Note: a version of this piece originally appeared in the Traverse City Record-Eagle as part of the "Tuning In" series.
At Interlochen Public Radio, we envision public media as part of a rich civic life, a life where music, storytelling and local knowledge are essential. Most of the year, we do this work in our broadcasts and podcasts as well as in our email newsletters and our social media. But every summer, we also bring that vision into real life through The Sound Garden Project.
Now in its sixth season, IPR’s Sound Garden Project is a residency that places classical chamber music ensembles in Michigan communities and challenges them to become part of that community's daily life. That challenge is rooted in the belief that classical music is part of daily life, not reserved for the airwaves or the concert hall. The Sound Garden Project has an open and direct exchange between musician and audience.
Matthew Schlomer, Sound Garden’s founder and Artistic Director explains, “The power of classical music is no less now than it has been throughout history. Audiences, however, have a very different landscape for entertainment options when much of classical music was written. The Sound Garden Project reimagines the exchange of music and gives artists new tools to connect with people.”
In their first year, Sound Garden Project musicians experience a rigorous week of innovative and intense exploration before meeting people up close and on the audience’s terms, giving “sound samples” to people in hardware stores, on street corners and at gas stations.
Second-year musicians are artists-in-residence, living and making music in communities for up to 3 weeks. Past residencies in Glen Arbor and Cheboygan have included concerts on a pontoon, in a fire station, at library storytime and even at a neighborhood barbeque.
First up this summer is Cerus Quartet. They’re residing in Glen Arbor as part of the Manitou Music Series. If you've been listening to IPR at all recently you've heard them featured several times on Performance Today, including in some recordings made at Interlochen. If you’re in Glen Arbor between now and June 20, you’re likely to encounter the Cerus Quartet.
Next, the PULSE Saxophone Quartet will be in residence in Arcadia from June 21 through 27. Their residency is sponsored by the Music Moves Me Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting music education by annually awarding scholarships. PULSE will be at a variety of businesses and public places during their week in Arcadia, capping it off at Ketch 22 on June 27.
This summer's third ensemble in residence is the New York-based Katarina String Quartet. As the 2026 first-year resident ensemble, they’ll study and train for a week to prepare for a variety of interactive experiences with audiences in all types of locations.
They’ll present performances around the region, including IPR's Classical Happy Hour at The Little Fleet on July 8 and Frankfort’s Oliver Art Center on July 9.
We hope you have a chance to interact with one or more of our Sound Garden Project ensembles this summer and experience living, breathing classical music up close.
Have you encountered one of IPR's Sound Garden Project ensembles "in the wild"? What did you think? Email amanda.sewell@interlochen.org with your reaction.
This column was written in collaboration with Alexandra Herryman.
