The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck
in the News

Sunday, August 19, 2007, The Grand Rapids Press, “‘Rising Stars’ added to festival series”: “Seven young musical stars of tomorrow will perform this week in a special encore event for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck. The six-week festival ended Friday, but the musical series will host a seventh event, a “Rising Stars” concert to cap its 20th anniversary season. The seven performers, all with West Michigan ties, are trombonist Hana Beloglavec, bassoonist Alexandra Berndt, violinist Naomi Mae Droge, tenor Eric Johnson, flutist Nicholas Norris, pianist Dylan Perez and trumpeter Brandon Ridenour.” Find concert details on our Program tab.

Thursday, August 2, 2007, The Commercial Record of Saugatuck-Douglas: “The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck welcomes to its stage for the first time, internationally-known flutist Thomas Robertello in performances Thursday, Aug. 2 and Friday, Aug. 3. Robertello has performed frequently as a soloist with orchestra and chamber groups and has made many solo recordings.” Link to “Flutist makes Saugatuck debut” on The Allegan News / Commercial Record website. Find concert details on our Program tab.

Thursday, July 26, 2007, The Holland Sentinel: “As the sons of Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck founder Elaine Richey, [Craig and Lee Richey] spent many summers performing with her in what became known as the festival’s annual ‘Richey Family Concert’. This season, for only the second time since their mother’s death, they will return to Saugatuck to perform in the festival on Thursday and Friday, July 26 and 27, in concerts dubbed ‘The Richeys Return’.” The article quotes Craig: “‘Over the years we really developed a special love for Saugatuck and the people there,” says Craig. “We always felt so welcomed, and of course, our mom was so happy there; the community really took her in. We just can’t wait to be back.'” Link to “Sons of festival founder return to Saugatuck” on The Holland Sentinel website. Find concert details on our Program tab.

Friday, July 20, 2007, The Holland Sentinel: “From personal experience, [the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck] is a wonderful thing. One can sit in a soft chair in the air-conditioned surroundings of a cozy venue and listen to world-class, classical chamber music along with others who also enjoy it. At intermission on this beautiful summer evening in the quaint lakeside artsy village one can enjoy complimentary coffee and cookies alfresco and afterwards, a glass of wine, a wedge of cheese and mingle with the guests and the musicians,” writes Jack Hyde. Link to Mr. Hyde’s refreshingly different angle on CMFS, “The extremes of local cultural choices,” here (PDF) or at The Holland Sentinel website.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007, The Commercial Record of Saugatuck-Douglas: “A lovely evening, beautiful music and delicious food welcomed guests who celebrated the opening of Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck’s 20th season,“ writes Judy Oberholtzer in a Letter to the Editor about the July 11th “Midsummer Night’s Dream” benefit. “’Look at where we are now, 20 years later’”, CMFS president Bill Galligan is quoted as announcing by senior correspondent Walt Kaechele in the same edition of the paper. “’Our toast goes to all those who have gone before us…,’ [Galligan] continued. “It goes to all of you here this evening making this a possibility.’” Link to Ms. Oberholtzer’s letter “CMFS opener a success” here (PDF) or at The Commercial Record website. Link to Mr. Kaechele’s story “Chamber Music Festival celebrated” here (PDF) or at The Commercial Record website, which also includes a photo.

Sunday, July 8, 2007, The Grand Rapids Press: “In a career spanning 25-years, Nicholas Loren has sung with opera companies from Vancouver in Canada to Pretoria in South Africa and has heard music all over the world. Since moving to Holland three years ago to be close to family, the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck has been one of his favorite places to go to hear music. 'My folks had been raving about them for years,' said Loren, who appeared with Opera Grand Rapids in 1997 as Mercutio in 'Romeo et Juliette'. What I love about Saugatuck is the intimate scene and the quality of playing for the venue,' he said. 'It's wonderfully informal and has a family feeling, both among the artists and the audience.'” Click here (PDF) to read Jeffrey Kaczmarcyk’s engaging story “Intimate setting part of music festival's charm”.

Special thanks to area businesses who hang our 20th Anniversary poster in their store windows!

Thursday, April 26, 2007, The Holland Sentinel:” ‘In 20 years, this festival has grown from a kind of sophisticated, yet simple, version of 'I've got a barn, let's put on a show' to an organization capable of producing very high-quality, but still user-friendly concerts,’” Bill Galligan, president of CMFS board of directors, is quoted as saying in this announcement of the 20th Anniversary Season. The story includes comments by Artistic Director Joan Conway on the musicians and program selections. Click here for the full story (PDF) or link to The Holland Sentinel website.

Friday, February 9, 2007, The Holland Sentinel: Bravo, Artistic Director Joan Conway! Read Peg McNichols’ feature story about Joan and her piano teaching, “Fine Tuning”. Thanks to The Holland Sentinel for permission to publish the story here: click here for the full story or link to their website. You can also watch Dennis Geppert’s accompanying audio slideshow by clicking on this link to the website: hollandsentinel.com/videos/finetuning.shtml.

These articles are in PDF format. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed you can get it here.