Hearing the music come alive at two Lawrence University summer music programs brought a smile to the face of Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music.
“A lot of my favorite memories as a music student were formed at summer programs,” said Mizrahi, who organized and directed two programs that debuted on campus this summer—the Lawrence Summer Music Institute (LSMI) and the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival (LCMF).
Both programs offered intensive musical instruction, drawing participants from around the country and providing a transformative experience for aspiring musicians.
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The Lawrence Summer Music Institute, held in mid-July, welcomed nearly 20 advanced high school pianists and string players to the Conservatory of Music. Participants engaged in a week of focused study that included chamber music coaching, individual instruction, and workshops led by Lawrence faculty. The curriculum sought to refine music skills through hands-on learning and performance opportunities.
“We were able to pack a lot into that week,” Mizrahi said.
Amid a flurry of activities, students were grouped into chamber ensembles, each assigned a major chamber work. The program culminated in several performances, including a public performance at Lawrence’s Harper Hall and community performances around Appleton, including at Eagle Point Senior Living, a local retirement home, and the Pillars Adult and Family Shelter. Students also were treated to a concert put on by Conservatory faculty.
Lottie Sherwood, a first-year student from San Antonio, Texas, said she chose to attend Lawrence after taking part in the LSMI. She had already been considering Lawrence after a previous experience in the Conservatory of Music. This year’s LSMI experience sealed the deal.
"The Lawrence Summer Music Institute provided me with the opportunity to work with faculty for more than just a short trial lesson,” she said. “It also gave me a glimpse into what college life would be like. By the end of the week practicing in the Con, I wanted my chamber piece to be the first of many pieces I will practice and perform at Lawrence."
Following LSMI, the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival ran from July 21 to Aug. 4. Aimed at pre-professional musicians ages 18 and up, it attracted more than 40 participants from around the world who play strings, wind, brass, percussion, and piano. Although the program included traditional chamber repertoire, its scope extended beyond classical music.
“We have a pretty special curriculum that's unique to Lawrence with LCMF where we collaborate with Mile of Music,” Mizrahi said.
Mile of Music, a major annual musical festival in Appleton, features original music across numerous genres. For the LCMF participants, a collaboration with Mile of Music offered a compelling opportunity to blend classical training with more contemporary, cross-genre efforts that better position music students for a professional life in the music industry.
In addition to preparing public performances of classical chamber works, students were split into “super groups” and collaborated with professional singer-songwriters from Mile of Music to assemble new arrangements of their songs, which were subsequently premiered at the festival. The featured songwriter collaborators included Julia Blair ’11, Ben Mulwana, Julie Williams, and the bands Pegasis and Founders.
“There were these amazing moments throughout the festival’s concerts: you’d see a traditional chamber ensemble, and later, in the same program, eight trombones and four trumpets would do a fanfare arrangement of a popular piece,” Mizrahi said.
The diverse range of instruments allowed for non-traditional chamber combinations, which were a highlight of the festival.
“At a summer program, you can do those kinds of really cool combinations,” Mizrahi said. “You can get students working with all the different coaches on all the different instrument groups and it's always a big hit at the concerts, those mixed pieces, as are all the chamber works.”
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LCMF also offered Lawrence students a hands-on experience by offering internships in arts administration. These internships, part of the Lawrence University Research Fellows (LURF) program, allowed eight students to work behind the scenes, gaining practical skills in organizing and managing the festival.
“It’s like a live laboratory for these students who work on planning the logistics, programming, budgets, relationships with venues and with presenters, bringing in guest faculty, dealing with all of the things that go into running a music festival,” Mizrahi said.
Senior Alexander Poplawski was among the LCMF interns.
“I got to interact closely with the participants and faculty in both programs and I was greatly inspired by the relationships that were being formed—between students, faculty, our local community, and Lawrence,” he said.
Among the skills he developed, Poplawski highlights social media managing, ad campaigning, and collecting of testimonials, alongside stage management.
“This experience was a nice reminder that oftentimes administrators are learning and running into unforeseen challenges that no one looking in from the outside sees,” he said. “Yet, it also showed me how great things can emerge from a clear vision and a heavy dose of adaptability.”
Looking ahead, Mizrahi and his team are exploring ways to strengthen both festivals in future years. For LSMI, they hope to bring in an even larger group next year. As for LCMF, its combination of classical and contemporary collaborations has already gained notice that sets it apart from traditional music programs.
“We've hit on a great formula, and these are programs that have the potential to be successful for years to come,” Mizrahi said.
The dates for next year’s summer programs are set:
- July 6-13, 2025: Lawrence Summer Music Institute
- July 19-Aug. 3, 2025: Lawrence Chamber Music Festival
