About the Artistic Director
Artistic Director Eric H. Strand, a musician with broad experience, interests and repertoire, leads Early Music Michigan. As an organist, vocalist, and conductor, he has performed with such diverse groups as Pro Arte Singers at Indiana University, Albany Pro Musica, The Berkshire Bach Festival, The St. Cecilia Orchestra and The Kalamazoo Symphony. A native of Kansas, he began his organ studies with his father Dr. James Strand, and received degrees from Southwestern College, Kansas, and Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a doctoral candidate in choral conducting and organ at the Hartt School, in Hartford, Connecticut. Teachers included Marilyn Keiser, Larry Allen and Richard Coffey. Besides his work with Early Music Michigan, Mr. Strand is Organist-Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo. He previously held similar posts in Indiana and New York. He has done significant study of movement through work in Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique. His wife, Jacqueline Stilger, is Organist-Choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Battle Creek. They are the parents of three children, Carsten, Drew and Avery.
About Early Music Michigan
The EMM Voices are a group of singers who have come together to perform music of the highest quality under the direction of their esteemed conductor, Eric Strand. A survey of the members indicates that they have been singing challenging music for up to forty years, the average being more than 12 years.
The EMM Orchestra is a body of professional musicians selected for their ability to play music of all periods and composers. The composition of the group varies with the demands of the music being performed.
Michigan Bach Collegium, doing business as Early Music Michigan, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization according to Internal Revenue Service regulations
