Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced the lineup for Sunday Strings Presented by Hill Island Financial, a series of six live classical chamber music concerts featuring renowned musicians from West Michigan that are free for members and included in general admission for other guests.
This series takes place 2 to 3 p.m. in the Huizenga Grand Room on select Sundays in July and August.
Sunday Strings returns for a seventh season this summer with a concert series reflecting the evolution of chamber music performance. Designed to engage audiences across a spectrum of moods and styles, the series balances vibrant, celebratory works with programs that invite reflection and close listening.
“We look forward to presenting these concerts this summer, from the festive and uplifting energy of Con Voce Festiva and Let’s Go Fishing, to the deeply evocative worlds of The Mask and the Mirror and Love Letter,” said series founder Haijin Choi.
Building on that vision, the 2026 lineup introduces a new collaboration with OLEA Ensemble – a trio of clarinet, violin, and piano based in Chicago and Cincinnati. The engagement marks a notable return for violinist Alayne Honaker, who studied under Choi and now reappears in West Michigan as a featured performer, bringing her artistic perspective full circle.
A distinctive moment in the series arrives July 12, when trumpet professor Robert White and soprano Hannah DePriest join the program. Recognized for her expressive vocal work and upcoming performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Grand Rapids Symphony, DePriest adds a vocal dimension that broadens the traditional framework of the series. Together, the artists present a program that expands the sonic palette of Sunday Strings while maintaining its intimate, chamber-focused foundation.
Sunday Strings continues to reflect Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s commitment to presenting thoughtfully curated cultural experiences that connect art, music, and community.
2026 Sunday Strings Presented by Hill Island Financial Lineup
July 5: Changing Light
A program that moves through light and shadow—from Turina's Spanish dawn-to-dusk Círculo to Muhly's shimmering, field-lit Common Ground to Brahms' passionate First Trio. Featuring Haijin Choi (violin), Andrew Plaisier (cello), and Emily Grabinski (piano).
July 12: Con Voci Festive (With Festive Voices)!
Trumpet, voice, strings, harpsichord and piano unite in this Baroque celebration featuring music by Stradella, Scarlatti, and Ewazen. Featuring Robert White (trumpet), Hannah De Priest (soprano), Alexis VanZalen (harpsichord), Andrew Lenhart (piano), Haijin Choi (violin), Clara Schubilske (violin), and Alicia Epping (cello).
July 19: OLEA Presents: Sounds of the Unspoken
OLEA Ensemble gives voice to the inexpressible through works by Milhaud, Khachaturian, Mason, Cook and Martin—music that reaches where words cannot. Featuring Alayne Honaker (violin), Kate Kilgus (clarinet), and Marissa Kerbel (piano).
July 26: Love Letter
Janáček poured a decade of unrequited longing into Intimate Letters, while Schumann's Third Quartet opens with a tender "Clara" motif—two composers, two quartets, one irresistible theme. Featuring Haijin Choi (violin), Yu Xin (violin), Paul Swantek (viola), and Jinn Shin (cello).
Aug. 2: The Mask and the Mirror
Brahms and Bridge face each other across a piano quartet program—one all romantic depth, the other glowing with what Britten called the beauty of a sunset's afterglow. Featuring Haijin Choi (violin), Kristina Zeinstra (viola), Jinn Shin (cello), and Andrew Lenhart (piano).
Aug. 9: Let’s Go Fishing!
Schubert's beloved "Trout" Quintet leads an afternoon of pure delight, joined by a quintet from American master Ellen Taaffe Zwilich—music that practically reels you in. Featuring Jaewon Seo (violin), Arturo Ziraldo (viola), Igor Cetkovic (cello), Emily Grabinski (piano), and Ryan Bassett (double bass).
For more information about the Sunday Strings series, including the full schedule of performances, performers and program information, visit: MeijerGardens.org/strings
Sunday Strings is part of Meijer Gardens’ commitment to providing a diverse range of cultural experiences for the community. The series is made possible through the generous support of Hill Island Financial, Greenleaf Trust, Blue Lake Public Radio, Sarah Ash and Todd Oleson, Dick and Samantha Gauthier, and Jim and Marie Preston.
