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MENOMINEE -- The River Cities Concert Association has unveiled its 2026-2027 performance season, bringing five distinct musical acts from around the world to the region. The nonprofit organization partners with Allied Concert Services of Plymouth, Minnesota, to provide cultural entertainment and enrichment to area residents of all ages.
All performances for the upcoming season will take place at 7 p.m. Central time at the Blesch Auditorium, located inside Menominee Elementary School. The venue is fully barrier-free.
Performance Schedule
The new season opens Monday, Sept. 21, with a performance by the musical duo You Raise Me Up. Featuring vocalist Erin Shields and David Shenton on piano and violin, the show titled “Songs of Love, Hope & Inspiration” delivers sophisticated, original interpretations of classic songs. The opening performance is sponsored locally by the Edward Jones offices of Ian Wetzel and Ethan Linstad.
The schedule continues Thursday, Oct. 22, with a performance by ArcoStrum. The duo blends Eastern and Western musical traditions by combining traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu and dizi with classical violin, classical guitar and electric guitar. The multi-cultural performance is sponsored by Broadway Real Estate and Johnson & Wilson Law S.C.
The final performance of the 2026 calendar year takes place Thursday, Nov. 19, featuring father-son piano duo Ryan & Ryan. Donald Ryan, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who studied at Oral Roberts University and the University of Tulsa, performs alongside his son, Barron Ryan, an internationally featured soloist who began playing at the age of four. Their concert blends classic and contemporary music and is sponsored by Jeff and Ann LaFleur alongside Family Practice Dentistry.
The series resumes in the new year on Friday, Feb. 5, 2027, with Solomon Jaye's “Tap Into Soul.” The high-voltage production combines multi-octave vocals, guitar, piano and world-class tap dancing, featuring a setlist of hits from the 1950s through today. Local sponsors for the event include Klegin Insurance Services LLC and Lithocrafters Printing.
The 2026-2027 season concludes Saturday, March 20, 2027, with a performance by Oboe Fusion. The unique trio blends oboes, vocals and keyboard with a mix of musical genres and humor. Their program features original renditions of songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Burt Bacharach, alongside tributes to the 1960s and 1970s and classical pieces by Bach and Beethoven. The finale is sponsored by Dr. Francisco and Heidi Gamez and Rob and Vivian Haight.
Membership and Ticket Information
Seasonal memberships cover admission to all five concerts. Rates are $60 for adults and $20 for students through college. Family packages, which cover two adults and all children through high school, are available for $140. A grandparent package covering two adults and all grandchildren through high school is also available for $140.
Single-admission tickets will be sold at the door for individual concerts at a cost of $30 for adults and $8 for students, payable by cash or check only.
Annual memberships are available online. They can also be purchased in person at Heritage Hearing Care in Menominee, Lithocrafters Printing in Marinette, Wisconsin, and Peshtigo Pharmacy in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
Residents seeking more details, promotional videos or schedule updates can visit the association’s website at rcconcerts.com. Additional inquiries can be directed to Barb Akins at 906-863-7387, via email at rcconcerts@gmail.com, or by mail at P.O. Box 191, Menominee, MI 49858. Informational brochures are also available at regional public libraries.