Detroit, (May 15, 2012) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), in partnership with Kid Rock and Rock Ventures LLC, is thrilled to announce that Saturday’s sold-out fundraiser met its goal to raise $1 million for the DSO. READ MORE
(DETROIT, May 6, 2012) —During an international webcast to some 30 countries this afternoon, Detroit Symphony 
Orchestra (DSO) Music Director Leonard Slatkin announced the DSO’s first new concertmaster in 24 years. Yoonshin Song, distinguished member of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, has won the position of Concertmaster of the DSO. The announcement was made on-stage after intermission to a packed house at the Orchestra’s final “Pictures at an Exhibition” performance. Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, who has gracefully served as Acting Concertmaster during the 2011-12 season, will maintain that title until Song officially joins the Orchestra in September 2012.
“The DSO has a long tradition of engaging outstanding concertmasters. With the appointment of Yoonshin Song, we continue the high level established for this orchestra,” said Slatkin. “Yoonshin, in only a few days, established herself as one of the very best. Her musical skills and method of communication go hand in hand with my own philosophies. All of us look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”
Song, 30, who played with the DSO as Guest Concertmaster for this weekend’s performances of “Pictures at an Exhibition,” will make her solo debut next May with the Brahms’ Violin Concerto. Her debut piece will replace the originally-scheduled Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.
This was the first audition process for Concertmaster after Emmanuelle Boisvert, who held the position for 23 years, left the DSO to accept the Associate Concertmaster position with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in May of 2011.
“This is an example of one of the unique aspects of an orchestra’s open audition process: the opportunity to be completely and wonderfully surprised by an unknown candidate selecting us, and then earning our admiration and respect,” said Anne Parson, DSO President and CEO. “We are delighted to welcome Yoonshin to the DSO family.”
Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, Acting Concertmaster of the DSO said, “I am thrilled with the committee’s decision. Having Yoonshin here is a great shot in the arm. I look forward to sitting with such a superb player and person. She is exactly what this orchestra needs.” READ MORE
Detroit 5/4/2012 – As part of the new AVANTI Summer MusicFest, the Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will perform two concerts at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham (1669 West Maple Rd., Birmingham), on Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, July 21, at 1:30 p.m., AVANTI students will perform alongside DSO musicians on the DSO’s venerable stage at Orchestra Hall.
Thursday’s concert in Birmingham will feature chamber ensembles of DSO musicians. The program includes one of Mozart’s most beloved works, the Clarinet Quintet with Ted Oien, DSO Principal Clarinet; Barber’s Quartet for Strings; and Hanson’s lush Serenade for Flute, Harp, and Strings. The Serenade will showcase DSO Principal Harp Patricia Masri-Fletcher and Flutist Jeffrey Zook.
Friday’s concert at the same location features the Avanti Festival Orchestra performing such popular classical standards as Mozart’s Overture to Marriage of Figaro, Copland’s Quiet City and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. The concert soloists will be DSO musicians, Shelley Heron on English Horn and Trumpeter Steve Anderson, with Clark Suttle conducting.
The third festival concert to be held at Orchestra Hall in Detroit marks the culmination of AVANTI 2012. AVANTI students aged 14-18 will have a chance show off their week’s accomplishments when they join with DSO musicians on stage for a wrap-up concert and reception.
Ticket prices for the July 19-20 Birmingham concerts are $50, $35 and $25 and can be purchased online at www.dso.org or at the Max M. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave.) by calling 313.576.5111. Complimentary tickets for the Saturday, July 21 Orchestra Hall concert can also be obtained online at www.dso.org or at the Max M. Fisher Music Center Box Office. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Contact: Kevin Good (248) 909-9656, KGood2@comcast.net
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Detroit, (May 4, 2012) – As its concert and fundraiser with Kid Rock draws near, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has donated 10 VIP tickets to war veterans through the Michigan chapter of Voice of Warriors. The veterans will receive access to the concert at the Fox Theatre on May 12 at 8 p.m. and afterglow at the Fillmore, where a reserved private lounge will await them.
“We’d like to thank the DSO and Kid Rock for giving this opportunity to the men and women who have sacrificed so much to our country,” said Mollie Grywalsky, Activities Director of Voice of Warriors. “It raises awareness for the Voice of Warriors cause and provides an opportunity for these heroes to socialize with other veterans and attempt to transition from military life back into civilian life.”
The afterglow will feature performances by Detroit Circus and Hardcore Detroit break dancers, as well as strolling musicians and special guest DJs. In addition to food stations featuring chic comfort food, local ice cream shop Treat Dreams will serve custom flavors designed by Kid Rock and DSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin. Party goers will also enjoy crepes from Detroit-based Good Girls Go to Paris, Jimmy John’s sandwiches served on silver platters, a bourbon bar featuring Jim Beam products, and a cigar lounge. The war veterans, and all other attendees will receive a red carpet entrance.
A limited number of VIP packages (which include access to the concert and the afterglow at The Fillmore) are available at www.dso.org.
