ALL SUMMER: WEEKDAY OUTDOOR CONCERTS IN DSO’S SOSNICK COURTYARD
JUNE 30 – JULY 3: “SALUTE TO AMERICA: SUMMER STROLL” AT GREENFIELD VILLAGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HENRY FORD, PLUS A LIVESTREAMED SALUTE TO AMERICA CONCERT IN ORCHESTRA HALL ON JULY 4
JULY 10 & 11: PERFORMANCES AT FORD HOUSE IN GROSSE POINTE
- Additional community and parks concerts to take place at the Detroit Riverfront Conversancy’s Dequindre Cut Freight Yard and Gabriel Richard Park, John D. Dingel VA Medical Center, Cullen Plaza, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, and North Rosedale Park
Detroit, (June 3, 2021) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced a variety of concerts and events to take place for audiences this summer at locations in Detroit and surrounding communities. DSO Summer Sessionsconcerts will be performed all summer at the orchestra’s own Sosnick Courtyard and in several parks and community gathering places. Introduced in August 2020, Summer Sessions concerts are in-person, socially distanced performances featuring small groups of musicians that are open to limited-capacity audiences. See below for more information on upcoming Summer Sessions concerts.
After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Henry Ford and the DSO are continuing their more than 25-year partnership in 2021 with a safe expression of the traditional Salute to America event. Salute to America: Summer Stroll will take place in Greenfield Village Wednesday June 30 through Saturday, July 3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. DSO ensembles will perform Americana and patriotic favorites throughout the village with guests enjoying the music—plus historical building experiences, free carousel rides, food and beverage options, and a fireworks finale to end the night. Tickets before June 21 for Salute to America: Summer Stroll are available at thehenryford.org and cost $32 for adults (12 and up), $28.75 for seniors (62 and up), and $22.50 for youth (2-12). Members of The Henry Ford may purchase tickets for $27.25, $24.50, and $20.50, respectively. All children under the age of two are free. For updates on hours, tickets, and safety guidelines, visit thehenryford.org or follow The Henry Ford on social media @thehenryford.
In addition, the full DSO will perform a Salute to America program in Orchestra Hall on Sunday, July 4 at 3 p.m. that will be livestreamed on dso.org. Enrico Lopez-Yañez will conduct. More details on this concert are to be announced.
Following a smaller chamber music performance last year, the full DSO will also return this summer to Ford House in Grosse Pointe for a pair of outdoor concerts on the estate’s breathtaking lakefront grounds. Stephen Mulligan will conduct light classical favorites on Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11 at 7 p.m. Picnic on the lawn of the historic estate and enjoy a performance by the entire orchestra. The same program will be performed each evening, and capacity is limited to allow for social distancing. General admission tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for youth (5-12 years), and includes concert admission and lawn seating. Audience is encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Premium tickets are $60 and includes seating in a premium section, chair included, and a shuttle to the house. For tickets and further information, visit fordhouse.org.
DSO Summer Sessions Concerts
Summer Sessions concerts will be presented Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings beginning June 8 through September 2, 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. Tuesdays will feature Yoga + Live Music with a Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructor; Wednesdays offer a variety of DSO chamber ensembles; and Thursdays will feature genre-defying experiences with special guest artists.
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 seating will not be provided (except for VIP seating); patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. The health and safety of our patrons, musicians, and staff is our top priority, and event attendees should follow protocols that keep us all safe. The DSO is following current recommendations by the State of Michigan for masks. Please visit dso.org/safetyplan for more information.
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions performances are made possible with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and League of American Orchestras’ Futures Fund.
The DSO will return to the John D. Dingel VA Medical Center in Midtown Detroit on Thursday, June 10 at 12 p.m. performing classical selections and patriotic favorites. Support for this concert is provided by FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of Stellantis, in honor of America's Veterans and Active Military. This event is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, June 5 at 7 p.m., members of the DSO Bassoon Quartet will kick off North Rosedale Park’s Summer Saturday Outdoor Concert Series. The North Rosedale Park Civic Association is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the North Rosedale Park community this summer. The event is free and open to the public.
In partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, DSO musicians will perform on Sundays at 12 p.m. at two community venues: Gabriel Richard Park on June 6 and the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard on June 13 and July 18. The Rush Hour Recital Series, generously sponsored by the Stone Foundation of Michigan, will triumphantly return to Cullen Plaza on Wednesday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. These events are free and open to the public. Event attendees must register to attend at dso.org.
DSO ensembles will also perform at Huron-Clinton Metroparks throughout the region, including Kensington Metropark on Saturday, June 12 at 7 p.m., Lake St. Clair Metropark on Tuesday, July 13 at 7 p.m., and Stony Creek Metropark in August with a date to be announced. A Metroparks pass is required for entry to the parks. Passes are $10 per vehicle for daily access and $40 per vehicle for annual access and can be purchased by clicking here.
