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A Carnegie Hall Debut for our local musicians!
The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO) recently presented a once-in-a-lifetime performance at one of the world's most prestigious concert venues: Carnegie Hall in New York City. With this concert in front of a sold-out audience, they became one of only three professional orchestras in Michigan history to perform a formal concert at Carnegie Hall.
Four days after their performance in New York, GLCO brought the excitement of their Carnegie Hall debut back to Northern Michigan with support in part from the Community Foundation. They performed a Carnegie Homecoming Concert at Bay View’s John M. Hall Auditorium to give the local community a chance to celebrate and experience this remarkable milestone.
“For 25 years, the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra has grown alongside Emmet County,” GLCO Executive Director Andrea Ondras said. “What began as a small gathering of local musicians and music lovers has become a professional orchestra now invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. That invitation did not happen overnight. It is the result of decades of dedication, community belief, volunteerism, philanthropy, and audiences who showed up year after year.”
In the Spring 2026 Grant Cycle, GLCO received a $7,500 grant from the Community Foundation to support this concert, with support from the Fund for the Community and the Buzzelli Family Charitable Fund.
GLCO Music Director, Libor Ondras, expressed gratitude for the community that has supported the program. “This project goes beyond presenting music,” said Ondras. “It is a celebration of 25 years of belief, growth, and shared investment.”