The School of American Music will close out 2026 with Eve of the Eve: Heidi Kettenring Sings Karen Carpenter, a special evening of music, cocktails, savory bites, and celebration featuring acclaimed Chicago performer Heidi Kettenring in an intimate tribute to the music of Karen Carpenter.
The fundraiser will take place Wednesday, December 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. EST at the historic Lakeside Inn in Lakeside, Michigan. Proceeds will support the School of American Music and its mission to change lives by making music accessible to people of all ages.
Kettenring has spent more than 25 years performing on Chicago stages and across the country. Her credits include three years as Nessarose in the Chicago production of Wicked, the national tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and performances at Ravinia and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
At Eve of the Eve, Kettenring will bring her own voice to the music made famous by Karen Carpenter, whose distinctive sound helped make songs including “Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “Rainy Days and Mondays” part of the soundtrack of a generation.
“Music has this remarkable ability to bring us back to a particular person, place, or moment in our lives,” said Heidi Smith, Executive Director of SAM. “That’s what makes Heidi’s celebration of Karen Carpenter’s music such a wonderful fit for this evening and for the School of American Music. We want everyone to have the opportunity to discover music, make it their own, and carry it with them.”
The setting adds another connection to the region’s musical history. Lakeside Inn has welcomed guests for more than a century, with a history that includes live music and Chicago orchestras performing in its ballroom.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails and a generous selection of savory bites and small plates, with Kettenring’s performance beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $200 per guest and include an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and small plates, and the performance. In keeping with the evening, elegant cocktail attire is requested.
Funds raised through Eve of the Eve will help the School of American Music provide music education, scholarships, performances, and opportunities for people throughout Harbor Country to experience and make music.
Eve of the Eve 2026
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
6–9 p.m. EST
Lakeside Inn, Lakeside, Michigan
Tickets: $200 per guest
https://www.schoolofamericanmusic.com/events-tickets/eve-of-the-eve
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN MUSIC The School of American Music is a nonprofit music organization based in Three Oaks, Michigan, dedicated to enriching the Harbor Country community through music education, performance and community engagement. SAM provides private music instruction, scholarships and community programs designed to make music accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. For more information about the School of American Music and its programs, please visit www.schoolofamericanmusic.com.