Events include Detroit Community Ensembles performance, Wu Family Academy Showcase, Civic Youth Ensembles Family Experience, Civic Jazz Live!, and Educational Concert Series presentation
Ticket reservations available now at dso.org
Detroit, (January 24, 2024) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s (DSO) Community & Learning team is pleased to present a variety of educational and community ensemble performances this winter at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. Events include a Detroit Community Ensembles performance, Wu Family Academy Showcase, Civic Youth Ensembles Family Experience, Civic Jazz Live!, and an Educational Concert Series presentation highlighting the history of Detroit.
On Friday, February 9 at 7 p.m., the DSO’s Civic Youth Ensembles will host a Wu Family Academy Showcase concert in Orchestra Hall. The concert features the premier classical ensembles of the DSO's Civic Youth Ensembles (CYE) program. The evening will include performances by the Detroit Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble directed by Dr. Kenneth Thompson (currently in his 15th year with CYE) and the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra directed by DSO Assistant Conductor and Phillip and Lauren Fisher Community Ambassador Na’Zir McFadden. The program will include works by Vittorio Giannini, Gioachino Rossini, and Margaret Bonds, plus Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme performed by DSO Principal Cello Wei Yu.
On Sunday, February 11 at 1 p.m., CYE will present a winter CYE Family Experience concert in Orchestra Hall. The concert will feature performances by CYE groups including the Pizzicato String Ensemble, Civic Arco String Orchestra, Civic Sinfonia String Orchestra, Civic Concert String Orchestra, Civic Jazz Band, Creative Jazz Ensemble, Civic Jazz Orchestra, Civic Concert Band, Civic Symphonic Band, and Civic Philharmonic Orchestra. Leslie DeShazor, Director of the Civic Sinfonia String Orchestra since 2015 and instructor of the Dresner Allegro String Ensemble, will lead her final concert with the CYE program as she begins a position playing violin and viola in the touring production of Hamilton.
On Tuesday, February 13 at 7 p.m., the Detroit Community Ensembles, under the auspices of the DSO, will come together in Orchestra Hall for a program of band and orchestral music conducted by Damien Crutcher (the DSO’s Managing Director of Detroit Harmony) and music educator, composer, and conductor Maritza Garibay. Part of the DSO’s educational training programs, the Detroit Community Ensembles consists of the Detroit Community Concert Band (conducted by Crutcher) and the Detroit Community Orchestra (conducted by Garibay). Each ensemble is composed of a mix of adult musicians of all ages from across the metro Detroit area. This program will include works by Dvořák, Steven Bryant, Martin Ellerby, Michael Giacchino, and Morten Lauridsen.
On Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (The Cube), Civic Jazz Live! is the opening act for the DSO’s Paradise Jazz Series, featuring student musicians from CYE’s Civic Jazz Orchestra, directed by Vincent Chandler.
On Wednesday, March 6 at 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. and Thursday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m., the DSO will present "This is Detroit” as a part of its Educational Concert Series (ECS) in Orchestra Hall, celebrating the history of the city. ECS has introduced students to classical music for more than 80 years. Each ECS performance is thematically designed for students in grades three through eight to explore topics like science, history, and art through orchestral music. ECS performances are also webcast for free via the Live from Orchestra Hall: Classroom Edition series. All ECS programs offer accompanying teacher resource tools to classrooms who purchase tickets or register to watch webcasts online. Classroom registration and additional information for the Educational Concert Series performances can be found at dso.org.
CYE is proudly sponsored by the following funders: Robert & Lucinda Clement Fund for Music Education, Jack, Evelyn, & Richard Cole Family Foundation, Detroit Pistons, Vera & Joseph Dresner Foundation, The Fred A. & Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Ford Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Laurie Lindemulder Harris, David & Sheri Jaffa, The Kellman Scholars, Deborah Miesel Scholarship Endowment, Dr. Glenda D. Price, David & Christine Provost, Renaissance (MI) Chapter of the Links, The Bea & Harry Shapiro Fund for Keyboard Education, Bill & Chris Shell, Dr. Larry Teal, Peter & Carol Walters, Ilene Wenner & Shari Morgan Scholarship, Paul Wingert Scholarship, Drs. David & Bernadine Wu, and Burton A. Zipser & Sandra D. Zipser Foundation.
The Educational Concert Series is made possible in part by the Penny & Harold Blumenstein Future Audiences Fund with additional support from Dr. George & Joyce Blum, Jack Evelyn, and Richard Cole Family Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Detroit Pistons, Ford Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Laure Lindemulder Harris, Meemic, David & Christine Provost, Peter & Carol Walters, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, Drs. David & Bernadine Wu, and Burton A. Zipser & Sandra D. Zipser Foundation. Much of the growth of CYE was made possible through the years of visionary leadership from Clyde and Helen Wu. The DSO is proud to honor their legacy through the Wu Family Academy of Learning and Engagement, which encompasses all the educational activities of the DSO.
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WU FAMILY ACADEMY SHOWCASE
Friday, February 9 at 7 p.m.
