The Conversation: Building Community Through Music | Gary Gatzke, Musician & Arts Facilitator

In this episode of Currently: The Conversation, Christal Frost sits down with Gary Gatzke — musician, educator, arts administrator, and one of the driving forces behind Northern Michigan's vibrant classical music scene. This episode of The Conversation is presented by our lead supporter, TVC Cherry Capital Airport - Your Northern Michigan Connection. From his roots in Traverse City's public school music programs to Interlochen Arts Academy and Juilliard, Gary reflects on the teachers, mentors, and moments that shaped his lifelong relationship with music. This discussion explores what it means to balance life as a professional performer and an arts administrator, from playing double bass on major stages with orchestras and opera companies to building accessible, community-centered arts education programs at Interlochen. Gary shares why playing music with other people matters at every age, how live performance creates connection, and what keeps artists coming back to the stage year after year. It's a thoughtful, honest look at creativity, community, and the joy of showing up — for the music, for the people around you, and for the experiences that make Northern Michigan's arts ecosystem thrive.