When Emily Olson stepped into the role of Artistic Director for Beacon Arts Michigan, she took on the responsibility of guiding a classical music tradition that has thrived in the Upper Peninsula since 1968. Under the banner of a new nonprofit organization, Olson is working to unify regional performances (previously known by localized names like Strings on the Bay and the Manistique Chamber Concert Series) under a single, cohesive identity represented by the symbolic lighthouse logo originally introduced by her predecessor, Paul Lundin.
This summer’s season, titled Tales, Legends & Legacy, is designed to look both backward and forward. While each program features subtle repertoire nods to the earliest concerts of the past six decades, the series is actively expanding its footprint. Audiences in Manistique, Escanaba, and Curtis can look forward to a vibrant lineup, with future expansions already being explored in Marquette and the Keweenaw Peninsula.
The season kicks off in June with the Beacon Arts Trio, featuring Olson on flute alongside viola and harp. Their program blends music with poetry, myth, and natural landscapes, highlighting contemporary works like Miguel del Águila’s "Submerged" and an original piece by the trio's own harpist, Maurice Draughn.
In July, the series nods to its historical roots of presenting piano four-hands music by welcoming University of Michigan faculty member Amy I-Lin Cheng and her son, rising young pianist and composer Alexander Burrow. Their performance will include Ravel’s "Mother Goose Suite."
Addressing the challenge of introducing contemporary pieces to traditional classical music audiences, Olson compares the modern musical landscape to historical masters. She notes that even groundbreaking figures like Beethoven were once considered radical and unfamiliar. To bridge this gap, the August finale features the True North String Quartet premiering a newly commissioned piece by Catherine McMichael, explicitly inspired by the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and the Escanaba area.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Olson in our studio:
The August finale also features an ambitious, collaborative performance celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. Alongside Dvořák’s "American String Quartet," the ensemble will perform an original anthem arranged by cellist Katri Ervamaa, designed to promote unity. Local vocalists are invited to join the musicians on stage, and the audience will be encouraged to sing along to foster a sense of solidarity and shared history.
Olson’s approach to curating these programs is deeply informed by her background as a Certified Music Practitioner, a role in which she plays the lever harp for patients in the hospital system. Her clinical training in tailoring music to stimulate memory or regulate physiological responses translates directly to a concert experience.
Looking ahead, Olson identifies resource allocation as the primary obstacle facing rural arts programming. To counter funding deficits and declining support for music education, Beacon Arts is incorporating multidisciplinary initiatives in the Lower Peninsula (such as poetry, visual arts, and composition workshops) while seeking local partnerships to provide masterclasses and educational access for young musicians across northern Michigan.
Beacon Arts Michigan Chamber Music Series schedule at-a-glance:
- June 14–16, 2026: Beacon Arts Trio (Manistique, Church of the Redeemer / Escanaba, Bay College)
- July 12–14, 2026: Pianists Amy I‑Lin Cheng & Alexander Burrow (Manistique, Church of the Redeemer / Escanaba, Bay College)
- August 9–11, 2026: True North String Quartet (Manistique, Church of the Redeemer / Curtis, Erickson Center for the Arts / Escanaba, Bay College)
Visit beaconartsmichigan.org for tickets and more information.
