About DGSP

Generously funded by the support of the Cummings Family, the DGSP offers opportunities for students from four years old through seniors in high school, including in-school strings classes, individual lessons, and a growing youth orchestra program. Dr. David Reimer, DGSP Music Director, leads a team of highly qualified instructors who are passionate about passing on their knowledge of music to new generations of students.

The First Note

In 2000, Gay and Peter Cummings were approached to see if they would help support music education for the children of Northern Michigan to study stringed instruments. In this effort, children would be able to receive at no-charge, lessons during the school day. Before this time this option was not available to area youth. Accepting this challenge, the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program was created, named in honor of Gay Cummings' mother Dorothy who with her husband Daniel founded Gerber Baby Foods.

Teach in Harmony

Since its inception, the program has evolved to include string classes, individual lessons including the Suzuki Method, the Dorothy Gerber Youth Orchestra and the DGSP Summer School of Music. The Cummings Quartet was established in 2017 to act as mentors/models to students wishing to work on their craft at a higher level. In 2018, students competed in a Practice Olympics, and in 2019, March Madness spurred them on to greatness. Ensembles have performed throughout the community to share with everyone the talent and dedication of the student's efforts.

The Future Sounds Good

​The Dorothy Gerber Strings Program (DGSP) has provided exceptional locally-based strings music education for area youth since its inception in 2000. The program is a celebration of the legacy of Dorothy Gerber, made possible through the support of her daughter Gay Gerber Cummings and her children, and provides students across Charlevoix, Emmet and Antrim counties the opportunity to study violin, viola, cello, and bass.