Arts and Culture

World-Premiere Ballet at NMU

Jan. 16, 2019

Northern Michigan University Theater and Dance will present the world premiere of the full-length ballet, East of the Sun, West of the Moon. This twist on the classic Scandinavian folk tale features original choreography by director Jill Grundstrom and original music composed by Griffin Candey. The production is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, through Saturday, Jan. 26, in Forest Roberts Theatre. Admission is $15 for general public, $10 for students and $5 for NMU students. All theatre and dance majors and minors are invited to attend free of charge.

FRT ballet

Camilli to Premiere Weber's 'Lake Superior Piano Suite'

Oct. 23, 2025
Northern Michigan University faculty member Theresa Camilli will discuss and premiere the late piano teacher and Marquette resident William Weber's "Lake Superior Piano Suite," a composition depicting the view atop Sugarloaf Mountain. Her solo concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Reynolds Recital Hall. A selection of Weber's never-before-seen paintings, inspired by the vivid colors and textures of the Upper Peninsula, will be available for purchase, with 100% of proceeds directly benefitting NMU music scholarships. 
Camilli

'Storm' Performance Tells Edmund Fitzgerald Story

Oct. 17, 2025
STORM, a historical multi-media performance on Great Lakes storms and shipwrecks, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in Jamrich Hall 1100 at Northern Michigan University. It is hosted by NMU's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center. Maritime historian Ric Mixter returns to his hometown of Marquette with musician Dan Hall to tell the Edmund Fitzgerald story in a unique way: with Hall's custom music on key characters in the storm and Mixter's exclusive interviews from those who were eyewitnesses to the search and discoveries made 550 feet below Lake Superior. 
Promotional photo for the STORM performance, featuring Ric Mixter and Dan Hall

NMU Hosts Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Food

Oct. 10, 2025
Northern Michigan University will host the 2025 Indigenous Perspectives Symposium on Food, a gathering focused on uplifting Indigenous food systems, cultural knowledge and community health, on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Northern Center. A free showing of the comedy-horror movie "Seeds" will precede the symposium at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Jamrich Hall 1100. Writer, director and star Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk), who has appeared in the "Letterkenny" and "Reservation Dogs" TV series, will participate in a conversation after the viewing. 
Indigenous Perspectives Symposium graphic

'Beethoven and Banjos' Highlights Icelandic Music

Sep. 15, 2025
Northern Michigan University's Siril Concert Series will present a “Beethoven and Banjos” concert featuring classical and folk music from Iceland at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The featured artists will also present two free events earlier that day in the same location: a music appreciation presentation at 11 a.m., followed by a masterclass at 1 p.m.
The Oct. 10 Beethoven and Banjos concert will feature (clockwise from top left): Laurel Premo, Evan Premo, Halldór Smárason and Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir.