Siril Endowment for the Musical Arts

 

At Northern Michigan University, we recognize that artists of all kinds make a unique contribution to our society through cultural enhancement and enrichment. We prepare our students not only as professionals but also as ambassadors for creativity, diversity and new perspectives in the workplace, in the community, in the classroom and in the day-to-day lives of all those who benefit from their skill and are touched by their talent. Future generations will be the ones to develop startling new concepts and voices that will help us better understand ourselves and the world around us. It is our responsibility to expose our students to a wide range of ideas, challenges and expectations from as many perspectives as possible. Music, in particular, through understanding and appreciation, offers unique opportunities to articulate deeper meanings and discoveries beyond the constraints of language and cultural traditions. That is why music as a discipline and expression has a long tradition at NMU.

That is also why it is incumbent upon NMU to sustain and expand its ability to bring new worlds of music to our campus for the edification, enlightenment and enjoyment of our students and the general public.

The Siril Endowment for the Music Arts is designed to do exactly that by providing funds to establish and maintain a visiting artist program directed by the NMU Music Department and the funds to import performances that expose students to a wide variety of music genres. Each of these new endeavors will be integrated into the curriculum for maximum impact.

2024-25 Series Schedule

 

These events are all brought to you by the Siril Endowment for the Musical Arts.

Scroll down to learn more about all of these artists!

North Coast Dance Festival Poster (Dancer jumping with northern lights in background)

North Coast Dance Festival 2024

North Coast Dance Festival is proud to welcome back professional ballet dancers Mate Szentes, Julia Feldman, and Ava Chatterson this year! We are also excited to announce that Giordano Jazz Dance Company from Chicago will perform their new Al Blackstone musical-theatre jazz piece, Gershwin in B. Also joining our professional guests will be members of the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company performing a new work choreographed by CO/LAB Artistic Director Karina Johnson. 

Percussionist Britton-Rene Collins (holding marimba mallets)

Britton-René Collins

  • Friday, September 6 @ 7:30pm
  • Reynolds Recital Hall

Tickets (tickets.nmu.edu)

  • General Admission $12
  • Youth (18 and under) - Free
  • NMU Students - Free

PLUS: Two additional events at NMU (both FREE and open to the public)!

  • Percussion Masterclass on Friday, September 6 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
  • Music Appreciation Presentation on Friday, September 6 @ 11am in Reynolds Recital Hall

Percussionist Britton-René Collins has dedicated her artistry to shaping an equitable community in which all musicians can thrive. Britton-René is a winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, receiving the Ambassador Prize for exceptional musicianship and demonstrating an active passion for creating social change through her music. 

A Grand Prize winner of the 2022 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and the 2021 Chicago International Music Competition, Britton-René has performed as a soloist in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has made several concerto appearances, including with the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Valdosta Symphony, and the Meridian Symphony. In addition to her active solo career, Britton-René enjoys life as a chamber musician with New York City based Excelsis Percussion Quartet, and is also the co-founder of Vision Duo alongside violinist Ariel Horowitz. As an advocate for new music, Britton-René's current projects involve premiering new compositions and commissions for multi-percussion and marimba. 

Recent highlights include attending the soundSCAPE new music composition and performance exchange in Italy, making her Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) artist debut, and participating in the Banff Centre's Evolution: Classical program. As an artist, Britton-René proudly endorses Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian cymbals, Marimba One instruments, and Remo drumheads. 

Britton-René began playing piano at age five, and discovered percussion at eight years old when she became intrigued by the drum set. She quickly fell in love with playing rock, jazz, and pop music on the drums, which ignited her enthusiasm to explore various percussion instruments and styles of music. She received her B.M. at the University of Toronto with Aiyun Huang, Beverley Johnston, and John Rudolph, where she won the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. She received her M.M. at the University of Michigan in 2023, where her primary instructors included Doug Perkins and Ian Antonio. 

Zodiac Trio publicity photo (standing in front of old door)

Zodiac Trio

  • Friday, November 1
  • 7:30pm
  • Reynolds Recital Hall

Tickets (tickets.nmu.edu)

  • General Admission $12
  • Youth (18 and under) - Free
  • NMU Students - Free

PLUS: Two additional events (both FREE and open to the public)!

  • Masterclass on Friday, November 1 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
  • Music Appreciation Presentation on Friday, November 1 @ 11am in Reynolds Recital Hall.

