By James Windell
The South Haven Performance Series is genuinely excited about the strength of this year’s concert schedule and the expansion to a six-concert series.
Th 2026 season, the 16th for the South Haven Performance Series, ranges from award-winning pianist Elliot Wuu to the acclaimed Vox GR choral ensemble and to exemplary chamber ensembles.
“The breadth and excellence of the artists coming to our small community on the lakeshore is genuinely remarkable,” comments President Robert Linstrom. “The mission of the Performance Series is to contribute to the cultural fabric of our community, and we are fortunate to have assembled a series of gifted musicians to perform in 2026 and advance that mission.”
The Series kicks off with pianist Elliot Wuu on Saturday, May 9. Praised for his “power, speed, and finesse of artists twice his age,” young Steinway Artist Wuu captivates audiences with his vibrant tone and emotional depth. “We are pleased to partner again in 2026 with the Gilmore Piano Festival and welcome Elliot Wuu to our first concert of the season,” says Linstrom. “Named a 2018 Gilmore Young Artist, Elliot has garnered top prizes in international competitions, including the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the Yamaha and Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition. Most recently, he is a laureate of the 2025 American Pianists Awards.”
The Lincoln Trio, a chamber group consisting of piano, cello and violin, will perform on Friday, June 26. Nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Small Ensemble and a 2024 Latin Grammy, and winners of the 2008 Maste rplayers International Competition in Venice, the Lincoln Trio has become one of Chicago’s most celebrated chamber ensembles. Praised for their “joy of sheer technical ability, unanimity of phrasing and beautiful blended tone,” each member is an artist of international renown.
The Vox GR Choral Ensemble will return to South Haven for a summer concert on Friday, July 24. Artistic Director Dr. Christopher Mason leads Vox GR, an ensemble which has become the premier professional choral ensemble in West Michigan. The ensemble performs a wide repertoire of choral music stretching across all eras from composers of diverse backgrounds.
The Cavatina Duo will perform on Friday, August 28. The Duo, with Eugenia Moliner, flute (Spain) and Denis Azabagic, guitar (Bosnia), has become one of the most impressive combinations of its kind in the world. Their electrifying performances have captivated audiences worldwide in more than 30 other countries from Australia to Bhutan.
The Bayberry String Quartet (BSQ) will perform on Friday, September 18. Now in its eighth season, the BSQ continues to command the stage in prestigious concert halls across the country, including Carnegie Hall, the Chautauqua Institution, and Lincoln Center. Education is a cornerstone of BSQ’s mission to engage with people of all ages and backgrounds and a special feature of this September of 2026 concert will be an afternoon with the BSQ providing workshops with students at South Haven High School.
“A new opportunity for the Performance Series this year will be intentional collaboration with the South Haven Public Schools,” Says Linstrom. “High School music faculty Jessica Feidorowicz (orchestra) and Katie Hillyard (choirs) have become a part of the South Haven Performance Series Board of Directors and are supporting this new collaboration.”
The season will close with the return of the Vox GR Choral Ensemble on Sunday afternoon, December 20. Artistic Director Dr. Christopher Mason will lead Vox GR in a special holiday performance in South Haven, a free concert to close our 2026 season that celebrates the community’s ongoing support for the South Haven Performance Series.
Founded in 2010, the South Haven Performance Series is an all-volunteer community-based organization dedicated to providing a rich mixture of professional music and the performing arts for residents and visitors of South Haven. Thanks to the generous support of the South Haven Community Foundation, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, all performances are provided at a very reasonable admission price.
This year the Performance Series concerts will be presented at two locations that offer barrier free access and sanctuaries with excellent acoustics. The June and August concerts will be offered at the First United Methodist Church, 429 Michigan Ave., and the May, July, September and December concerts will be at Peace Lutheran Church, 06321 Blue Star Memorial Highway. The concerts begin at 7 p.m. except for the December Sunday afternoon concert at 4 p.m. Admission is $15 and payable as cash at the door on the evening of the concert. Admission to the December concert is free as the Performance Series’ holiday gift to the community. Students are always admitted free.
For more information visit www.southhavenperformanceseries.org.
