From left, Peter McGuire, Richard Belcher and Bethel Balge will be joined by Kathryn Wurster in the Summit Avenue Music Series ‘Brahmsfest’ on Sept. 16 at Martin Luther College.

NEW ULM — The Summit Avenue Music Series announceS its 2018-19 season of concerts. The series begins Sunday, Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. in the Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ with a Brahmsfest.

In celebration of Brahms’ music, violinist Peter McGuire, cellist Richard Belcher, and pianist Bethel Balge are performing two masterpieces by Johannes Brahms — the Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major and the Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major. Soprano Kathryn Wurster will join Belcher and Balge to sing the hauntingly beautiful …lÈgie by Jules Massenet. The …lÈgie was one of the most popular tunes of the late nineteenth century and is reminiscent of Chopin’s E Minor Prelude in both structure and mood.

Peter McGuire currently serves as Principal Second Violin with the Minnesota Orchestra after serving as Second Concertmaster with the Tonhalle Orchester-Zurich in Switzerland. Prior to his stint in Switzerland, McGuire was a member of the Minnesota Orchestra from 2003-2012.

New Zealander cellist Richard Belcher has performed as a chamber musician and soloist across the United States, and internationally. He is the founding member of the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet, with regular tours and performances in many of the major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Library of Congress.

Since 2016, Balge has been the artistic director and founder of the Summit Avenue Music Series (SAMS). She recently received an Artist grant, sponsored by the McKnight Foundation. She serves on the faculty at Martin Luther College and Bethany Lutheran College.

Purchase tickets in advance through SummitAvenueMusic.com/tickets/, at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce (1 N. Minnesota St.), or call 507-233-9141 to leave a message. Season tickets are $35, individual tickets are $13 (general) and $5 (students). Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the day of the concert.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and from the New Ulm Area Foundation.