One of today’s premiere clarinet-violin-piano ensembles, the Zodiac Trio is known for presenting masterpieces for their unconventional instrumentation alongside hidden gems, arrangements, and the occasional duo/solo in a concert experience marked with a special gusto, virtuosity and energy.

The Zodiac Trio’s story begins in New York in 2006 when three young musicians from the Manhattan School of Music decided to join forces in an unconventional ensemble, and spearhead a career dedicated to the clarinet-violin-piano instrumentation. The Zodiac Trio was officially launched with a concert at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City and presented to the classical music listeners by WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase. Understanding that extraordinary results require extraordinary efforts, one year after its founding the newly-minted Zodiac Trio decided to move to Paris to attend the Paris Conservatory under the guidance of the Ysaye Quartet and their unique chamber music program – becoming the first American group and first ensemble with an wind instrument to be accepted to the program. Their formative years in Paris was laced with victories on the international chamber music circuit with prizes from the Cziffra Foundation, the FNAPEC Chamber Music Competition, the International Carlo Saliva Competition, the International Chamber Music Competition Duchi D’Acquaviva, the International Chamber Music Competition Val Tidone, as well as the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, among others. In 2008, the London-based MUSO magazine took notice and shone light on the ensemble in a two-page feature.

Today the Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that consistently spans three continents and is recognized by many to be one of the foremost clarinet-violin-piano ensembles performing today.  Since its formation, the Zodiac Trio has managed to achieve a level of recognition on the international chamber music stage, rarely bestowed upon an ensemble of such untraditional instrumentation.  The Zodiac Trio’s extensive touring schedule has brought it to many premiere international venues such as Ottawa Chamberfest,  Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival, Beijing Performing Arts Center, Izumi Hall in Japan and Lincoln Center in New York.  The trio’s live performances have been broadcast by France 3 Television, Radio Classique, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, NBC, New York’s WXQR and WNYC, Chicago’s WFMT, Boston’s WGBH, Italy’s RAI and Radio France in Paris. 

Beijing Guitar Duo publicity photo (outside in front of garage door)

Beijing Guitar Duo

  • Friday, March 14
  • 7:30pm
  • Reynolds Recital Hall

Tickets (tickets.nmu.edu)

  • General Admission $12
  • Youth (18 and under) - Free
  • NMU Students - Free

PLUS: Two additional events (both FREE and open to the public)!

  • Masterclass on Friday, March 14 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
  • Music Appreciation Presentation on Friday, March 14 @ 11am in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Praised by the distinguished Classical Guitar Magazine as “having the star potential to serve as inspiration for new generations of guitarists to come,” the Beijing Guitar Duo made their New York debut in Carnegie Hall in 2010 and launched their international concert career.

Guitarist Meng Su and Yameng Wang, the Beijing Guitar Duo has performed around the world in halls such as the Concertgebouw, Palau de Musica, Tchaikovsky Hall and the National Theatre in Beijing. This season will take them to a 12-city concert tour in the United States in February (Washington D.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Knoxville) as well as other performances in Europe and China. The duo regularly collaborates with orchestras, in ensemble with flutist Marina Piccinini, guitarists Grigoryan Brothers and with their mentor Manuel Barrueco touring in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S.

The Beijing Guitar Duo's performances and recordings have impressed the public with “an ability and artistry that exceeds their years.” Their debut CD Maracaípe, received a Latin-GRAMMY nomination for the titled piece, which was dedicated to them by renowned guitarist/composer Sergio Assad. Their second CD, Bach to Tan Dun, has been widely noted for the world-premiere recording of Tan Dun’s Eight Memories in Watercolor, specially arranged for the duo by Manuel Barrueco. A recording in trio, China West, with Maestro Barrueco was released in May 2014. 

Meng Su and Yameng Wang were born in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. They came to the partnership with exceptional credentials, including a string of competition awards. Ms. Su’s honors include victories at the Vienna Youth Guitar Competition and the Christopher Parkening Guitarist Competition, while Ms. Wang was the youngest guitarist to win the Tokyo International Guitar Competition at the age of 12, and was invited by Radio France to perform at the prestigious Paris International Guitar Art Week at age 14. Both young artists had given solo recitals in China and abroad, and had made recordings before they formed the duo.

In addition to concertizing, the duo shares a love for teaching which brings them to major conservatories in the world for master classes and to judge competitions. The duo served as Artists-in-residence from 2011-15 for the San Francisco Performances which brought them to the Bay Area two weeks a year for community outreach, performances, and masterclasses in public schools as well as for the SF Conservatory.