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.
2025-26 Series Schedule
- Wed.-Fri., July 23-25 - North Coast Dance Festival
- Friday, Sept. 5 - Deux Saisons (voice & guitar)
- Friday, Oct. 10 - Beethoven and Banjos
- Thursday, March 14 - The Westerlies (brass quartet)
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 2025
- Wed.-Fri., July 23-25
- Forest Roberts Theatre
- Detailed event and ticket information can be found on the North Coast Dance Festival Website
- Tickets (tickets.nmu.edu)
Join us for the 4th Annual North Coast Dance Festival, a spectacular celebration of dance! Professional dancers from across the country will gather alongside the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company for engaging educational experiences and mesmerizing performances. Don't miss this unforgettable event filled with grace, talent, and artistry.
Deux Saisons
- Friday, September 5 @ 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)!
- Music Appreciation Presentation on Friday, September 5 @ 11am in Reynolds Recital Hall
- Masterclass on Friday, September 5 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
Deux Saisons presents concerts with diverse collections of old and new classical repertoire. Featuring soprano Keri Lee Pierson, and classical guitarist Christopher Schoelen, this voice and guitar duo performs works from the Renaissance through the present day.
Deux Saisons (French for “two seasons”) brings classical music to a wide community through integration into diverse venues (such as farms, libraries, breweries, and the main stage). They frequently incorporate audience participation, and they promote the application of music as a tool for education and restoration.
Ensemble Objectives: Deux Saisons believes that music can be high-quality and accessible. They choose to offer their skills to a variety of audiences in hopes to further acquaint them with the classical music community. As artists, Deux Saisons considers music performance to be a beneficial tool for development and morale, as well as a way to teach inclusivity and diversity in practice. As collaborators, they plan multidisciplinary events that provide opportunities for performers, composers, artists, and other professionals.
Please visit their website (https://deuxsaisonsduo.com/) to learn more about this exciting duo!
Beethoven and Banjos
- Friday, October 10
- 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)!
- Music Appreciation Presentation on Friday, October 10 @ 11am in Reynolds Recital Hall
- Masterclass on Friday, October 10 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
Beethoven and Banjos, an annual project organized by the Northwoods Music Collaborative, is more than a simple presentation of the respective styles of classical and traditional music. The program integrates music and musicians from around the world to create new music and new interpretations of old music. Their past performances at NMU have been very well-received, and this year Beethoven and Banjos will be featuring Icelandic music with musicians Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir and Halldór Smárason. Evan Premo performs with Saeunn through his work with Decoda (an affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall). Saeunn and Halldór, along with Evan Premo and Laurel Premo will present classical and folk music from Iceland.
Learn more about Beethoven and Banjos on their website: https://www.northwoodsmusiccollaborative.org/beethoven-and-banjos
The Westerlies
- Thursday, March 19
- 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 Thursday, March 19 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
- Masterclass on Friday, March 20 @ 1pm in Reynolds Recital Hall
The Westerlies, “an arty quartet…mixing ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk” (New York Times) are a New York-based brass quartet comprised of Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet, and Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon on trombone. From Carnegie Hall to Coachella, The Westerlies navigate a wide array of venues and projects with the precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band, and the charm of a family sing-along. Formed in 2011, the self-described “accidental brass quartet” takes its name from the prevailing winds that travel from the West to the East. “Skilled interpreters who are also adept improvisers” (NPR’s Fresh Air), The Westerlies explore jazz, roots, and chamber music influences to create the rarest of hybrids: music that is both "folk-like and composerly, lovely and intellectually rigorous” (NPR Music).
We are very excited to host The Westerlies on the NMU campus as part of a collaboration with the NMU Jazz Festival. Their Thursday evening Siril Concert will also serve as the opening concert of the 2026 NMU Jazz Festival. The members of the ensemble will serve as clinicians for visiting high school and middle school bands attending the Festival, and they will also be featured individually as guest soloists with NMU Jazz Ensembles during the Friday evening Jazz Festival Concert!
Please visit The Westerlies' website to learn more about this fantastic ensemble: https://www.westerliesmusic.com/