May 27, 2026
Music is powerful. It can evoke joy and express sorrow. It can tell a story without words. It can connect communities. Bloomfield Township Public Library will harness the power of music this June when it hosts three Artistic Encounters as part of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, an annual classical music event that takes place over two weeks at locations across Metro Detroit.
A unique opportunity for area adults and seniors, Artistic Encounters are public coaching sessions for Catherine Filene Shouse Chamber Music Institute fellows in a setting similar to a masterclass. Designed for emerging ensembles committed to a professional career in chamber music, each Artistic Encounter offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a professional musician. Three Artistic Encounters will be hosted by the Library as part of the larger Festival. Each library-hosted event will be presented from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The first in the series will take place on Monday, June 15, and will feature coaching by violinist Philip Setzer. A founding member of the nine-time GRAMMY Award–winning Emerson String Quartet, Setzer is an internationally acclaimed chamber musician and educator who performs worldwide. He is also the Director of the Shouse Institute at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.
The second Artistic Encounter will be on Wednesday, June 17, and will feature coaching by violinist Jennifer Frautschi. A two-time GRAMMY nominee and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, Frautschi has appeared with leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The library-hosted series will conclude on Monday, June 22, with an Artistic Encounter featuring coaching by violinist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt. A top prizewinner of the Banff, Fischoff, and Lionel Tertis competitions, and a founding member of the twice GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet, Pajaro-van de Stadt is a leading artist of her generation who performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician.
“Through its universal, ageless language, music can bridge generational and cultural gaps,” said Katherine Dupuis, Assistant Library Director. “Bloomfield Township Public Library is proud to provide enriching opportunities such as the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival that bring people in our community together and open the doors of discovery.”
Registration for the free concerts is required and can be made online via the Great Lakes Chamber Music website. Contact the Library at least 24 hours before the event to make arrangements for any needed accessibility accommodations.
