- June 30 – July 3: Salute to America at Greenfield Village in partnership with The Henry Ford
- Summer Sessions outdoor programming continues in DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard, plus performances at Orchestra Hall and community venues
- Special musical experiences presented as part of the DSO’s Detroit Neighborhood Initiative will take place at Durfee Innovation Center in New Center, Chandler Park on the East Side, and Clark Park in Southwest Detroit, plus a six-week workshop and performance series at Spotlight Park in NW Goldberg
Detroit, (May 19, 2022) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced summer programming at locations in Detroit and surrounding communities, including Salute to America in partnership with The Henry Ford, and the return of Summer Sessions to the DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard.
From June 30 to July 3, The Henry Ford and the DSO continue their more than 26-year partnership with Salute to America. The events will take place in Greenfield Village from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and include chamber ensemble performances, historical building experiences, free carousel rides, and food and beverage options, plus a grand stage performance by the DSO to conclude with a stirring performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, cannon fire, and a brilliant fireworks finale.
Early bird tickets for members of The Henry Ford are available on May 25, with early bird tickets available to the public on June 1, and general tickets available to the public on June 21. Tickets can be purchased online at thehenryford.org and cost $33 for adults (12 and up), $29.75 for seniors (62 and up), and $24.75 for youth (5-11). Members of The Henry Ford may purchase tickets for $32.25, $29.00, and $24.00, respectively. All children under the age of five are free. For updates on hours, tickets, and safety guidelines, visit thehenryford.org or follow The Henry Ford on social media @thehenryford. Salute to America is made possible with support from Ford Motor Company and Bank of America.
First introduced in August 2020, Summer Sessions concerts will once again be held in the DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard (51 Parsons Street), the outdoor community green space adjacent to the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. The DSO will welcome guest artists from around the world including Brandon Coleman (June 11), Isaiah Sharkey (June 15), and Lulu Fall (June 17) for genre-defying music experiences, plus Poetry & Music: Nothin’ But the Blues with spoken word artist La Shaun phoenix Moore, Emmy award-winning writer and poet Scott Woods, and vocalist Thornetta Davis (June 24). The DSO will also continue Yoga & Music programming with two events on June 16 and June 30, led by Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructors.
General admission tickets for these events are available for $20 per person and can be purchased at dso.org. A limited number of VIP experiences are also available for $100 (2 people), offering reserved seating near the stage with a patio table. All events are general admission and folding chairs will be provided; patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions performances are made possible with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Throughout the summer, the DSO will also offer Detroit Neighborhood Initiative programming at community locations throughout Detroit. The Detroit Neighborhood Initiative is a community-driven process of dialogue and planning, resulting in cultural partnerships that enrich the community and musical experiences that align with the priorities of Detroit residents. Events include Inspire, Express, Connect! at the Durfee Innovation Center in New Center (June 4), Sounds of Summer 2 at Chandler Park on the East Side (June 11), Clark Park Culture and Arts Festival in Southwest Detroit (July 9), and Freedom! The Second Annual Community Arts and Music Festival at Chandler Park (July 16). From July 1 to July 29, the DSO will also offer a five-week Friday morning workshop and performance series at NW Goldberg Cares Spotlight Park, culminating in a final celebration on Saturday, July 30. The Detroit Neighborhood Initiative is generously sponsored by the General Motors Corporation.
PNC Pops series programming continues in Orchestra Hall this June, beginning with a one-night-only performance of The Doo Wop Project on June 1 in Orchestra Hall. Conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the program features classics from The Crests, The Flamingos, and The Four Seasons, all the way to Jason Mraz and Maroon 5 with vocalists Dominic Nolfi, Charl Brown, Dwayne Cooper, Russell Fischer, and John Michael Dias and drummer Joe Bergamini.
From June 3 to June 5, the PNC Pops series continues with Summer Blockbusters conducted by Damon Gupton, a program of the best music from some of the top-grossing summer movies of all time, including Aladdin, Gladiator, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, with favorites by John Williams and Hans Zimmer. The title sponsor of the DSO’s PNC Pops Series is PNC Bank.
The DSO will also continue its William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series with Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 conducted by Kerem Hasan and featuring DSO Acting Concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy (June 16, 17 and 19, in Southfield, Monroe, and Beverly Hills) and Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 conducted by Jonathon Heyward and featuring DSO Acting Principal Bassoon Michael Ke Ma (July 14-17 in West Bloomfield, Livonia, Bloomfield Hills, and Grosse Pointe). The William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series is made possible by a generous grant from the William Davidson Foundation. WRCJ 90.9 FM also supports the series.
21-22 Paradise Jazz Series programming concludes this summer with a double bill: Joel Ross and Brandee Younger Duo opening for the debut of Robert Hurst Presents D3 with Karriem Riggins and Ian Finkelstein on June 25. The Paradise Jazz Series is made possible with support from Huntington and MGM Grand Detroit.
The DSO will present Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish on June 29 in Orchestra Hall. This program, conducted by Lawrence Loh, brings The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Aladdin, and more to life through the talents of four Broadway-caliber singers, original Disney film footage, and sweeping orchestral scores performed live by the DSO. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © All rights reserved
On July 1, Detroit native, visual artist, painter, producer, DJ, and emcee Tashif “Sheefy Mcfly” Turner presents a multidisciplinary experience across the DSO campus. The evening begins with a DJ set and art pop up in Sosnick Courtyard, followed by the premier of Turner’s new body of work in the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Atrium, and concludes with a short film debut and concert featuring live painting with Detroit's Urban Art Orchestra in The Cube.
