Courtesy photo The Alpena Lifelong Leaners will enjoy the music of Nora Stone, Cheryl Bates, Kat Tomaszewski, and MaryAnn Hubbard at an event next week.

ALPENA – The Association of Lifelong Learners will be hosting the fifth in its series of musical performances at Granum Theatre on the Alpena Community College campus, to be held on Thursday, June 11, at 1:00 pm, featuring flutists MaryAnn Hubbard and Cheryl Bates, Soprano Nora Stone, and pianist Kat Tomaszewski. All four are well-known Alpena musical artists.

MaryAnn Hubbard served a tenure of over 30 years teaching instrumental music in public schools including Grayslake, Illinois, and Lincoln and Alpena, Michigan. She was also the Flute Instructor and Chamber Music Director at Alpena Community College. She was the co-founder of the chamber music groups Arioso Trio, WindSong Flute Quarter, and Quintetto Sonare Wind Quintet. Currently, she teaches in her private flute studio and performs with the Alpena Symphony Orchestra, Gaylord Chamber Orchestra, and the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra of Petoskey. She directs several flute ensembles, provides music during weekly services at Trinity Episcopal Church of Alpena, and directs the Besser Chorus.

Cheryl Bates began her career in 5th grade taking private lessons and playing in the school band. She participated in the Interlochen All-State Program and continued with private lessons through high school. Following a 25-year hiatus from flute playing, she was recruited to play with the Trinity Church choir in Alpena. This necessitated private lessons with MaryAnn Hubbard, a blessing that has brought many opportunities to practice, play and perform. Presently, Cheryl plays with the Alpena Symphony Orchestra as well as many smaller groups and ensembles.

Nora Stone grew up in a musical family and has sung in community and church choirs from a young age. Most recently she had the honor of singing with the School of Theology Schola Cantorum, the premier chamber choir of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. She currently cantors and sings with the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Kat Tomaszewski was born and raised here in Alpena. She loves that she is a part of the musical community here in our special town. Kat and MaryAnn play together every week for worship at Trinity Episcopal, and often work together outside of church as well. Kat is currently the music director at both Trinity Episcopal and First Congregational UCC Alpena, where she also leads the choirs. Kat also records the music used during services as Grace Lutheran Church.

Looking ahead, the next performance for Adventures in Music will take place at 1:30 pm on July 9, 2026, at the Granum Theatre, featuring pianist Jennifer Elowsky-Fox. Mark your calendars to come to the Granum Theatre on the ACC campus to enjoy these wonderful performances, all free and open to the public and made possible with the help of Alpena Community College and the Granum Grant Program in addition to the Association of Lifelong Learners.