Miles Mykkanen has quickly become the go-to tenor for roles requiring a deft balance of power, lyricism, and dramatic acuity, having performed on stages in all corners of the globe. A proud Yooper from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Mykkanen leveraged his pandemic downtime to create community around the arts in his hometown of Ironwood. As founding Artistic Director of the Emberlight Festival, he has built a formidable board, raising $750,000 in a county where the annual median income is $29,000. Emberlight has now produced 119 individual events – including a film festival with entries from 83 countries, live performances of chamber music, cabarets, and plays, a photography show and public art installations, and performance infusions featuring regional artists in everything from Ojibwe basket weaving to wool waulking. More than 70% of those events have been free to attend, ensuring that the arts are accessible to everyone in the rural region.

This podcast was produced by the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan with support by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Episode ID: 1000709096542

GUID: 3f34cc4c-5fd0-489a-89e3-38c70e951092

Release Date: 20/05/2025, 09:43:35