2024-2025 PROGRAMS
Musicale’s 93rd season is packed with incredible musical performers.
New this season is Musicale’s sponsorship of a guest artist masterclass and concert for the Grosse Ile High School Music Department!
Sunday October 13, 2024 3pm - Doris Richard & Doug Scott; 4 hand piano
Sunday November 10, 2024 3pm – Samia Bahu, soprano
Sunday January 12, 2025 3pm – Mistral Wind Quintet
Sunday February 16, 2025 3pm – Michele Ramo, guitar
Thursday February 27, 2025 @ GIHS evening TBA – H.S. guest artist concert
Friday March 14, 2025 1pm Baroque Bash featuring Ruth Griffioen recorder
Friday April 11, 2025 1pm James Hughes, saxophone
Friday June 6, 2025 2pm @ GIYC – Scholarship Winners
We continue with some Sunday afternoon programs, allowing us to bring in artists who would not otherwise be available, and some patrons that could not attend on Friday.
Except as otherwise noted, all programs for the 2024-2025 season will be held at that the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church which is located at 7925 Horsemill (near the intersection of Horsemill and Parke Lane).
Sunday October 13, 2024 3pm
Musicale is proud to present Grosse Ile's own Doris Richards and Doug Scott to open our 93rd season. They will be performing masterpieces of the piano 4 hand repertoire -
Sonata in C major K521 by Mozart
Fantasie in F minor Op. 103 by Schubert
Petite Suite L 65 by Debussy
2023-24 PROGRAMS
A truly memorable season - which included the new collaborative scholarship program with the Music Boosters!
Sunday, October 8, 2023, 3 pm: Cree Carrico, soprano
Friday, November 10, 2023, 1 pm: James Kibbie, organ
Sunday, January 14, 2024, 3 pm: Blazing Brass! Mike McGowan, trumpet; Dinah Bianchi, horn; Jessica Cates, trombone
Friday, February 9, 2024, 1 pm: Jan Houston, Violin and Viola
Sunday, March 10, 2024, 3 pm: Ralph Votapek, piano
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 3 pm: Jim Parker and Friends
Friday, November 10, 2023, 1 pm: James Kibbie, organ
Sunday, January 14, 2024, 3 pm
Musicale is pleased to present Mike McGowan, trumpet; Dinah Bianchi, horn; and Jessica Cates, trombone in a program of music for brass trio. Join us for an afternoon of spirited music that will warm you up regardless of the weather!
Friday February 9. 2024 @ 1PM
Violinst/violist Janet Houston performing music of the 3 B’s – Bach, Biber and Bolling! The program begins with unaccompanied works by two of the Baroque era’s great composers – Henrich Biber and Johann Sebastian Bach. Then we jump forward about 300 years to the great French jazz pianist Claude Bolling, who wrote jazz suites for several instruments. Joining Janet for the Bolling are Doug Scott, piano; Dale Anderson, bass, and Dan Maslanka, drums. It will be a toe-tapper, sure to chase away those midwinter blues!
The Grosse Ile Musicale is honored to present world-renowned pianist Ralph Votapek in recital Sunday March 10, 2024 3pm at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, 7925 Horsemill. The program:
Mozart - Sonata in E Flat Major, K. 282
Brahms - Eight Piano Pieces, Op.76
Faure - 3rd Nocturne, Op 33 #3; 2nd Impromptu, Op. 31; 13th Nocturne, Op. 119
Albeniz - Iberia, Book II
Mr. Votapek was given the Naumberg Award in 1959 and debuted at New York's Town Hall. In1962 he was the gold medalist of the inaugural Cliburn competition. 1966 marked the first of many South American tours; since 1980 he has made bi-yearly tours of the continent to great acclaim.
Mr. Votapek served as professor of piano and artist in residence at Michigan State University for 36 years while also maintaining a full schedule of solo, chamber, and recital engagements around the world. He continues his association with MSU today as artist in residence emeritus.
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 3 pm: Jim Parker and Friends
The final Musicale program for the 2023-24 season features “Jim Parker and Friends”. Jim is well known to Grosse Ile for his work as a vocal music teacher in the Grosse Ile Public Schools from 1964-2006, choir director at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church from 1975-2020 and founder/director of the Grosse Ile Chorale. Jim has worked with and encouraged countless people through these positions, a few of whom join him for this program that is a retrospective of his work as an accompanist, pianist and conductor.
The 2024 Scholarship Winners!
June 7, 2024 was a special day for Musicale. We met at the beautiful Grosse Ile Yacht Club to present far more scholarships than ever before, in collaboration with the Grosse Ile Music Boosters. We heard wonderful performances from 7 very talented young musicians.
Congratulations to all the recipients!
Back row: Olivia, Vanessa, Aubrey, Ryan, Ben, Alya, Isaac, Trinity
Front row: Ruth, Julia, Daniel, June
Not pictured: Brayden, Dresden
The 2022-2023 season was a resounded success thanks to these talented performers:
• Friday, October 14, 2022, 1 p.m. - Keyboard Duets, featuring Doug Scott, Doris Richards, Jenny Simon, James Parker and Michelle Lepidi
• Sunday, November 13, 2022, 3 p.m. - Sue Bussell Bell, mezzo soprano
• Sunday, January 15, 2023, 3 p.m. - Chanah Ambuter, harp
• Friday, February 10, 2023, 1 p.m. - Flute Jubilee, featuring Carole Scott and Colleen Herman
• Sunday, March 12, 2023, 3 p.m. - Nancy Gruits, oboe (note - artist change for this program)
• Friday, April 14, 2023, 1 p.m. Keith Claeys, Percussion
2022-23 PROGRAMS
Friday, October 14, 2022, 1 p.m. - Keyboard Duets, featuring Doug Scott, Doris Richards,, James Parker, Jenny Simon and Michelle Lepidi
Sunday, November 13, 2022, 3 p.m. featuring
Sue Bussell Bell, mezzo soprano
“Songs In The Key of Life”
Sue will present a program with a wide range of vocal genres including music by Handel, Lowe, Maxwell Davies, Duparc, Schwartz and more.
