Detroit, (November 15, 2018) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) invites you to spend some of your holiday season at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center for a wide variety of fun, family-friendly events, all with plenty of festive spirit. See below for information about all holiday events.
With the exception of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra’s (DYSO) Nutracker performance, all events take place at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center (3711 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI). The Max includes Orchestra Hall, home of the DSO; The Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (The Cube); and the William Davidson Atrium.
Vienna Boys Choir (Sunday, November 25)
The DSO is excited to welcome the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir to kick off its holiday programming with a one-night-only DSO Presents concert titled Christmas in Vienna, featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs, and holiday favorites.
The Vienna Boys Choir performance will take place Sunday, November 25 at 7 p.m. in Orchestra Hall. Please note: the DSO does not appear on this performance.
46th Annual Noel Night (Saturday, December 1)
The DSO is proud to once again partner with Midtown Detroit Inc., community partners, and businesses to celebrate the 46th Annual Noel Night, a Cultural Center-wide holiday open house that presents free activities including: horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, family craft activities, and performances by over 200 area music, theater, and dance groups, and other special performances. Noel Night takes place on Saturday, December 1.
At the DSO, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., visitors are welcome to tour the DSO’s Art @ The Max exhibition throughout the William Davidson Atrium, featuring works by nine Detroit artists.
In the evening, enjoy photos with Santa (from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and three free performancesin The Cube. The Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra I, directed by Rodney Whitaker and featuring MSUFCU Guest Artist Mark Whitfield (presented by The Carr Center), will perform twice, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Singer-songwriter Frank Moka and Dos Negros will then present a globe-circling musical odyssey at 9:30 p.m.
All Noel Night activities and performances at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center are FREE of charge and open to the general public, with no tickets required. Please note: the DSO will perform a PNC Pops Series concert in Orchestra Hall at 8 p.m.; this concert is not part of Noel Night and requires a ticket for entry.
Visit noelnight.org for more information on the entire event.
DSYO: The Nutcracker
Outside of The Max, the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra (DSYO) will accompany a production of the timeless ballet The Nutcracker at Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.
The concert takes place Saturday, December 1 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 2 at 2 p.m. at Michael A. Guido Theater on the campus of Ford Community and Performing Arts Center (18030 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI). Please call (313) 943-2354 for ticket information, or visit the theater’s website. Please note: the DSO does not appear on this performance. The DSYO is one of many training ensembles operated by the DSO’s Wu Family Academy of Learning and Engagement.
A Charlie Brown Christmas feat. the Cyrus Chestnut Trio (Friday, December 7)
The Paradise Jazz Series, presented by General Motors, welcomes the Cyrus Chestnut Trio for a one-night-only concert celebrating Vince Guaraldi’s classic score to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring the Cyrus Chestnut Trio takes place Friday, December 7 at 8 p.m. in Orchestra Hall. After the concert, the Jeff “Tain” Watts Trio will perform in The Cube beginning at 10 p.m. Please note: the DSO does not appear on either performance.
The Paradise Jazz Series is presented by General Motors with support from MGM Grand Detroit. The Jeff “Tain” Watts Trio performance is sponsored by Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, with additional support by Quicken Loans, The Boston Consulting Group, and Hotel St. Regis.
Young People’s Family Concert: The Snowman (Saturday, December 8)
Young DSO fans and their families are invited to enjoy a special program inspired by the award-winning children’s book by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman. This Young People’s Family Concert Series performance includes a film screening and live concert based on the book (conducted by Vinay Parameswaran and featuring boy soprano Andrew Chen), as well as favorites from The Nutcracker and other holiday music.
The Snowman will take place Saturday, December 8 at 11 a.m. in Orchestra Hall. Prior to the concert, a Dr. Seuss-themed Tiny Tots performance featuring Sean Dobbins and Friends will take place in The Cube, beginning at 10 a.m. Tiny Tots concerts are designed for children ages 2-6 and their families; Young People’s Family Concerts are family-friendly orchestra performances designed for audiences age 6 and up. Please note: the DSO does not appear on the Tiny Tots performance.
Storm Large: Holiday Ordeal (Monday, December 10)
Genre-bending singer and DSO favorite Storm Large will return to The Cube to present “Holiday Ordeal,” a night of music, gags, gifts, and special guests.
The Storm Large performance will take place Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. in The Cube. Please note: the DSO does not appear on this performance, and the concert may contain adult content and explicit language.
This performance is sponsored by Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, with additional support by Quicken Loans, The Boston Consulting Group, and Hotel St. Regis.
Home Alone with the DSO (Wednesday, December 19)
Back by popular demand, Home Alone with the DSO is a screening of the beloved Christopher Columbus / John Hughes film in historic Orchestra Hall, with the DSO playing John Williams’ Oscar-nominated score live in concert. Richard Kaufman will conduct.
Home Alone with the DSO will take place Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Orchestra Hall.
PNC Pops Series: Home for the Holidays (Friday-Sunday, December 21-23)
Home for the Holidays, Detroit’s favorite and bestselling holiday tradition, returns to Orchestra Hall for six Christmas weekend performances conducted by Lawrence Loh. The concerts will feature carols, classics, and a visit from Santa Claus, as well as vocalist Meredith Lustig, theLake Orion High School Chorale and Chamber Choir, and the Bloomfield Hills High School Chamber Choir and The Jills.
Home for the Holidays performances will take place Friday, December 21 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, December 22 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, December 23 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Orchestra Hall.
In 2017, the DSO’s pops programming took on a fresh title: the PNC Pops Series, thanks to the generous support of PNC Bank. “This is a terrific series that showcases our talented DSO and their ability to offer enthusiasts a unique experience during the holidays,” said Ric DeVore, PNC regional president for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. “We’re thrilled to know these cheerful concerts will put a smile on the face of everyone who attends.”
Additional support for the PNC Pops Series is provided by Masco Corporation Foundation and Greektown Casino-Hotel. Home for the Holidays is additionally sponsored by Raymond James Dearborn.
-------
Please visit dso.org/calendar for a look at the complete DSO schedule, including these holiday programs.
-------
Ticket Information
Tickets for all holiday performances can be purchased at dso.org, by calling (313) 576-5111, or in-person at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit).
Groups of 10 or more can save up to 30% on the price of a single ticket for most DSO concerts. For more information, contact Group Sales Manager Jim Sabatella at (313) 576-5130 or jsabatella@dso.org.
About the DSO
The most accessible orchestra on the planet, the acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep connection to its city. As a community-supported orchestra, generous giving by individuals and institutions at all levels drives the continued success and growth of the institution. Conductor Leonard Slatkin, who recently concluded an acclaimed decade-long tenure at the helm, now serves as the DSO’s Music Director Laureate, endowed by the Kresge Foundation. Celebrated conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik is the orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor, while the outstanding trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair. Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, the DSO offers a performance schedule that features Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. One of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, Orchestra Hall will celebrate its centennial in 2019-2020. In addition, the DSO presents the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in seven metro area venues, as well as a robust schedule of eclectic multi-genre performances in its mid-size venue The Cube, constructed and curated with support from Peter D. & Julie F. Cummings. A dedication to broadcast innovation began in 1922, when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series, which also reaches tens of thousands of children with the Classroom Edition expansion. With growing attendance and unwavering philanthropic support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to embrace and inspire individuals, families, and communities through unsurpassed musical experiences.