On Thursday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m., the DSO will present a free, socially distanced, sensory-friendly concert in Sosnick Courtyard. We Are a Family is a musical story time program set to Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major and supported by a story of a joyful bunny family on a fun-filled summer adventure. Sensory-friendly concerts are designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other sensory sensitivities who may experience hypersensitivity to visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. Adjustments are made to the concert experience and environment so audience members can enjoy a musical performance in a space that is more supportive to their individual needs. Event attendees must register to attend at dso.org.
Summer programming highlights later in the season include Grammy-nominated, New Orleans-based R&B band Tank and the Bangas, Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East, Camila Meza + DSO String Quartet, Kisma Jordan’s OPERA Soul, a special co-presentation with Concert of Colors, and a live taping of the popular Between 2 Stands web series.
See below or visit dso.org/summer for a current list of performances. More program details will be announced later this month.
Summer Sessions: Yoga + Live Music (Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Sosnick Courtyard): Practice yoga outdoors to live music performed by DSO ensembles! A Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructor leads a limited-capacity, socially distanced group yoga session in the DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard open to all skill levels. Experience the bliss of warm summer air and the sense of community that comes from safely enjoying live music and yoga with others. Namaste.
- June 8 – Flute and Harp Duo: Amanda Blaikie (flute) and Patricia Masri-Fletcher (harp)
- June 15 – DSO Percussion Ensemble: Jeremy Epp, Jay Ritchie, Joseph Becker, and Andrés Pichardo-Rosenthal
- June 22 – DSO String Quartet: Rachel Klaus (violin), Gregory Staples (violin), Mike Chen (viola), and Una O'Riordan (cello)
- June 29 – DSO String Quartet: Marguerite Deslippe (violin), Jing Zhang (violin), Hart Hollman (viola), and David LeDoux (cello)
Summer Sessions: DSO Outdoors (Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Sosnick Courtyard): Join us for an outdoor, socially distanced chamber music performance at Sosnick Courtyard. Experience the incredible artistry of musicians from your Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the bliss of warm summer air, and the sense of community that comes from enjoying live music with others.
- June 9 – DSO Horns: Mark Abbott, Dave Everson, Karl Pituch, Scott Strong, and Johanna Yarbrough
- June 16 – DSO String Quartet: Laurie Goldman (violin), Alexander Volkov (violin), Caroline Coade (viola), and Abe Feder (cello)
- June 23 – DSO Chamber Ensemble: Hannah Hammel (flute), Sharon Sparrow (flute), Jeff Zook (flute), and Patricia Masri-Fletcher (harp)
- June 30 – DSO String Quintet: Will Haapaniemi (violin), Heidi Han (violin), James VanValkenburg (viola), Jeremy Crosmer (cello), and Stephen Molina (bass)
CUBE Summer Sessions (Thursdays or Fridays at Sosnick Courtyard): Join us for outdoor, socially distanced live music performances at Sosnick Courtyard. Enjoy genre-defying experiences featuring guest artists from around the world!
- June 17 at 8 p.m. – Poetry + Live Music: Spoken word artist La Shaun phoenix Moore hosts an evening of music and poetry live from Sosnick Courtyard featuring Detroit’s finest poets.
- June 18 at 7 p.m. – Grammy-nominated, New Orleans-based R&B/hip-hop/spoken word band Tank and the Bangas
- June 25 at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. – NYC-based jazz vocalist Brianna Thomas
Summer Sessions: DSO Outdoors throughout Detroit
- Saturday, June 5 at 7 p.m. – DSO Bassoon Quartet, North Rosedale Park: Summer Saturday Outdoor Concert Series
- Sunday, June 6 at 12 p.m. – Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Gabriel Richard Park
- Thursday, June 10 at 12 p.m. – John D. Dingel VA Medical Center, featuring classical selections and patriotic favorites
- Saturday, June 12 at 7 p.m. – Huron-Clinton Metroparks: Kensington Metropark
- Sunday, June 13 at 12 p.m. – Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Dequindre Cut Freight Yard
- Wednesday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. – Rush Hour Recital Series: Cullen Plaza
- Thursday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. – We Are a Family: Sensory-friendly concert at Sosnick Courtyard
- Tuesday, July 13 at 7 p.m. – Huron-Clinton Metroparks: Lake St. Clair Metropark
- Sunday, July 18 at 12 p.m. – Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Dequindre Cut Freight Yard
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 organization. In January 2020, Italian conductor Jader Bignamini was named the DSO’s next music director to commence with the 2020-2021 season. Conductor Leonard Slatkin, who concluded a decade-long tenure at the helm in 2018, now serves as the DSO’s Music Director Laureate. 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 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 eight 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.