Park Performances in Petoskey

June 10, 2016

The Charlotte Ross Lee Concert Series

The Charlotte Ross Lee Concerts in the Park series, a summer staple, really begins in February. That’s when the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) starts receiving phone calls from music fans wondering when their favorite musicians will perform … in June.

That’s how popular the Charlotte Ross Lee Concerts in the Park series has become for downtown Petoskey; so popular, in fact, that it’s spawned two additional music series, providing plenty of local entertainment all summer long.

FIRST NOTE

Carlin Smith, president of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, once called Charlotte Ross Lee “the champion of this community event.” A music fan who played the piano, Lee wanted to share music with the Petoskey community and founded the concert series in the late ’70s, raising the money, booking the shows, and making all of the preparations herself. Lee passed away in 2000, but her namesake concert series continues as her legacy, right where it began: at the Pennsylvania Park gazebo in downtown Petoskey, with concerts on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Fridays at noon throughout the summer months.

LOCAL LONGEVITY

“The longevity truly is found in the original spirit from Charlotte. She knew the setting was prime for both audience and musicians,” said Liz Ahrens, CTAC’s executive director. “She was hoping local business owners and workers would take their lunch hour in the park if they could enjoy music.” If the weather is threatening, the concerts are moved inside to CTAC’s theater, but the shows are never cancelled. “The crowds tend to be smaller indoors, but the musicians count on the work, and many audience members travel to Petoskey to hear the performances,” Ahrens said. “Plus, visitors always enjoy our summer exhibits and galleries filled with local artwork when the shows are moved indoors, so it’s still an artistic experience for all!”

YEARLY FAVORITES

The 2016 Charlotte Ross Lee concert series is set to include many repeat performers; this is intentional, as they’re highly anticipated by their fans, Ahrens explained. Featured acts this year include local legends Robin Lee Berry and Glenn Wolff; folk favorite Kirby Snively; classic rockers the James Greenway Band; harmonic sibling duo Penny and Radel Rosin, known as Oh Brother Big Sister; lounge singer Pete Kehoe; and longtime blues outfit The Jelly Roll Blues Band. CTAC’s Performing Arts Coordinator Carina Hume already has a favorite show picked out: “I’m looking forward to Jetty Rae as a newcomer to the series,” Hume said, “and her mixture of tunes for both adults and kids.”

NEW INSPIRATION

The other two series inspired by the original? Music on the Bidwell Plaza and the CTAC Summer Artisan Market. The former returns to CTAC Thursdays at noon all summer long; it has a heavier focus on jazz and strings this season and includes performances by CTAC’s own jazz combo, jazz chamber quartet, and jazz orchestra, as well as The Moxie Strings and Spectrum Brass. The CTAC Summer Artisan Market, which features everything from baked goods and coffee roasters to pottery, also will include music on Friday mornings from 11am to 1pm, with the market performers coordinated by Blissfest. It may be a common phrase for this type of event, but there really is something for everyone. “Today, from newborns to seniors, the audience is all ages,” Ahrens said.

For a complete schedule and more information on the Charlotte Ross Lee Concert Series, visit petoskeychamber.com/pages/concerts-inthe-park.