Orchestra Hall
Kenneth Thompson, conductor
Na’Zir McFadden, conductor
The Wu Family Academy (WFA) Showcase features the premier classical ensembles of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles (CYE) program. Join the Detroit Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Kenneth Thompson, and the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, directed by DSO Assistant Conductor and Phillip and Lauren Fisher Community Ambassador, Na’Zir McFadden, in the historic Orchestra Hall.
The program will include works by Vittorio Giannini, Gioachino Rossini, Margaret Bonds, and Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 performed by DSO Principal Cello Wei Yu.
CYE FAMILY EXPERIENCE
Sunday, February 11 at 1 p.m.
Orchestra Hall
Showcasing the Civic Youth Ensembles on the Orchestra Hall stage, this all-day concert experience will feature ten ensembles including string orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz bands, and our philharmonic orchestra.
DETROIT COMMUNITY ENSEMBLES
Tuesday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
Orchestra Hall
Damien Crutcher, conductor
Maritza Garibay, conductor
Please join us for an exciting evening with the Detroit Community Orchestra and Detroit Community Concert Band! These ensembles include adults of all ages from the Metro Detroit area. This program will include works by Dvořák, Steven Bryant, Martin Ellerby, Michael Giacchino, and Morten Lauridsen.
CIVIC JAZZ LIVE!
Friday, February 23, 2024 at 7 p.m.
The Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube
Civic Jazz Live! is the opening act for the DSO’s Paradise Jazz Series, featuring student musicians from the Civic Youth Ensembles’ Civic Jazz Orchestra, directed by Vincent Chandler. Join us in The Cube before the show!
EDUCATIONAL CONCERT SERIES: THIS IS DETROIT
Wednesday, March 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 6 at 11:45 a.m.
Thursday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Orchestra Hall
Come and explore the history of Detroit that has shaped us to who we are today! What do you think Detroit will look like in the future?
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About Civic Youth Ensembles
Since its founding in 1970, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles (CYE) has grown to provide musicians of all ages with comprehensive music education experience. CYE’s mission is to cultivate every student's artistic and creative potential through rewarding musical experiences while developing meaningful skills outside the arts.
CYE consists of two full orchestras, four string orchestras, three wind ensembles, and three jazz ensembles, as well as several chamber ensembles and jazz combos. Led by dedicated and masterful music directors, each ensemble offers a unique opportunity for students at all skill levels seeking musical experiences beyond the classroom. CYE provides students the chance to perform at historic Orchestra Hall and learn from Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians.
Much of the growth of CYE was made possible through the years of visionary leadership from Clyde and Helen Wu. The DSO is proud to honor their legacy through the Wu Family Academy of Learning and Engagement, which encompasses all the educational activities of the DSO.
About Detroit Community Ensembles
Founded in 2016, the Detroit Community Ensembles (DCE) provide a safe and encouraging space for adults to continue playing their instrument. Open to all traditional classical instruments, DCE encourages musicians to oil their valves and rosin their bows to pick up right where they left off, rehearsing with friends and playing concerts in historic Orchestra Hall.
DCE currently consists of two ensembles: the Detroit Community Orchestra and the Detroit Community Band. DCE welcomes all players regardless of how long it’s been since they’ve last picked up an instrument, but experience of at least two years is recommended.
The Detroit Community Concert Band (DCB) houses a mix of professional and non-professional woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians from across the metro Detroit area. Under the direction of Damien Crutcher, DCB rehearses and performs standard wind ensemble repertoire in Detroit’s own historic Orchestra Hall. DCB has grown to over 110 members since its inception in 2016, and noted previous guest conductors include H. Robert Reynolds.
The Detroit Community Orchestra (DCO) contains a mix of professional and non-professional string musicians from across the metro Detroit area. Under the direction of Maritza Garibay, the DCO rehearses and performs a wide range of string chamber orchestral works on the historic Orchestra Hall stage. Three times each Detroit Community Ensemble season, the DCO collaborates with musicians from the Detroit Community Concert Band to perform full orchestra repertoire.
About the Educational Concert Series
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Educational Concert Series (ECS) has introduced students to classical music for more than 80 years. Each ECS performance is thematically designed to explore topics like science, history, and art through orchestral music. ECS performances take place in historic Orchestra Hall and are webcast for free via the Live from Orchestra Hall: Classroom Edition series. All ECS programs offer accompanying teacher resource tools to classrooms who purchase tickets or register to watch webcasts online.
ECS performances are recommended for students in 3rd through 8th grade. These performances are made possible in part by the Penny and Harold Blumenstein Future Audiences Fund.
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. Led by Music Director Jader Bignamini since 2020, the DSO makes its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, offering a performance schedule that features the PVS Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. In addition, the DSO presents the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in metro area venues, as well as 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.
Since its first school concerts a century ago, and particularly since the founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to students, teachers, and families in Detroit and surrounding communities. The DSO remains committed to expanding its participation in the growth and well-being of Detroit through programs like its Detroit Neighborhood Initiative—cultural events co-created with community partners and residents—and Detroit Harmony, a promise to provide an instrument and instruction to any student in the city who wants to learn. With unwavering support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact lives through the power of unforgettable musical experiences.