- Detroit Harmony is a citywide collaboration to strengthen music education opportunities for every child and grow economic opportunity for Detroiters through the provisioning of instruments and music education
- May 2 event will be attended by Detroit students and center on theme of Detroit’s rich musical legacy
Detroit, (April 20, 2023) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will strengthen its commitment to providing instruments and music education to Detroit students with a music education impact event at Greater Grace Temple on May 2. The event was co-created by the DSO’s Detroit Harmony program and more than 40 community partners across the music, culture, advocacy, and education sectors. See below for a full list of partner organizations.
The event will be attended by students from five K-8 Detroit schools including David Ellis Academy, David Ellis Academy West, and Detroit Service Learning Academy. The program will celebrate Detroit’s rich musical legacy with performances by jazz musicians, a DSO chamber ensemble, and a techno artist. Following the performances, students will attend breakout sessions where they will learn more about summer programs and available music education resources. Students will then participate in group experiences, where they will have the opportunity to try out various instruments.
This event will take place on Tuesday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Greater Grace Temple (23500 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48219). Please note: this event is not open to the public and will be exclusively attended by students from participating schools; media are welcome to attend when arranged in advance.
Detroit Harmony is a citywide collaborative effort between the DSO and other arts nonprofits, schools, community organizations and city leaders. The initiative aims to strengthen Detroit’s music education opportunities for every child while also growing economic opportunity by supporting the instrument technicians, music educators, and teaching artists essential to a thriving musical community. Detroit Harmony aims to put an instrument in the hand of every K-12 student in the city of Detroit who wants to learn to play. Thus far, the program has collected more than 2,500 instruments through donations to be refurbished and distributed to Detroit students.
“We are thrilled to provide thousands of Detroit students with musical instruments that have been generously donated by people across Michigan,” said Damien Crutcher, Managing Director of Detroit Harmony, who began playing horn at Cass Tech in Detroit and went on to study music at both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. “We are also eager to complement those instruments with access to robust music education opportunities for all ages and stages. Together, we can create collective impact by connecting students to training programs and resources both here at the DSO and at our network of partner organizations across Metro Detroit.”
Detroit Harmony Partner Organizations
Blue Thunder Drumline
Compas
Connect the Dots Youth Services
Detroit Edison Academy - Middle
Detroit Edison Academy - High School
Interlochen Center for the Arts
John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy
MSU Community Music School Detroit
Sowande Keita
University Prep Science and Math Elementary
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About Detroit Harmony
Part of the DSO’s Detroit Strategy (along with the Detroit Neighborhood Initiative), Detroit Harmony is a scalable and sustainable citywide collaboration to improve child development through music education and arts-based learning, and to grow economic opportunity by engaging Detroiters in the provision of instruments and music education. Major support for the initial stage of Detroit Harmony was provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation.
About the DSO
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 organization. In January 2020, Italian conductor Jader Bignamini was named the DSO’s next music director to commence with the 2020-2021 season. Celebrated conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik is the orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor, while Oscar-nominated trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. 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 PVS Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. One of the world’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, Orchestra Hall celebrated 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 live radio broadcast of a concert and continues today with the groundbreaking Live from Orchestra Hall series of free webcasts, 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.