On July 10, Enjoy the music of Harry Potter like never before with the DSO conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on the campus of Oakland University. Tickets for The Magical Music of Harry Potter start at $25 and can be purchased at 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com, and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena.
The DSO will be joined by Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn at the tenth Heroes Gala and Benefit Concert on Saturday, June 18 in Orchestra Hall. The program, conducted by Music Director Jader Bignamini, will include Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy with Hahn, Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide, Amilcare Ponchielli’s "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda, Camille Saint-Saëns’s "Bacchanale" from Samson and Delilah, and Jeronimo Gimenez’s Intermezzo from La Boda de Luis Alonso. The 2022 Heroes Gala honors community philanthropists Linda Dresner and Ed Levy, Jr. and is presented by Stanley and Judy Frankel and the Marjorie S. Fisher Fund, with additional support from Ed Levy, Jr. and Linda Dresner, Harold and Penny Blumenstein, Joanne Danto and Arnold Weingarden, DTE, and Jim and Nancy Grosfeld.
On July 21, The National Arab Orchestra will present a special free performance in Sosnick Courtyard for Detroit’s 30th Annual Concert of Colors festival in collaboration with Detroit’s leading cultural institutions, celebrating three decades as summer’s go-to, free, live music and arts event in the great outdoors of Detroit’s Cultural Center from July 18-25.
Building on the long and storied history between the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Interlochen Center for the Arts, DSO musicians will lead master classes and rehearse side by side with students and Music Director Jader Bignamini will lead concerts by the DSO and Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra as part of the 95th season of Interlochen Arts Camp. The DSO will also perform at Interlochen’s iconic Kresge Auditorium on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET as part of the 2022 Interlochen Arts Festival. Tickets start at $51 and can be purchased at interlochen.org/tickets.
See below or visit dso.org/summer for a current list of performances. Additional program information will be announced as it is confirmed.
DSO safety policies: Masks are strongly recommended for all patrons attending events at The Max and other DSO venues. The current CDC COVID-19 community level in our area is HIGH. The CDC strongly recommends wearing a mask in all public indoor areas regardless of vaccination status. Proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test for all guests is still required upon entry. Safety policies are regularly assessed and subject to change. Patrons should visit dso.org/safetyplan for the latest information ahead of their event.
CONCERT INFORMATIONProgram and artists subject to change. Visit dso.org for full program information and to purchase tickets.
The Doo Wop Project – PNC Pops Series – June 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
Summer Blockbusters – PNC Pops Series – June 3 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m., June 4 at 8 p.m., and June 5 at 3 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
The Magical Music of Harry Potter – June 10 at 7 p.m. at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 – William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series – June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Southfield, June 17 at 8 p.m. in Monroe, June 19 at 3 p.m. in Beverly Hills
Hilary Hahn Performs Carmen Fantasy – PVS Classical Series – Heroes Gala – June 18 at 7 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
Robert Hurst III and Black Current Jam – Paradise Jazz Series – June 25 at 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish – DSO Presents – June 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
Salute to America – June 30 – July 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Greenfield Village
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 – William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series – July 14 at 7:30 p.m. in West Bloomfield, July 15 at 8 p.m. in Livonia, July 16 at 8 p.m. in Bloomfield Hills, and July 17 at 3 p.m. in Grosse Pointe.
DSO in Concert at Interlochen – July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Interlochen Center for the Arts
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions
- Saturday, June 11 at 7 p.m. – Brandon Coleman: Interstellar Black Space: Bending the future of sound with a new astral funk revolution, Brandon Coleman brings his latest electronic funk odyssey to Sosnick Courtyard.
- Wednesday, June 15 at 7 p.m. – Grammy-award winning guitarist Isaiah Sharkey takes center stage at Sonsick Courtyard with an unmistakable dose of soul.
- Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. – Yoga & Music: Ambient Guitar Flow with Sasha Kashperko (guitar)
- Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m. – Lulu Fall brings soul and jazz to Sosnick Courtyard with selections from previous albums, a world premiere, and highlights from her upcoming EP, "Transform," set to release in September.
- Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m. – Poetry & Music: Nothin’ But the Blues: Spoken word Artist La Shaun phoenix Moore hosts an evening of poetry and live music from Sosnick Courtyard featuring Emmy award-winning writer and poet Scott Woods with a musical performance by Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis.
- Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. – Yoga & Music: Six Mile Strings with Yuri Popowcyz, Natalie Frakes, Alycia Wilder, and Tom Sullivan
Detroit Neighborhood Initiative events
- Saturday, June 4 at 1 p.m. – Inspire, Express, Connect! Durfee Innovation Center (2470 Collingwood St, Detroit, MI 48206)
- Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m. – Sounds of Summer 2: Chandler Park (meeting at the old tennis courts near the NW Corner of Frankfort St. And Gray St.)
- Saturday, July 9 at 1:30 p.m. – Clark Park Culture and Arts Festival: Clark Park (Clark Ave between Christiancy St & Vernor Hwy)
- Saturday, July 16 at 1 p.m. – Freedom! The Second Annual Community Arts and Music Festival: Chandler Park (meeting at the old tennis courts near the NW Corner of Frankfort St. And Gray St.)
- July 1 - July 29 – Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Five-week Friday morning family music workshop and performance series at Northwest Goldberg Cares Spotlight Park. Final celebration on Saturday, July 30 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
About the DSOThe 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 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.