We are excited to introduce the finale of IPR’s first summer of The Sound Garden! Five Academy alumni, now holding degrees from some of the top musical institutions in North America, will be gathering for the last two weeks of July to perform around northwest Michigan. They will continue to expand on The Sound Garden’s mission to plant music in unexpected places and bridge the gap between classical musicians and audiences. You can find them at breweries, gardens, and maybe even a pop concert in your area…
SCHEDULE (check back for new events daily):
Thursday, July 22nd - 12:00 pm - Central United Methodist Church, Traverse City
Monday, July 26th - 7:00pm - Fishtown, Leland
Tuesday, July 27th - 5:00pm - Rove Estate Vineyard and Winery, Traverse City
Wednesday, July 28th - 6:00pm - Trattoria Stella, Traverse City (Reservation only)
Thursday, July 29th - 5:00pm - Lake Ann Brewing Company
Friday, July 30th - 8:00 p.m. - Bay View Association - Opening for The Accidentals - (tickets)
Saturday, July 31st - 7:00 pm - The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
Mei Stone (IAA ‘16) is a flutist who first discovered her love of music in animated movie soundtracks; since then, she has been fascinated by storytelling through sound and the messages and memories we can share through music. Committed to collaborating with artists of all genres, Mei has performed alongside Claire Chase and the International Contemporary Ensemble and collaborated with Grammy-Award-winning ensemble eighth blackbird. In her undergraduate studies at The Juilliard School, Mei co-founded two multi-disciplinary ensembles, performing at various venues across New York City. Striving to find impactful ways of merging music, dance, and acting, she and her colleagues presented interactive programs at mental health facilities, hospitals, homeless shelters, and nursing homes with the aim to connect with audiences outside of the concert hall. Mei was also a teaching artist through Juilliard’s Morse Fellowship, where she taught 6th and 7th grade music at schools in Manhattan. Her teaching philosophy centers around fostering enthusiasm, curiosity, empathy, and cultural understanding through music.
David A. Norville (IAA ‘16) is an American oboist, director, and arts administrator from Fort Myers, Florida. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, David has been recognized by organizations like YoungArts, Sphinx, and The Jack Kent Cooke foundation for his merits as an oboist and young artist. David is the co-founder of the artists collective, “Focus On Your Art”, an organization dedicated to the maturation of emerging artists of color through artistic activism, concert curation, and innovative educational platforms. He currently serves as Assistant Producer for NPR’s From the Top. David also is the Director of Operations and Community Engagement for the Boston-based concert series Castle of Our Skins. David’s work is reflective of his Afro-Diasporic identity, his adversity, and the values instilled into him through his upbringing. Unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, and cooperative economics undergird David’s work deconstructing race and social-class through multifaceted artistic lenses. He aspires to use his platforms and art to economically empower artists of the African diaspora through the production of online educational platforms, multimedia concert curation, and mentorship.
Shihao Hugh Zhu (IAA ’17) is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance, studying under the esteemed Franklin Cohen at the Cleveland Institute of Music. With special interests and experiences in solo and chamber music, Hugh has made his appearance and placed in numerous competitions, including the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition. His most recent performance is a collaboration in a quartet with his teacher, Mr. Cohen, at Chamberfest Cleveland. In addition to music, Hugh also has long-term passion towards traveling, cooking, physics, and philosophy. During the summer, he enjoys time at home in Zhengzhou, China, with his beloved parents and 4-year-old sister Mia.
Khalil Gray (IAA ‘16, IAC ‘14) earned his Bachelor of Music in bassoon performance from the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. This fall, he will begin pursuing his masters degree at The University of Texas at Austin, studying with Kristen Wolfe Jensen. As an active chamber and orchestral musician, he has performed with groups such as Quinteto Latino, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Royal Conservatory Orchestra. During his free time, Khalil enjoys practicing his Spanish, cycling, and playing games with friends and family.
Jaimee Reynolds (IAA ‘15) is a native of Michigan, born and raised in Alpena. She has performed in many renowned locations around the globe, such as Carnegie Hall, the BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall, and Severance Hall. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree in horn performance at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of William Purvis. Jaimee holds a Bachelor of Music degree in horn performance from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Jennifer Montone. She was recently awarded first place in the 2021 Southeast Horn Workshop’s Low Horn Excerpt Competition. In her free time, Jaimee enjoys cooking and dog walking.