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Volunteer

JOIN OUR FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS!

We welcome volunteers who want to make a meaningful impact in our community by sharing their time and talents in support of GLCO’s mission. Opportunities include:

At Concerts

  • Welcome table: help with will-call tickets and ticket sales
  • Ushering at venues other than GLCFA
  • Post-concert receptions
  • Stage decorations for Holiday concerts
  • Help set up chorus risers

Office Assistance

  • Help with mailings
  • Adding inserts to concert program books

Crescendo: Our annual gala fundraising event

  • Join our organizing committee
  • Volunteer at the event: set up, check in/check out team, auction monitors
  • OR… Do you have an idea for a unique auction item or exciting experience that aligns with our mission? We would love to hear it!

Distribute Literature

  • Hang flyers in business windows in your area
  • Hand deliver rack cards to appropriate venues

Provide In-Kind Services (some examples)

  • Photography
  • Videography

For more information about these and other volunteering opportunities, please contact us at 231.487.0010 or info@glcorchestra.org

GLCO volunteers stuffing programs!
Volunteer Appreciation Reception 2024
GLCO volunteers running our ticket booth

VERN CAMPBELL

Co-Principal Trumpet

Vern is Co-Principal Trumpet in the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO).  Vern studied trumpet with Dr. Dennis Horton, trumpet professor at Central Michigan University while in high school and later as a university student.  Before obtaining his doctorate degree at Michigan State University and completing a medical residency in ophthalmology, Vern performed two years with the Blue Water International Symphony.  Vern relocated to Petoskey in 2000 and continued his trumpet studies with Scott Thornburg, professor of trumpet at Western Michigan University. He joined the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra in 2012 and eagerly anticipates each performance. He especially enjoys playing with the orchestra’s brass quintet. Vern enjoys visiting his wife’s family and friends in Shanghai and traveling throughout China. He is an avid cyclist and skier.

Eric Lawson

Assistant Concertmaster

Violinist, violist, conductor and professor Dr. Eric Lawson has had a varied career in performance and education. Past performances as a conductor, soloist and lecturer have taken him to Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Romania and Scandinavia. Before returning to his home state of Michigan, he was based in North Dakota where, in addition to serving as a violin instructor at Bismarck State College, Jamestown College, and the University of Mary, he was also concertmaster of the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra and established the Bismarck-Mandan Youth Symphony. Other former academic appointments have included Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Central College in Pella, Iowa and the University of North Dakota where he founded the string program and the UND Chamber Orchestra.

Here in Michigan, Dr. Lawson as been very active with the Alpena Symphony Orchestra as its concertmaster, conductor and president of the board. He also performs with many other orchestras in Northern Michigan and participates in the Traverse Symphony as a first violinist, in the Gaylord Symphony as concertmaster and as assistant concertmaster in the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra.

And finally, in what has been one of the most important experiences of his life outside of music, he also served almost four years as an Alpena County Commissioner, representing Ossineke and Sanborn Townships. In addition to serving as chair of the Salary and Personnel Committee, he also served on the Airport, Ambulance, District Court, Circuit Court Management and Jail Committees. He also represented Alpena County in Gaylord with the Northern Michigan Regional Entity Substance Use Disorder Board and continues to serve on the Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health Board. Dr. Lawson resides in Ossineke with his wife and two children.