The 2026 edition of Beethoven and Banjos grew out of an ongoing creative partnership between founder Evan Premo and Malagasy singer-songwriter Mikahely Razafy, who previously collaborated in Vermont. Joined by New Jersey-based Malagasy musician David Rajaonary ("Rade") and multi-instrumentalist Laurel Premo (who brings both her electric guitar and traditional gourd banjo), the ensemble is preparing through a week of collaborative rehearsal. Rather than imposing rigid arrangements beforehand, the group shapes their hybrid sound organically by combining Malagasy rhythms, classical acoustic elements, and American folk traditions. This spirit of cultural exchange extends to Upper Peninsula youth through interactive school presentations at the Crystal Theatre, designed to introduce local students to Madagascar's rich history and musical heritage.
Central to this year's program is the valiha, a traditional bamboo tube zither that plays a sacred role in Malagasy identity. Mikahely outlined how the instrument evolved over generations—from early bamboo-fiber constructions and improvised bicycle brake cables to larger box zithers and accordions introduced during colonization—to meet the needs of community ceremonies and ancestor worship. In Malagasy tradition, music serves as a spiritual bridge to the divine through ancestral memory, with performers viewing themselves as temporary vessels carrying messages rather than as individual owners of the art. By introducing these distinct acoustic instruments and cultural traditions to Midwest audiences, Mikahely seeks to share a living heritage that deeply links music to nature, memory, and spiritual connection.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Evan & Bette Premo and Mikahely:
Executive Director Bette Premo highlighted that bringing international master musicians into small Upper Peninsula communities requires creating spaces where audiences feel intimately connected to the artists. To foster this relationship, performances at the Marquette Regional History Center and Michigan Tech’s McArdle Theatre are structured in the round, mirroring the long-standing community atmosphere at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls.
For tickets and more information, visit northwoodsmusiccollaborative.org.
