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About the Hiawatha Music Co-op
The Hiawatha Music Non Profit Corporation - better known known as the Hiawatha Music Co-op - is a well-established and well-regarded, non-profit organization for the support of traditional American music.
Hiawatha volunteers work hard to provide high-quality traditional-music events an area with an economy greatly affected by declines in the mining and timber industries, the 1996 closing of K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, and the whimsies of weather and tourism.
In 1993, Hiawatha received the Michigan Governor's Art Award, and in May 2006, Hiawatha received the Community Arts Impact Award from the Marquette Arts and Culture Center.
History
The organization was founded in 1979, and 2008 marks the 30th year it has produced a three-day traditional-music Festival in Marquette County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The Festival began in 1979 in the small community of Champion, Mich. Now, approximately 3,500 people from throughout the upper Midwest - and from as far away as the coasts - attend each year's Festival at the Marquette Tourist Park.
Festival
The Hiawatha Festival is the only event of its size and scope in the Upper Peninsula. Without Hiawatha, local performers and fans would have to travel between four and six hours to the nearest festivals of its size and type. Each year's event features traditional-music styles that include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues and folk - including singer/songwriters - and dance. Mainstage acts include nationally known performers as well as regional and local favorites.
The Festival also has special areas for children and teens with organized activities and performances designed for those age groups.
Other events
In addition to the annual Festival, the Hiawatha Music Co-op strives to offer traditional-music concerts and workshops in the Marquette area throughout the year. Our ventures in that area have included a song-writing workshop and two concerts in 2002, and a Celtic fiddle workshop and one concert in 2003, four concerts in March 2004, monthly dances for much of 2006 and 2007, and three concerts and one workshop in 2007. For information about upcoming events, please check the Event Calendar on this site.
Organization
The Hiawatha Music Co-op is governed by a ten-member, term-limited board, which meets monthly. Current board members are Jim Jajich (president), Sue Bertram (vice president), Jordan Yeatts (treasurer), Heidi Stevenson (secretary), Julie Foster-Lindquist, Mike Fitzpatrick, Ron Larson, J. Pearl Taylor, Phil Watts, and Chuck Howe. The Music Co-op has one part-time staff member, Maggie Morgan, director.
Each fall, Hiawatha holds an annual members meeting for election of new board members and a review of financial results. To learn more about Music Co-op membership, please see the Membership Info section of this site.
Volunteers of the Year
Each year, Hiawatha's Area Coordinators select two Volunteers of the Year. Our 2007 honorees were Jim DeYoung, who has been our Security coordinator for many years; and Julie Foster-Lindquist, who serves on our board; coordinates orders for our volunteer t-shirts, Festival posters and mugs; and is our liaison with Oasis Gallery for Artists in the Round
Past honorees:
Spring 2001: Jim DeLongchamp - Electrical coordinator
Spring 2002: Al Sherbinow - Green Team coordinator
Fall 2002: Sue Bertram - Board president and Tokens coordinator
Spring 2003: Marlene Herman - Funds coordinator, past director
Spring 2003: Ron Larson - Set-up coordinator, past board president
Fall 2003: Chuck Ganzert - producer, music-committee chair.
Steve Kriegle - mainstage set-up coordinator
2005: Chuck Howe - board member, program designer, main-stage emcee, tech wizard.
Amanda Howe - board secretary, past Funds co-coordinator, former mail-in order coordinator.
2006: Karen Bacula - board member and officer, concert coordinator, music committee member. John Fegan - board treasurer, Musicians Food co-coordinator, Concessions co-coordinator.
Hiawatha Music Co-op bylaws
Hiawatha Music Co-op board of directors minutes
Director's Reports
Festival Committee Notes
Hiawatha Compensation Policy
