midsummer Music violinists David Perry and Ann Palen and pianist Jeannie Yu. A silent and live auction will include 10 celebrated Door County artist-decorated violins. The two-hour event begins at 5:00pm (CT) Saturday, October 10. Registration, which is required for participation, is open now by texting vgala2020 to 76278 or online at vgala2020.givesmart.com and tickets are $30 and $100. $100 level ticket buyers will receive a special Midsummer’s Music gift box valued at more than $50 (one per household). Pre-gala bidding starts September 26 at vgala2020.givesmart.com. The Buy-It-Now price for each of the violins is $3,000 and ends at midnight, October 9. Tax-deductible donations can be made at the gala website and are always welcome.
The first hour of the gala will include magical musical moments from the 2020 virtual season, which ran from August 5 through September 13 and included nearly 100,000 viewers thanks in part to radio hosts from Wisconsin Public Radio, Chicago’s WFMT, St. Louis’ Classical 107.3, Sirius XM and The Violin Channel.
The second hour will include a live auction led by 2019 Wisconsin State Champion Live Auctioneer Jenny Gehl that will feature a private concert by Midsummer’s Quartet-in-Residence, the Griffon String Quartet, and 10 violins that were magnificently decorated by celebrated Door County artists Charlotte Cziperle, Liz Heller, Emmett Johns, Mike Judy, Bethany Kirwen, Angela Lensch, Eric Lewis, Margaret Lockwood, Fran Vail, and Mary White. To view these unique pieces of art and watch interviews with the artists, visit the Events tab at midsummersmusic.com. In addition to the headlining concert by Eric Lewis, the evening will include performances of the Vivace from JS Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1043, three violin duets from Shostakovich’s Five Pieces, Op. 97d, the Lento assai and Molto vivace movements from Moritz Moszkowski’s Suite for Two Violins and Piano, and the Andante and Finale: Allegro from Christian Sinding’s Serenade.
Open September 26 through the end of the gala, silent auction highlights include a signed 2019 Green Bay Packers football, gift certificates from Door County performing arts organizations, a gift certificate and books from Write On, Door County, a custom art glass piece from Popelka Trenchard Glass, a gardening basket and personal consultation by master gardener Nancy Goldberg, custom serving boards from Woodwalk Gallery, a variety of Midsummer’s Music items and much much more!
Guests can view the first hour of the event by visiting Midsummer’s website at midsummersmusic.com, Facebook page or YouTube channel at no cost, but registration is required for bidding and available by texting vgala2020 to 76278 or online at vgala2020.givesmart.com.
What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series and has brought thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the Door County Peninsula. While Midsummer’s Music is looking forward to the time when they can again play for audiences in person, the musicians are pleased to be able to perform virtually in concerts that will be accessible globally, attracting a growing, dedicated following via midsummermusic.com, YouTube and Facebook, and continue to be enjoyed by thousands more via Wisconsin Public Radio broadcasts, on Live from Chicago’s WFMT Radio and American Public Media’s Performance Today.