Egg Harbor, Wis. (June 14, 2021) – On Thursday, June 17th, Birch Creek Music Performance Center will present its Opening Night concert – “Walking in Rhythm, Moving in Sound” – outside on the newly created outdoor stage in front of the historic 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 much-anticipated 2021 season of Percussion & Steel Band, Symphony and Big Band Jazz concerts.
This year marks Birch Creek’s 46th year of excellence in music education and world-class concert performances. For the health and safety of students and patrons, all concerts will take place outside under a newly created sail canopy with audience members seated on socially-distanced benches or on their own lawn chairs. Masks are urged for all visitors and are required for unvaccinated visitors.
Percussion & Steel Band launches the first two weeks of the 2021 season 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 23rd season and his sixth year as the Program Director of the Percussion & Steel Band session.
Following Opening Night, the first week of concerts continues with “Passport to Percussion: A Musical Journey” on Friday, June 18 and “Wild Percussion: Nature in Music” on Saturday afternoon, June 19 at 3:00 PM. On Thursday, June 24, the evening concert features a celebration of Liam Teague, Birch Creek’s Steel Band Director, with “Artistry in Steel Pan: Celebrating Liam Teague’s 25 Years at Birch Creek.” On June 25th, two concerts will be presented with a 3:00 PM matinee and the James R. Dutton Memorial Concert in the evening. The session concludes on Saturday, June 26 with “Greatest Hits: Percussion Closing Night.”
Percussion & Steel Band concerts, including opening night, start at 7:00 PM with student prelude music in the Jackie & Steve Kane Gazebo at 6:30 PM. There will be two matinee concerts during the Percussion Session, one on Saturday, June 19th and the second on Friday, June 25th. Tickets are sold “by the bench,” not as individual seats. Each bench can seat from one to three people. Concertgoers also have the option to bring their own lawn chair.
Tickets are available for purchase online at birchcreek.org/tickets or by phone at 920-868-3763. Prices are $50 for a Premium Bench, $45 for a General Bench and $15 for Bring Your Own Lawn Chair seating. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Saturday 2:00 PM–8:00 PM.