{"id":6102,"date":"2024-02-20T16:44:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T16:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?p=6102"},"modified":"2026-02-18T18:46:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:46:34","slug":"rural-resonances-three-michigan-musicians-embrace-place-in-their-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/stories\/rural-resonances-three-michigan-musicians-embrace-place-in-their-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Rural Resonances: Three Michigan Musicians Embrace Place in Their Creative Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is a meandering trail of lakeshore, thousands of miles long, that extends northward from the western coast of Michigan\u2019s lower peninsula, across the Mackinac Bridge, and around the Upper Peninsula\u2019s eastern tip to its northern coast. This imaginary line traces Michigan\u2019s most iconic geographic features and touches all three Great Lakes that border the state \u2014 it also symbolizes a geographic connection between three Michigan musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Coloma (pop. 1,483), where clarinetist Andrea Cheeseman relocated two years ago, up to Petoskey (pop. 5,877), where composer Tony Manfredonia has lived since 2016, to Houghton (pop. 8,386), where composer Libby Meyer has built a career over decades, we can nearly travel from Michigan\u2019s northernmost point to its southern border by following these musicians\u2019 work. All three draw on and find inspiration in the rural places where they live as they participate in the broader field of American contemporary classical music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Andrea Cheeseman<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Clarinetist Andrea Cheeseman is a resident of Coloma, Michigan.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: TK \/ Libby Meyer<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Composer Libby Meyer lives in Houghton, Michigan.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Tony Manfredonia<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Composer Tony Manfredonia grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in Petoskey, Michigan.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n\n
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