Door County, Wis. (August, 11, 2026) – The Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) will conclude its 74th season with one of the most ambitious performances in its history as Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung takes the stage. She joins the festival orchestra, the Apollo Women’s Chorus, and the Appleton Boychoir for Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3 on Saturday, August 22, at 7:30 PM at Door County Auditorium in Fish Creek.
Often regarded as one of the greatest symphonic works ever composed, Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 is a massive musical journey that spans nearly 90 minutes and calls for an extraordinary collection of performers. Featuring a full symphony orchestra, women’s chorus, boys’ choir, and mezzo-soprano soloist, the work moves from the primal forces of nature to a breathtaking final movement celebrating love, making it a fitting conclusion to the Peninsula Music Festival’s 2026 season.
“This is the kind of concert musicians dream of performing,” said Lisa Harper, President and CEO of PMF. “Mahler’s Third is thrilling in every sense—powerful, emotional, and deeply moving. Bringing together an artist of Michelle DeYoung’s stature with our outstanding orchestra, the Apollo Women’s Chorus, and the Appleton Boychoir creates an unforgettable finale that celebrates everything the Peninsula Music Festival represents.”
Michelle DeYoung is among the world’s most celebrated mezzo-sopranos, appearing regularly with leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Vienna Philharmonic. She has also performed at many of the world’s premier opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Paris Opera, and the Bayreuth Festival. A multi-Grammy Award-winning recording artist, DeYoung is internationally recognized for her interpretations of Mahler’s music, including an acclaimed recording of Symphony No. 3.
“There are very few works that leave you speechless every time you conduct them,” said Rune Bergmann, Music Director and Conductor of PMF. “Mahler’s Third is one of those pieces. This music is intimate one moment and overwhelming the next. With Michelle DeYoung, the Apollo Women’s Chorus, the Appleton Boychoir, and our orchestra all together on stage, audiences will experience the full emotional power of one of the greatest masterpieces ever written.”
Beginning with a thunderous opening and concluding with an expansive, deeply moving Adagio widely considered one of the most beautiful finales in classical music, Mahler’s Third takes listeners on a journey unlike any other.
As the final concert of the 2026 season, Mahler’s Third: A World in Symphony brings together internationally acclaimed guest artists, elite choral ensembles, and the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra for a performance of extraordinary scale, beauty, and emotional power. It is a fitting finale to a season filled with remarkable music—and an unforgettable way to celebrate another summer of world-class performances in Door County.
Tickets available now at musicfestival.com.
TICKETS & INFORMATION
All performances take place at Door County Auditorium in Fish Creek as part of the nine-concert Peninsula Music Festival happening August 4–22, 2026. Tickets are available now at www.musicfestival.com or by calling the Peninsula Music Festival box office at (920) 854-4060.
About the Peninsula Music Festival
The Peninsula Music Festival is Door County’s International, Philharmonic Orchestra and is dedicated to bringing exceptional classical music performances to the community. Now in its 74th season, the festival continues to attract world-class musicians and enthusiastic audiences from around the region and beyond. Founded in 1953, the Peninsula Music Festival is one of the Midwest’s most treasured classical music traditions.
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