July 7 at Concert in the Park
An internationally known youth band from Switzerland offers up a special performance July 7 in the weekly St. Johns Concert in the Park summer music series.
Knabenmusik der Stadt St. Gallen from St. Gallen, Switzerland (see some photos), takes the stage at the St. Johns City Park Performance Shell at 7 p.m.; no admission charge.
The band’s director, Michael Wachter, has programmed a wonderful concert for the group’s tour of Michigan and Illinois. The talented students, aged 13-24 who are part of the Blue Lake Fine Art Camp International Exchange Program, are performing at various venues in both states July 4-17.
A total of 77 students and adults arrive in St. Johns July 5. The musicians and chaperones will stay with local residents during their time in the area. The group departs July 8.
Blue Lake sends performing groups to Europe and Asia to tour each summer; European and Asian groups tour in Michigan and the Midwest at the same time. The International Exchange Program began in 1970 when a 90-voice choir toured England, Belgium and Germany.
Since that time, over 10,000 high school students representing Blue Lake have traveled and performed abroad with nearly10,000 students from Europe and Asia traveling and performing throughout Michigan and the Midwest.
Concert in the Park is sponsored by the Clinton County Arts Council and the city of St. Johns, with support from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Concerts are held each Wednesday evening, beginning at 7 p.m., in the beautiful outdoor concert venue at the St. Johns City Park. The St. Johns Lions and Lioness Club staff a concession stand each week that offers light refreshments. All concerts are held rain or shine.
For information on Concert in the Park call the Clinton County Arts Council, (989) 224-2429, or visit www.clintoncountyarts.org or www.ci.saint-johns.mi.us