The White Lake Chamber Music Festival engages approximately 18 musicians throughout the nine-day Festival, running Aug. 2–10. Throughout the Festival’s 14-year history, professional musicians from the Chicago Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Vermeer String Quartet, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, plus major universities, and more have come to the White Lake area to perform.
This year, in addition to Chicago-area musicians, the following West Michigan performers will be performing: cellist Alicia Sawyers, violist Arturo Ziraldo, flutist Jill Brown, percussionist David Hall, and pianists Bryan Uecker and Steve Thielman.
Alicia Gregorian Sawyers is the principal cellist of the West Michigan Symphony. A diverse musician, Sawyers has performed with famous artists ranging from Itzhak Perlman to Stevie Wonder. Living in Grand Rapids, Sawyers performs with several orchestras throughout the area and around the state. A dedicated teacher, Sawyers currently teaches for the String Academy of Grand Rapids.
American violist Arturo Ziraldo is an engaging performer who believes deeply in the power of art to change the world for the better. Ziraldo has performed across North America, Europe and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Ziraldo is the Principal Violist of the Kalamazoo and West Michigan Symphony Orchestras. He is also Professor of Viola at Hope College and maintains a private studio as well.
A native of West Michigan, Jill Marie Brown has been principal flute in the West Michigan Symphony for over 30 years. Jill also plays with the Grand Rapids Symphony and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. She enjoys teaching and is presently the flute instructor at Calvin College, having also taught at Hope College.
David Hall has been Assistant Principal Percussionist and Assistant Principal Timpanist with the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1987. As one of America’s leading marimbists, David has been delighting audiences with his virtuosity and musical sensitivity. In addition to his many recitals throughout the Midwest, David often solos with the Grand Rapids Symphony and other West Michigan arts organizations. He has toured as a soloist in Taiwan, in Guatemala, and together with the North American Choral Company.
Pianist Bryan Uecker was raised in Grand Rapids and received his Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance from Hope College and a Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Bryan has been performing at the Ischia Chamber Music Workshop on the island of Ischia in Italy.
Pianist Steve Thielman has over 20 years of professional experience which includes performances with the WMU Symphonic Band and tours across the Midwest with bands such as Archipelago and La Famiglia, sharing the stage with international acts like Umphrey’s McGee and The Wailers. Bryan and Steve are regular performers at the daily 4 p.m. Salon Concerts Aug. 2–10.
This year’s nine-day festival is packed with many offerings: no cost daily 4 p.m. Salon Concerts at the Book Nook & Java Shop, two Family Concerts, a children’s recital, meet and greets, and Cabaret Night “Broadway Comes to White Lake” and concerts each evening. There will once again be the world’s greatest music wonderfully played, combined with the soft summer weather, beaches, and spectacular sunsets.
For a schedule of this year’s Festival events, please visit www.whitelakemusic.org. Please contact Director Sondra Cross at 231-329-3056 for more information.
