When Miles Mykkanen steps on the stage of beloved institutions around the world, he carries with him more than vocal power and dramatic presence—he carries the passion and determination of a Michigander that grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Raised in Bessemer, just outside Ironwood, Mykkanen grew up surrounded by music, thanks to parents who were both high school band directors. But pursuing a career as a professional performing artist? That felt worlds away. “We lived in such a rural and remote place that we didn’t have access to a symphony orchestra or professional theaters or a real dance company,” he recalled. “Except for when the Detroit Symphony came to town—that was a big deal.”

Still, he was hooked. Summers at Interlochen Arts Camp turned into a last-minute admission to Interlochen Arts Academy, which led to Juilliard, and ultimately to stages across the globe. But for Mykkanen, the village that raised him never left his heart—and neither did his commitment to giving back to it.

“I had a community around me,” he said. “My parents, my teachers, even the local theater volunteers—they all said, ‘Miles, you can do this.’ That encouragement is why I’m here. It’s why I came back.”

In 2020, when the pandemic shuttered stages across the world, Mykkanen turned his creative energy toward something new: starting a festival. What began as a three-day series of performances quickly turned into something bigger. “I called up my first community theater director and said, ‘Cindy, I think it’s time. Let’s do this.’”

Thus, the Emberlight Festival was born—an eight-week, multidisciplinary celebration of the arts, nestled in the woods and waterfalls of Michigan’s far western Upper Peninsula. The festival has since welcomed visitors from over 40 states and six continents, while receiving thousands of film submissions from across the globe. “Talk about bringing the world’s stages to the U.P.,” Mykkanen said.

Emberlight now boasts everything from Broadway performers and opera stars to poetry readings, visual art exhibits, photography shows, and an international film festival. “We kind of threw everything at the wall,” he laughed. “And a lot of it stuck.”

But, Emberlight’s mission remains deeply local. Mykkanen and the Emberlight team have made accessibility a cornerstone of the festival’s model. Over 70% of events are free, and tickets to professional performances average just $19—with students under 20 admitted free to all events.

“We’re rural and remote,” Mykkanen emphasized. “The median annual income is $29,000. We can’t be charging big city prices. That’s why we baked access into our mission from day one.”

It’s a strategy that’s paying off—not just in ticket sales or attendance, but in impact. “To see a 10-year-old sitting there because their grandparents made them come… and then something in the performance hits them? That’s the spark. That’s the moment,” he said. “And when that same kid comes up after the show wide-eyed and asks questions—I remember that feeling. That’s why we do this.”

Emberlight’s success has also attracted support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, with a grant that Mykkanen calls “a lifeline.” That support, he says, is proof of what happens when state funding is aligned with community vision.

“I would love to see a world where legislators lead with culture,” he said. “Because this isn’t fluff. This is what brings us joy, what heals us, what connects us. If we’re not prioritizing health and happiness, what are we doing?”

Mykkanen believes Michigan has a national reputation for creativity—and that continued investment in the arts can turn places like Ironwood into cultural destinations. “The art we’re producing in Michigan rivals anything I’ve seen on world stages,” he said. “And the more we share it, the more powerful our communities become.”

Now preparing for Emberlight’s fifth season, Mykkanen continues to perform around the world, all while curating a festival back home that redefines what’s possible in rural arts access.

“Opera wasn’t in the cards when I was growing up. I didn’t even know it was an option,” he said. “But now, a kid in Ironwood can go to a world-class concert, see international films, meet artists, and feel that spark. That changes lives.”

And for Mykkanen, that’s what matters most.