A Lansing arts organization founded in 1894 opened its new concert season Sunday, Sept. 13, with Brazilian music at Frances Park.
The Lansing Performing Arts Connection, formerly known as Lansing Matinee Musicale, hosted metro Detroit collective Canja de Boa at the Frances Park Pavilion on Moores River Drive. The free afternoon performance kicked off a monthly series that runs through the 2026-27 season, according to WILX.
The concerts double as a fundraising engine for the group's education work. President Laura Stebbins said the series supports programs including Project Crescendo, which provides instruments, guest performances and classroom programming for students in grades K-8 across the Lansing School District.
"It brings them in and helps support our other programs, such as Project Crescendo, which is to help support the Lansing School music teachers and hopefully more," Stebbins told WILX at the Sept. 13 event.
Project Crescendo staff work directly with music teachers to identify what their classrooms need, according to the organization's website.
The group also runs a Performing Arts Students program that gives young musicians a chance to perform at each event and apply for scholarships toward private lessons or camp.
The rebrand
Stebbins explained the name change during a Sept. 2 appearance on WILX's Studio 10. The organization was founded as Lansing Matinee Musicale. Stebbins said the new name felt "a little more relatable."
The all-volunteer, donor-supported nonprofit is a 501(c)(3).
What's ahead
The 2026-27 season spans genres including jazz, opera, soul, chamber music, four-handed piano, children's choir and cabaret. Most performances take place at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1315 Abbot Road in East Lansing. A couple are held at Okemos Community Church.
All Matinee Musicale concerts are free. No tickets are required.
Upcoming: The next concert is Sunday, Oct. 11, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, featuring Scandinavian music. A full schedule is available at lansingmatineemusicale.org.
