SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

JUNE 25, 2025

7:00 PM

DAHLEM CENTER

FREE ADMISSION

Join the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Dahlem for a FREE outdoor concert performance! Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and sit under the trees or out in the grass and listen to a selection of summer songs performed by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra brass quintet. The performance will be held outdoors at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center pavilion, 7117 South Jackson Road, at 7pm. Please feel free to arrive early and enjoy a walk on the trails, play at the nature playscape, or stop by the exhibit room and gift shop.

*Due to the concert being outdoors, please follow JSO and Dahlem on social media for performance updates if there is inclement weather.

Steve Foster
Horn

Stephen Foster received his Bachelor Degree in Horn Performance and Music Theory from Western Michigan University in 1993 and his Master of Music in Horn Performance from Rice University in 1995. Mr. Foster has won several solo competitions including the Western Michigan University Concerto competition, the Music Teachers National Association National Young Artist Competition, and the International Horn Society Premier Soloist Competition.

Mr. Foster has studied horn extensively with William VerMeulen and Johnny Pherigo, and has received coaching from Thomas Bacon, David Krehbiel, and Gail Williams. He has had much chamber music experience including being a four-year member of the nationally awarded Russell Brown Brass Quintet, and as natural horn performer, having received a grant to perform three chamber works (Brahms, Mozart, and Beethoven) on the natural horn. Stephen has played with the Durant Street Winds as a founding member since 2012, and has toured internationally for two summers with Eurobrass – Music That Goes Beyond. He has been a member of the Jackson Symphony since 1998, is currently in his 24th season as 2nd Horn in the Lansing Symphony, and has played with numerous other symphonies including Houston, Kalamazoo, Birmingham, Battle Creek, and Midland. Stephen, a native of Jackson, is Senior Project Manager at Jackson Automatic Sprinkler, lives in Jackson, MI, with his wife, Shelby, and has two children in college.

Michael McGowan
Trumpet

Michael McGowan is a sought-after trumpet player in the Metro Detroit area. Mike has appeared on numerous occasions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. Commercially, Mike has performed touring Broadway shows at the Fisher Theater, Masonic Temple and Detroit Opera House.

He has played with various musical legends such as Michael Feinstein, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick. He is Principal Trumpet of the Dearborn Symphony. Mike has been a frequent guest principal trumpet with many orchestras including the Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw Symphonies. He is currently on the faculty of Wayne State University and Vice President of the Detroit Federation of Musicians.

John Miller
Tuba

Currently Co-Principal tuba of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, John Miller is a tubist and low brass instructor based in the greater Cincinnati area. He currently performs regularly as a substitute for the Cincinnati Symphony, a member of the Cincinnati Brass Band, teaching intern at the Cincinnati Brass Institute, and keeps an active studio of tuba/euphonium students.

As a native of Florida, John has had a wide and varied career in music before coming to Cincinnati. During his time in Florida, he was a guest tuba for the Venice Symphony, Lakeland Symphony, Ocala Symphony, Florida Wind Band, and Tampa Brass Brand.

John received a B.M. from the University of South Florida, M.M. from Miami University (OH), and will begin a DMA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in fall of 2024. His primary teachers include Chris Olka, Joseph Alvarez, Tim Northcut, John Ash.

Chris Sayles
Trombone

Christopher Sayles is a freelance musician playing in many groups in lower Michigan. He has over 20 years with the Jackson Symphony, and has played with many other orchestras including Adrian, Southwest Michigan, Warren, Oakland, Orchestra Sono, and the International Symphony, as well as several tours with the Hollywood Festival Orchestra in Japan, and tours with the New York Gilbert and Sulivan players.

He has won and placed in several solo competitions and enjoyed playing in some high-level brass bands. He has played in many groups that include big bands, quintets, quartets, churches, and other small ensembles. He is also known in the Jackson area as the owner of Prominent Design & Build doing contracting work and notably the remodel of Weatherwax Hall for the JSO.

Michael Block
Trumpet

Michael Block is a professional trumpet player who currently resides in Whitmore Lake, MI with his Wife, Alyssa, and his son, Owen. He is an active freelance musician, performing with many different orchestras, churches, pit orchestras, receptions, and other musical events. He also teaches private students throughout the greater Livingston, Oakland and Washtenaw county area.

Michael is a graduate of the trumpet studio at Eastern Michigan University, during which time he earned a Bachelors degree while primarily studying with Professor Carter Eggers. Michael holds a Masters degree from Michigan State University, where he studied with Professors Rich Illman, Etienne Charles and Justin Emerich. In 2016-2017, Michael did one year of graduate trumpet studies at Ball State University where his primary teacher was Dr. Brittany Hendricks, during which time he held a position in the faculty brass quintet “DaCamera”.

Along with his position as Principal Trumpet in the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Michael is also the Principal Trumpet of the Livonia Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Michigan Philharmonic, Dearborn Symphony and Adrian Symphony.

SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

JUNE 25, 2025

7:00 PM

DAHLEM CENTER

SPONSORED BY