New director takes over Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival
From staff reports
Many locals and seasonal residents know Harry Fried, who over the past seven years has successfully produced the Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival concerts that take place at the open air Studio Stage and at the Leelanau School. At the end of the 2013 season Fried announced his retirement from the Festival. Art Association director Peg McCarty reports that his enthusiasm and high energy will be missed.
“Under his guidance there have been steady improvements to the stage area, upgrades in sound and lighting and a new stage monitoring system,” writes McCarty. “His varied musical interests have guided him in building a strong festival lineup that includes bluegrass, country, Irish, folk, blues, jazz, and swing. The series has grown in importance and the Manitou Music Festival acts as an anchor to many of the performers who travel through northern Michigan during the summer. Hats off to Harry for a job well done.”
The Art Association recently announced that Jack Conners will take over the production of the Studio Stage and Leelanau School concerts. Conners has been a long time friend of the GAAA’s Manitou Music Festival and in recent years took over managing the sound for the series where he worked closely with Fried. Conners has built a successful career in the music world and began his career in 1973 as recording engineer for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Over the years he has mixed concert sound for Stan Kenton, The Mills Brothers and Grover Washington, Jr. He has engineered recording sessions for well-known artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Joshua Bell, The Berlin Philharmonic, and Peter Erskine. Conners is the assistant director of Chamber Music North and owns Perfect World Studios in Traverse City.
The Manitou Music Festival committee of volunteers is led by co-chairs Mike Plessner and Joan Schloop.
The committee also includes Betsy Wagner, Paul Walters, Helen Muzzin and Beth Bricker. As in the past, the MMF committee continues to plan the following four concerts in the MMF series. They already have exciting events lined up for 2014.
Patriotic Music – TBA The Northport Community Band will be back with patriotic songs to be performed on the lawn of the Old School House in Glen Arbor.
Dune Climb Concert – Sunday, July 13, 7 p.m. The Moxie Strings (formerly String Cheese) is the electrifying combination of fiddler Diana Ladio and cellist Alison Lynn. With their feel-good melodies and foot-stomping, rock influenced rhythms; these young women put a fresh spin on Celtic and Americana music. Though rooted in tradition, the pair offers listeners the unique opportunity to experience two of the world’s oldest instruments and genres through a young, progressive lens. World percussionist, Fritz McGirr, will perform with the Moxie Strings and will add another spirited dimension to an already high-energy performance. This year’s Dune Climb concert is funded in part with a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and individual donations.
The Homestead Mountaintop – Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m. Ronald Radford, American master of the Flamenco guitar will perform at this stunning setting. This brilliant American Flamenco virtuoso has evoked standing ovations on four continents. He has been acclaimed for performances, “equal to those on any Flamenco stage in Madrid, Seville or Andalusia.” His Carnegie Recital Hall and Kennedy Center concerts were enthusiastically received, but perhaps the highest tribute comes from Madrid: “He has duende, the Spanish equivalent of soul!” A protégé of the legendary Carlos Montoya, Radford lived and traveled in Spain where he immersed himself in the musical wisdom of the Gypsy Flamenco guitar masters. In addition, he had master classes with Andres Segovia, Pepe Romero and Jose Thomas. He is the only individual to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Spain in Flamenco guitar. This gifted artist takes you far beyond the usual guitar concert.
Summer Singers – Tuesday, August 12, 7 p.m. An enthusiastic volunteer group of over 60 men and women will perform a variety of musical selections in a fun, free concert under the direction of Patrick Kuhl at the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church.
Jack Connors will be the producer for the 5-6 concerts at the charming outdoor venues at Studio Stage and Leelanau School. Stay tuned for details.