Sue grew up on Grosse Ile and received a Musicale Scholarship to Interlochen. She has been living and working in Edinburgh Scotland since 1985 and returned to the Downriver area in May of this year.
Sunday, January 15, 2023 3pm
Discover the Harp!
Chanah Ambuter in recital
What first comes to mind when you think of the harp? Perhaps celestial angels or ancient kings? Come discover a different side to the harp when the Grosse Ile Musicale presents harpist Chanah Ambuter. Chanah will share a "behind the scenes" glimpse into the life of a modern professional harpist. You'll hear classic gems for the harp, world music, Golden Oldies, Radio Billboard hits, and favorite music from films and sound scores! Bring your families for an afternoon of toe-tapping harp music!
Friday, February 10, 2023, 1 p.m.
Flute Jubilee!
Musicale presents Four Flutes Only, a flute quartet comprised of long-time friends and duet partners Carole Scott and Patsy Donahey, along with two of Carole’s former flute students Colleen Riley Herman and Amy Alexander Halstead. Amy and Colleen first joined forces with Carole and Patsy in an Allen Park Symphony concert in 1987 and then helped form the quartet in subsequent years. Fun fact: all four flutists were students of Detroit Symphony Orchestra piccoloist Clement Barone. After a break of many years, “we’re getting the band back together” with some quartets old and new, as well as some other selections featuring solos and duets accompanied by Doug Scott, piano.
Patsy Colleen Amy Carole
Sunday March 12, 2023 3 p.m.
The 20th Century Oboe
Musicale presents oboist Nancy Gruits in recital assisted by Jennie Lewis, oboe and Doug Scott, piano.
Nancy's love of music began at an early age. She taught herself to play the alto saxophone on the family heirloom before she started kindergarten. After attending many symphony concerts, she had a deep connection with the oboe.
Nancy studied the oboe from the age of 11, participating in youth orchestras, school ensembles and spent summers at the National Music Camp at Interlochen. Her advanced education continued with the study of Oboe Performance at the University of Michigan, in the studio of Harry Sargous, and the Ohio State University under the guidance of Robert Sorton.
While in school, Nancy performed in numerous master classes with legends such as Heinz Holliger, John de Lancie, Robert Bloom and John Mack. Her graduate education also enabled her to learn the intricacies of the oboe through repair classes and hands-on experience of the engineering of the oboe.
Friday April 14, 2023 1 p.m.
Percussion Extravaganza!
Musicale presents DSO percussionist Keith Claeys in a very musical and informative program featuring a variety of instruments. Our final regular program of the 2022-23 season will intrigue and delight all ages - please join us!
2022 – 2023
Rose Marie Karmazin
Founders Scholarship Winners
Manasvi Patel, flute
Cecily Noonan, voice
My name is Manasvi Patel! I am a senior at Grosse Ile High School and am graduating as a Salutatorian. At school I am a part of the National Honor Society, Superintendent’s Task Force, Science Club, and Girl Up Club. I am also on the Robotics team, Tennis team, a class representative for student council and is the event coordinator for The Youth Advisory Board- a local mental health and substance abuse advocacy group for the Downriver area schools through the guidance center. I also participate in genetic research at the University of Michigan through the Mircore Volunteer Program which advocates for personalized medicine. In my free time I like to knit hats and make blankets for cancer patients.
I am extremely passionate about the performing arts. Music has captivated me, and performing arts has become a life companion. Whether it’s my feet tapping in rhythm to every random song on the radio, my throat humming the tunes I play in band, or my ears tingling with excitement at learning how to play every song from my favorite musical. I am the first chair flute in the school's Wind Ensemble and in the Madrigal Choir. I have participated in Solo and Ensemble since my freshman year, and have made it to the state level every year. I have also been the section leader of the Grosse Ile High School marching band for the past 3 years. Outside of school, I participate in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles in the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra as well. I am also a member of the theater program as part of tech and ensemble and have been a dancer for the past 16 years. I plan to attend the University of Michigan and study cellular and molecular biology on a pre med track. Although I don’t intend to study music, I still hope to participate in pep bands or community ensembles in college and through the rest of my life.
Cecily Noonan is a senior at Grosse Ile High School. Her favorite activities are singing Hamilton and Taylor Swift at the top of her lungs, acting like a ditz in her high school theater troupe (of which she is also President) and watching the movie Enchanted over and over again. She enjoys eating sushi with her mom, drinking Starbucks, and working at her part-time job at Chick-fil-A in Woodhaven. An avid member of her local church, Noonan loves serving others, even acting as the President of her school’s Key Club, which is dedicated to such activities. Noonan lives with her single mother and their dog, Ponyboy (yes, he IS named after the protagonist in S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders!).
She will continue working at her beloved job of a year and a half at Woodhaven Chick-fil-A this summer. Cecily then plans to live at home while attending Eastern Michigan University, where she will study both Spanish and business in the hopes of becoming a teacher or owning her very own branch of
Chick-fil-A.
