Donor Levels
Coming Soon
by admin
by admin
The Community Foundation welcomes gifts to any of our funds via credit or debit card. Click here to donate online today.
Contribute to the MUSE Overture Initiative Campaign Fund of the Door County Community Foundation via check. Please mail checks to:
MUSE Overture Campaign
c/o Door County Community Foundation
222 N 3rd Ave
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
The Community Foundation is pleased to accept direct gifts of highly appreciated assets – generally saving you from capital gains taxes and offering you a charitable deduction as well. Contact the Door County Community Foundation if you’re interested in making such a gift to any of our Funds.
Donate up to $105,000 from your Individual Retirement Account annually – tax free. The Charitable IRA Rollover (also known as a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” or “QCD”), allows you to give more to charity and pay less in taxes. Contact us at the Door County Community Foundation to learn more.
The Community Foundation is a terrific vehicle for giving back through your estate plans. We’re able to work with most any kind of planned gift including bequests, retirement accounts, insurance policies, life estates with retained interest, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts – and far too many other tools to list them all here. Contact us at the Community Foundation and we’d be honored to help you give back to the MUSE Overture Campaign.
by admin
We are pleased to report that the Board of Directors of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc. has unanimously agreed to embrace MUSE’s Overture Campaign and administer it under its corporate umbrella.
Contributions should be directed to:
MUSE’s Overture Campaign
c/o Door County Community Foundation, Inc.
222 North Third Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
All contributions will be held by the Community Foundation and restricted solely for use by MUSE as a part of the Overture Campaign. For more information, or to discuss a gift of stock or other appreciated assets, contact the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786.
MUSE’s Overture Campaign is a component fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. Hence, all contributions are deductible to the fullest extent as allowed by law.
by admin
Kaira Rouer is MUSE Sturgeon Bay’s executive director and serves as interim secretary to the board. She also performs and teaches flute and piccolo in Sturgeon Bay, WI. She has achieved a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance at the University of Denver in the Lamont School of Music, having studied under Julie Thornton of The Colorado Symphony. She received her Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University at the Conservatory of Music, majoring in Music Performance (Flute) under Dr. Erin Lesser.
While studying at Lawrence, Kaira helped her parents to start and manage Rouer’s Roadhouse, LLC, a Door Country bar and grill, as the event and operations manager. After graduating from Lawrence, she continued to manage her family’s business while diving into freelancing, starting her own teaching studio out of the Tambourine Lounge building in downtown Sturgeon Bay, where she still teaches flute and piccolo today. Shortly after she began her graduate studies in Denver, the pandemic restricted the service industry, so she adjusted her career momentarily by starting Polished, a green cleaning business while maintaining her studio, both in person and online.
She also serves as a board member and organizer for her familys’ Gardner Community Foundation, a trades scholarship fund. As an active musician, Kaira performs with local community groups ranging from the Peninsula Symphonic Band (where she also serves on the board) to the chamber group The Door County Northwinds and with Country Rock band Belgian Silo Experience where she also contributes with voice. Kaira has taken her expertise in performance, education, and business to serve her community, leading the MUSE SB team and working to sustain a positive impact on the Door County Community through musical enrichment.
David Gerhard Utzinger serves as MUSE Sturgeon Bay’s artistic director and interim Vice President. Dr. Utzinger began his artistic career studying visual art. After music became an ever-increasing influence in his life, he began studying piano with Dr. Renee Chevalier and composition with Dr. Paul Davies. Since then, Dr. Utzinger received his BA in Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, his MM in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music and his PhD in Music at UCLA. Dr. Utzinger has studied composition with Dr. Richard Danielpour, Dr. Reiko Füting, and Dr. David Lefkowitz and with French composer Eric Tanguy. His music has been performed throughout the United States and by numerous ensembles, including the Los Angeles based ensembles What’s Next? and Wild Up, the New York based ensemble Red Light New Music and the Ann Arbor based ensemble Brave New Works among others. Dr. Utzinger currently lives in Sturgeon Bay, WI, where he continues to write and teach music, and serves on the boards of Midsummer’s Music and The Miller Art Museum Foundation Board.
