NEWS AND BLOG

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Home to the longest freshwater coastline in the country and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan’s beauty is easy to see. The Mitten State is a hub for top-notch cultural institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, the Motown Museum and more. But did you know it’s also a performing arts haven? Come along as we explore some wonderful ways students can soak up all things “live performance” in the Mitten!

Raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Benjamin Maddy's passion for travel was nurtured by his family's artistic background and their number of travels over the years. Today, Maddy works as a Brand Ambassador for The Fireman Hospitality Group in New York, a company of family-owned restaurants located in the heart of the entertainment centers of New York City and National Harbor, Maryland. We recently caught up with him to learn more about his extensive career in the industry and how his own travel as a youth inspired his trajectory!

An orchestra teacher in the North Kansas City School District since 2002, James Freise currently serves as Director of Orchestras at Staley High School, New Mark Middle School, and three elementary schools: Bell Prairie, Nashua, and Rising Hill.