ESCANABA — The Midsummer Strings, a folk trio, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, May 23, at Bay College’s Besse Theater in Escanaba.

The members of the trio have been performing together as a string ensemble for nearly 20 years. Members Maija, Marianne and Seija knew each other as children due to their common Finnish heritage and their parents’ and grandparents’ involvement in local Finnish community events.

All three began playing instruments at a young age and all were classically trained, resulting in each of them as adults playing professionally with various ensembles and orchestras, including the Marquette Symphony Orchestra.

Over the years, the trio decided to delve more into their Finnish heritage and began learning old traditional Finnish folk tunes. They dug into their roots even more by discovering some of the oldest Finnish songs that were passed

down by generations before they were ever recorded in writing.

By performing them, The Midsummer Strings ensure some of the oldest traditional pieces are enjoyed for generations to come.

The Midsummer Strings released a CD of traditional Finnish music in 2002. From there, The Midsummer Strings

have continued to expand their repertoire after meeting many current Finnish folk musicians from Finland and other locations who inspired them.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for students. They can be purchased online at https://baycollege.tix.com, at the box office or by calling 906-217-4045.