Merged | Submerged
Poetry and Sound Converge in the Forest, Harlem, and the Depths of the Sea
Strings on the Bay
Besse Center Theatre
Embark on a vibrant musical journey with Emily Olson (flute), Lorrie Gunn (violin/viola), and Maurice Draughn (harp). Together, they invite you into lush poetic landscapes, moments of cultural renewal, and the full sweep of human emotion.
The program features Jacques Ibert’s contemplative Interludes, Mel Bonis’ Scènes de la forêt, a work that guides listeners into the mythical heart of the forest, and Miguel del Águila’s Submerged, adding a thrilling plunge into oceanic depths. Maurice Draughn offers a personal tribute to the Harlem Renaissance with his solo Harlem Suite. Additional selections include James Marson’s Suite for Flute and Harp, Astor Piazzolla’s exciting Escualo, and a brand‑new solo flute work by rising young composer Jonathan Mitchell, In Search of Aquatic Life.
This imaginative program promises an evening filled with wonder, adventure, and expressive storytelling!
Emily Olson, flute
Lorrie Gunn, violin/viola
Maurice Draughn, harp
Strings on the Bay
Besse Center Theatre, Bay College
2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829
(906) 217-4040, events.baycollege.edu
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Emily Olson brings over 25 years of experience in classical performance, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement to her role as Artistic Director for Beacon Arts Michigan. A versatile flutist, Emily has performed with the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras, Michigan Sinfonietta, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, and the Encore Musical Theatre Company. Her summer performances have taken her to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she’s appeared with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, Manistique Community Chamber Concert Series, and Strings on the Bay.
Originally from Ohio, Emily holds degrees in performance and music education from The Ohio State University and a master’s in flute performance from the University of Michigan. Her academic training laid the foundation for a career that bridges artistic excellence with community-centered leadership. Emily has held key roles in arts and healthcare organizations, including Director of Philanthropy for Arbor Hospice and Development Manager for Kerrytown Concert House. As a Certified Music Practitioner, she has provided therapeutic music at Michigan Medicine and Beaumont Health, underscoring her commitment to the healing power of the arts.
With strong ties to both Southeast Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, Emily leads Beacon Arts Michigan with a vision rooted in accessibility, collaboration, and celebration of Michigan’s diverse musical heritage. She is passionate about creating meaningful artistic experiences for all and believes in the power of music to build bridges, educate, and inspire.
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Donna Lorraine Gunn (Lorrie), recipient of the John A. Plumer Memorial Scholarship Award and finalist in the Robert Mondavi Violin Competition, has appeared as soloist with the University of Maine, Arcady, Houlton, and Rochester Symphony Orchestras. She studied violin at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, on a full-tuition scholarship with Grammy-winning soloist Erick Friedman, and has also worked with renowned violinists Samuel Applebaum and Anshel Brusilow. Lorrie continued her musical studies at the University of Maine in Orono, where she served as a teaching assistant in Music Theory. Her career has taken her to Spain, Italy, Austria, China, and even Disney World, performing as an orchestral musician. She also treasures memories of performing in the high school orchestra at the Tanglewood Music Festival.
Lorrie is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the Flint Federation of Musicians, Mu Phi Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Lambda. She currently serves as Concertmaster of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, performs with the Flint Symphony, and is a substitute violinist for the Michigan Opera Theater. Her past performances include work with Ann Arbor’s Wild Swan Theater, as well as teaching appointments with Oakland University’s Community Music Program and the Oakland Homeschool Music Institute. On stage, she performs with The Troubadours, an educational outreach program of the Flint Institute of Music, and entertains audiences at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Recently, she has been spreading musical fun and cheer as half of the duo Fiddle and Strum (find them on Facebook at fiddleandstrum) and shares humorous and educational videos on her YouTube channel, FrogOnButter.
When not making music, Lorrie enjoys skiing, hiking, and boating, and spends her summers relaxing in Michigan’s beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula.
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Maurice Draughn is a multi-instrumentalist and versatile performer. His experiences in music range from orchestral, as a harpist with the Detroit Symphony and Detroit Opera Orchestras, to musicals, as a pit musician in touring productions for Broadway in Detroit. Draughn has directed musical productions in a wide range of educational settings, including workshops, residencies, and productions at the University of Michigan. His work as an educator spans from the stage to the classroom in choral music and musical theatre.
He previously served as the director of choral activities at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and he provided musical direction for the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit as a teaching artist, arranger, and touring music director. As a faculty member at Wayne State University, Draughn taught ear training and class piano, and he directed the WSU Men’s Glee Club. He also served as the academic advisor for the Department of Music. During that time, he contributed to the increase in matriculation rates within the department and aided in developing and revising the curriculum for various music degree programs.
Draughn has appeared on the recordings of notable Grammy Award-winning and -nominated jazz, neo-soul, and gospel artists. He is a sought-after arranger and composer specializing in music for harp and chorus. His most recent composition, Moments for alto trombone and harp, was commissioned and recorded by Kenneth Thompkins, principal trombonist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
In 2023, he received the inaugural Arts Educator Award from the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University. Draughn received his BM in harp performance and vocal music education from Wayne State University and MCM from Southern Seminary.