Gary M. Ciepluch serves as the MUSE Board President. He was the Director of Bands and associate professor for conducting and music education at Case Western Reserve University, the conductor of Cleveland Institute of Music’s University Circle Wind Ensemble, and founded the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphonies. Gary earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In retirement, he plays clarinet with the Peninsula Symphonic Band, is co-founder of the Door County Northwinds Chamber Ensemble, and guest conducts bands both Nationally and Internationally. Gary serves on the Board of Third Avenue Playworks.
Linda Halfmann serves as the MUSE Board Treasurer. She is a graduate of Lakeland University with a BA in accounting and an MBA with a marketing focus. Linda held various managerial positions over 25+ years at Kohler Co. in both accounting and marketing, focusing on new product development, strategic planning, brand management and retail channel management. She served as an ad-hoc instructor within Lakeland University’s School of Business and volunteered as her church treasurer for 15 years. In addition to her work at MUSE, Linda serves as a Customer Service Specialist at Destination Sturgeon Bay.
David Bell, retired Professor of Clarinet from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, brings over 40 years of experience from various faculty positions, including Oberlin Conservatory and Baldwin-Wallace University. With extensive orchestral experience, David has held Principal chairs with multiple orchestras and has toured internationally with renowned ensembles. David holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University. Currently, he serves as Principal Clarinet of the Weidner Philharmonic and performs with the Fox Valley Symphony.
Ernest Beutel is an artist and collaborator in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Ernest’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Midwest, including the Francis Hardy Center for the Arts in Ephraim, The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, and more. Mr. Beutel is represented by the Pearl of Door County in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Ernest received a B.F.A. from Barat College of DePaul University and his teaching license (Art K-12) from Silver Lake College (Holy Family College).
Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), boasts over two decades of economic development expertise spanning Washington, D.C., Arizona, and Wisconsin. With a focus on public interest, she has led strategic planning efforts and performance measure development for various organizations. Michelle’s leadership roles include President and CEO of WESTMARC and positions in economic and community development for municipalities like Goodyear, Arizona, and DeForest, Wisconsin.
Sean Linnan, Esq. is a licensed attorney with 22 years of experience and was the founder and sole owner of a multi-specialty 12-person law firm. Linnan is licensed by the Minnesota State Bar, the Wisconsin State Bar, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the United States Federal Court (multiple districts). In addition to MUSE, Linnan serves on a number of nonprofit boards within Door County, including serving as past president to the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club.
Shirley Weese Young graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in graphic design. She co-founded 2D3D Studio in Durango, Colorado and Two Green Giants, a landscape company in Chicago. Shirley was the Art Director/Assistant Editor of Chicago’s Inland Architect Magazine and co-led the designation of the Arlington-Deming Historic District on Chicago’s near north side. After moving to Sturgeon Bay, Shirley bought and renovated the Advocate building, STUDIO 234 across the street, and helped oversee the Third Avenue PlayWorks’ renovation. Her latest project is 330 Jefferson Street, which will house Muse on the ground floor.
Gary M. Ciepluch serves as the MUSE Board President. He was the Director of Bands and associate professor for conducting and music education at Case Western Reserve University, the conductor of Cleveland Institute of Music’s University Circle Wind Ensemble, and founded the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphonies. Gary earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In retirement, he plays clarinet with the Peninsula Symphonic Band, is co-founder of the Door County Northwinds Chamber Ensemble, and guest conducts bands both Nationally and Internationally. Gary serves on the Board of Third Avenue Playworks.
Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), boasts over two decades of economic development expertise spanning Washington, D.C., Arizona, and Wisconsin. With a focus on public interest, she has led strategic planning efforts and performance measure development for various organizations. Michelle’s leadership roles include President and CEO of WESTMARC and positions in economic and community development for municipalities like Goodyear, Arizona, and DeForest, Wisconsin.
