Viridian Strings: Freshwater Fantasies

Freshwater Fantasies kicks off our Summer Chamber Series with our 2026 Ensemble in Residence, Viridian Strings! 

Freshwater Fantasies celebrates lyricism, color, and imagination through three beloved chamber works inspired by song, landscape, and expressive freedom. Clara Schumann’s intimate Romances open the evening with warmth and elegance, followed by the expansive pastoral sweep of Vaughan Williams’ early piano quintet. After intermission, Schubert’s iconic “Trout” Quintet brings buoyant rhythms, radiant melodies, and virtuosic interplay—an ideal soundtrack for a Northern Michigan summer. Please plan to attend our pre-concert talk with the musicians. Thanks to donors like you and a supporting grant from Michigan Humanities, we are able to present this world-class ensemble concert at a ticket price of only $10.00. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy live music in our intimate gallery setting!

 Doors open at 6:00 pm, pre-show talk begins at 6:10 pm, concert begins at 7:00 pm. Refreshments available.

Program

Clara Schumann – Three Romances, Op. 22
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Piano Quintet
Franz Schubert – Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 “Trout”

MEET THE ARTISTS:
Nathan Meltzer, violin
Winner of the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Competition and a major prize winner at the Sibelius and Singapore International Violin Competitions, Nathan Meltzer is establishing a multifaceted international career as both a soloist and chamber musician. He has appeared with orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, and Royal Northern Sinfonia. A graduate of the Juilliard School, where he studied with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin, he is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Green Room Ensemble. 

Joe Skerik, viola
Violist Joe Skerik has been a member of the Vega String Quartet since 2023, holding a permanently endowed residency with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta. He has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, and the National Gallery of Art, and regularly performs at international festivals such as Aspen, Ravinia, and Kronberg Academy. Joe serves on the faculty of Emory University and directs chamber music studies at Oxford College.

Kyle Stachnik, cello
Cellist Kyle Stachnik is Executive and Artistic Director of Viridian Strings and Professor of Cello at California State University, Sacramento. He is also Fourth Chair Cellist of the Santa Rosa Symphony and Assistant Principal Cellist of the Bay Philharmonic. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he maintains an active orchestral and chamber music career throughout Northern California and the Midwest. 

Nina Bernat, double bass
American double bassist Nina Bernat is acclaimed for her expressive depth, technical precision, and redefinition of the double bass as a solo instrument. She was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant and First Prize at the Concert Artists Guild Elmaleh Competition in 2023 and has appeared as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra. Nina is a member of CMS Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program and serves on the faculty of Stony Brook University. 

Umi Garrett, piano
Pianist Umi Garrett is a highly sought-after collaborative artist and Young Steinway Artist. She has performed with orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Hiroshima Symphony, and New Mexico Philharmonic. Umi was awarded the John Newmark Prize for Best Collaborative Pianist at the 2023 Montreal International Violin Competition. Umi has worked as a collaborative pianist and coach at the Yale School of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music. During the summers, she is a Staff Collaborative Pianist for the Program for Piano and Strings at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, under the leadership of Artistic Director Midori.

Seating Options:
Seating for this performance is General Admission. Founder's Circle donors will have reserved seats. To learn more about how to become a Founder's Circle member, please follow this link.

About the Venue:
The Oliver Art Center is wheelchair accessible. Please advise us if you require assistance during your stay. Parking is limited; if the lot is full, please use the circular drive to drop off passengers and then park on 2nd Street or Main Street. Please DO NOT park at the Coast Guard or Harbor Lights, as you may be towed. Please do not park where there are orange traffic cones, and be sure to respect our neighbors by not blocking their driveways. Thank you for helping us be good neighbors!

Questions? Problems?
If you have any difficulty placing your ticket order, or prefer to pay by cash or check, you can come into the OAC to make your purchase, or call us at 231-352-4151 with a credit card. We will be happy to assist!

This project is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities,
and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.