Birch Creek Opens the 2019 Season with “Summer Beginnings: A Celebration in Music”

On Thursday, June 20, Birch Creek Music Performance Center will present its Opening Night concert – “Summer Beginnings: A Celebration in Music” – on the newly named Stage of Stars in the Dutton Concert Barn. Opening Night at Birch Creek is a festive gathering of concertgoers, returning faculty, new students, donors, volunteers and local businesses celebrating the beginning of the 2019 season of Percussion & Steel Band, Symphony and Big Band Jazz concerts. This year marks Birch Creek’s 44th year of excellence in music education and world-class concert performances. 

Percussion & Steel Band leads off the first two weeks with concerts featuring faculty performing artists and advanced student musicians. These exceptional professional musicians come together once a year at Birch Creek and perform a wide array of musical styles, including Caribbean steel pan, standard percussion ensembles, classic jazz, world percussion, rearrangements of popular contemporary pieces, and new music. 

Dan Moore, Professor of Percussion at University of Iowa, will return for his 21st season, and his fourth year, as the Program Director of the Percussion & Steel Band session. 

Following Opening Night, the first week of concerts continues with “Playfully Percussive: Beautiful Music to Make You Smile” on Friday, June 21 and “Percussion Spectacular: James Dutton Memorial Concert,” on Saturday afternoon, June 22 at 3:00 PM. This popular, family-friendly concert can be enjoyed by all ages. Children and student tickets (normally $6 and $10) are free for this Saturday matinee performance. 

Percussion & Steel Band concerts, including opening night, start at 7:30 PM in the Dutton Concert Barn, with 7:00 PM student prelude music in the gazebo. No evening performance on the Saturday of the matinee concert (June 22). 

Tickets are available for purchase online at birchcreek.org/tickets or by phone at 920.868.3763. Prices are $29 for adults, $10 for students, and $6 for children (11 and under). Premium seating is also available in the front-center section of the barn, priced at $34 for all ages. Group rates are also available for parties of 15 or more. For a full concert schedule, go to birchcreek.org/tickets. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Saturday 2:00 PM–8:00 PM.