Musicians Ruth Griffioen, Carole Scott, Carolyn Edwards, Peter Paolini and Doug Scott all come from different places, but they each spend their summers here in northern Michigan.
Griffioen is a retired professor of music history from the the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Edwards recently retired after more than 30 years as a violinist in the Pittsburgh Symphony. Paolini is based in Detroit and performs with ensembles including the Michigan Philharmonic and the Dearborn Symphony.
Carole and Doug Scott are both professional musicians in the Detroit area - Doug is the music director at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, and Carole is a retired music educator from Taylor Schools who now freelances.
None of them expected to be able to perform with other musicians of their caliber when they first started spending time in the region.
"I never dreamed I'd get to play chamber music at this level in northern Michigan," said Griffioen.
These five musicians initially connected as members of the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra, and now they play together as a chamber group.
They learned that they had other connections as well.
Carole and Doug Scott are married and frequently perform together around Detroit and in northern Michigan. Peter Paolini has performed with the Scotts at various points in Detroit, and the three also attended music school together. Carole Scott and Carolyn Edwards have a cousin in common. Carolyn Edwards and Peter Paolini each attended Interlochen Arts Camp (then the National Music Camp).
Although several members of the ensemble are ostensibly retired, Carole Scott said they continue to pursue their hobbies and passions related to music.
"Our work is to play," she said.
The five musicians visited Studio A to talk about how they got together and to discuss their upcoming performance this weekend at St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah.
They also played a movement of a quartet composed by Georg Philip Telemann.
You can hear these musicians from the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra play chamber music this Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah. Learn more HERE.
Kelley DiPasquale engineered this edition of Studio A.
Kacie Brown is IPR's digital content manager.