Sean Linnan, Esq. is a licensed attorney with 22 years of experience and was the founder and sole owner of a multi-specialty 12-person law firm. Linnan is licensed by the Minnesota State Bar, the Wisconsin State Bar, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the United States Federal Court (multiple districts). In addition to MUSE, Linnan serves on a number of nonprofit boards within Door County, including serving as past president to the Sturgeon Bay Rotary Club.
Keitha Seiler McDonald, a resident of Door County for thirty-five years, resides in the Town of Gardner with her husband Michael. Originally from Mequon, she attended the University of Milwaukee and retired in 2019 after a thirty-year career with Davies Water Equipment/Ferguson Waterworks. In her role, she coordinated seminars, conventions, and continuing education classes. While lacking a musical background, Keitha is passionate about live music and eagerly anticipates contributing to Muse and witnessing its development.
Jim Vander Heiden is a retired Architect with a home in Egg Harbor. He was formerly a Vice President at the firm of HGA Architects, Engineers and Planners, and led their national Arts, Community, and Higher Education practice. His expertise is focused primarily on assisting Cultural organizations with mission based planning and design strategies. Jim is a consensus builder and collaborator, and is currently supporting several non profit organizations in Door County through board and committee work including the Door County Community Foundation, Miller Art Museum, and the Peninsula School of Art.
Shirley Weese Young graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in graphic design. She co-founded 2D3D Studio in Durango, Colorado and Two Green Giants, a landscape company in Chicago. Shirley was the Art Director/Assistant Editor of Chicago’s Inland Architect Magazine and co-led the designation of the Arlington-Deming Historic District on Chicago’s near north side. After moving to Sturgeon Bay, Shirley bought and renovated the Advocate building, STUDIO 234 across the street, and helped oversee the Third Avenue PlayWorks’ renovation. Her latest project is 330 Jefferson Street, which will house Muse on the ground floor.
by admin
by admin
As a center for music education, MUSE will host events featuring a wide range of musical genres, with performances by both local and national artists. Here is an example of what a typical season at MUSE might look like in the years ahead:
After her triumphant performances last season of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto throughout Door County, pianist Jeannie Yu returns this season to offer Grieg’s magnificent romantic treasure. Midsummer’s Music has discovered a stunningly beautiful arrangement with string quartet that will feature Yu in all her radiance.
Drums and electronics—subtle rhythms and sparse soundscapes—Jon Mueller and Andrew Fitzpatrick present their most recent collaboration. An American percussionist and composer, Mueller has performed with artists like Rhys Chatam and Asmus Tietchens, and has performed as a member of the bands Pele, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Volcano Choir and Mind Over Mirrors. Fitzpatrick has performed extensively as a member of the bands Bon Iver, Volcano Choir, and All Tiny Creatures
Beneath the Waves is a collaboration between blues/folk musician Eric Lewis and the Griffon String Quartet. With the exception of “Salt Creek,” all tunes were written by Lewis, with string arrangements provided by Sam Shoup of Memphis, TN. Lewis says, “It has been a great desire of mine to collaborate with the Griffon String Quartet and Midsummer’s Music for some time now. This is a dream come true to perform this music with such high caliber musicians”
Composers Xavier Beteta (Guatemala), Josh Rodriguez (Colombia/USA), and Richard Scofano (Argentina), offer three world premieres—a rich sonic feast presenting eclectic aesthetics that draw inspiration from classical, contemporary, and Latin American dance and folk music.
Imagine the sounds of 1930s style big band performed in the enchanting beauty of Door County—the mellow strains of famous melodies like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “In the Mood,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” punctuated by percussion and brass hits! As part of Door County’s own 80+ piece Peninsula Symphonic Band, the Swingin’ Door Big Band is composed of professional musicians who live right here in Door County. Spend an evening with the Swingin’ Door Big Band as they take you through the hits of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and more!
This is just a small sampling of the kinds of performances that will be made possible because of your financial support for MUSE.
Door County Community Foundation, Inc.