On Saturday, May 12, 2012, at 8 p.m., the unprecedented pairing of Kid Rock, Leonard Slatkin – “America’s Music Director” – and the men and women of the DSO will take the stage of Detroit’s historic Fox Theatre for a one-night only fundraising concert to raise a critical $1 million for the legendary orchestra. The event was originally conceived by Kid Rock and Rock Ventures Founder Dan Gilbert to help save the DSO and is presented by Rock Ventures, Jimmy John’s, Olympia Entertainment, and Made in Detroit. READ MORE
DTE Energy Foundation To Bring DSO to Communities Across Southeastern Michigan
Detroit, (May 4, 2012) – As a result of generous support from the DTE Energy Foundation, this Fall the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will once again present a series of free concerts. DTE Energy Foundation Presents the DSO in Your Community will bring music to diverse and often underserved communities throughout Southeast Michigan.
Only this year, there is a twist.
For the Fall 2012 concerts, the DSO will visit communities and venues that nominate themselves.
“The concert series is just one of the many ways that the DSO inspires individuals, families and communities across Southeastern Michigan,” said Fred Shell, vice president of Corporate and Government Affairs and president of the DTE Energy Foundation. “We hope to continue that tradition by providing a fun, practical manner for the DSO, and DTE Energy, to partner with communities we have both served for well over a century.”
Representatives of venues (organizations, schools, places of worship, community centers, etc.) and individuals in partnership with venues are invited to nominate themselves to host a free community concert by the DSO. Nomination instructions can be found at www.dso.org/dtemusic. Nominations should be sent to dtemusic@dso.org by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. Members of the public will then be encouraged to send comments online to support these nominations. A five-member panel will review all nominations, comments of support, and select several venues to host a free DSO community concert the week of Sept. 17, conducted by the DSO’s new Assistant Conductor, Teddy Abrams. Nominations by a community must include a suitable venue and the expressed ability to provide a standing-room-only audience.
Nominee profiles will be posted at www.dso.org/dtemusic by Friday, May 25, at which time support comments from the community will be welcomed. Nominees selected to host free DSO community concerts will be announced on June 5. READ MORE
Detroit, (May 3, 2012) –The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), led by Music Director Leonard Slatkin, performs Tchaikovsky’s rousing Fifth Symphony while DSO piccoloist Jeffery Zook performs Vivaldi’s virtuosic Piccolo Concerto as we close out our first season of Neighborhood Series concerts in Southfield. The performance will be held at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield (27375 Bell Rd.) on Thursday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The Neighborhood Concert Series consists of four-concert, subscription-based series in seven metro Detroit venues in Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods, West Bloomfield Township and Southfield. The concert series is just one element of the DSO’s visionary Neighborhood Residency Initiative, a program aimed at building deep relationships throughout Southeast Michigan and ultimately meaning more to more people. Log on to www.dso.org/neighborhood for more information about the Neighborhood Concert Series. READ MORE
Detroit, (May 03, 2012) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) presents Saint-Saëns’ Thundering “Organ” Symphony. Leonard Slatkin leads the Orchestra while the DSO’s multi-talented Craig Rifel, normally seen and heard in the double bass section, performs as organ soloist. There is no other symphony quite like it, a towering work built around the awe-inspiring sounds of the pipe organ. More than a century after its premiere, the “Organ Symphony” remains unrivaled in its scope and majesty. This concert also features the world premiere of a new work by Du Yun, winner of the DSO’s 4th Elaine Lebenbom Annual Memorial Award for composers. The performances at Orchestra Hall will take place on Friday, May 11 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The performance will be webcast to a global audience on Friday, May 11 at 10:35 a.m. via the DSO’s “Live from Orchestra Hall” series. Log on to www.dso.org/live to view the concert from your computer or mobile device anywhere in the world. READ MORE
Detroit, (May 4, 2012) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) Civic Jazz Live! presents “Celebrating Detroit” featuring works by past and present Detroit area jazz composers. Many of the composers featured in this concert provide clinics throughout the year for these young, talented jazz musicians. This Civic Jazz Orchestra concert celebrates the continuing partnership between the DSO Civic Youth Ensembles and the vibrant community of local musicians while demonstrating the DSO’s commitment to the Detroit Jazz tradition. The performance will take place at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in the Music Box on Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m.
The Civic Jazz Orchestra has worked with guest artists including George “Sax” Benson, Johnnie Bassett, Ellen Rowe, Vincent Chandler, Shahida Nurullah, Ursalla Walker, Daniel Benard Romain and Brian Nutting.
The Civic Jazz Orchestra provides Michigan’s premiere young jazz musicians with pre-professional training that builds upon the strong tradition of jazz in Detroit. Musicians benefit from training provided by leading professionals in the jazz field, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s unparalleled facilities and a season of concert presentations at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. READ MORE
Summer ‘season’ to take place around metro Detroit throughout June and July
(DETROIT, May 1, 2012) — Tickets are now on sale for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s (DSO) summer season, headlined by the 20th anniversary of the “Salute to America” concerts at Greenfield Village and the Orchestra’s third annual appearance at the historic Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. READ MORE
(DETROIT, April 30, 2012) — Following an extremely successful inaugural Community Support Month in November, which attracted more than 1,000 donors to give to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), the DSO will once again present the concert-based fundraising initiative during all concerts in May. This new tradition is the first of its kind in DSO history. Community Support Month will kick-off with an inspirational video during intermission of the “Pictures at an Exhibition” performance on Thursday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. READ MORE