Detroit, (September 1, 2021) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced changes to its safety policies in advance of the 2021-2022 concert season, scheduled to begin later this month. Starting September 18, the DSO will require that all guests provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative test (48-hour PCR or 6-hour antigen) to enter the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center (The Max) and Orchestra Hall. Everyone must also wear a mask while inside, regardless of vaccination status.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DSO has prioritized the health and safety of its patrons, musicians, and staff. The orchestra has also been able to adapt and keep the music playing through an expansion of its already robust digital music offerings and more than 100 socially distanced outdoor concerts, both in its Sosnick Courtyard and throughout metro Detroit.
The new protocols give the DSO the opportunity to safely bring back as many people as possible to indoor concerts and will remain in place until community transmission rates no longer require them. Orchestra Hall will operate at full audience capacity when the 2021-2022 season begins. The DSO continues to follow recommendations on indoor gatherings and preventing the spread of COVID-19 by health experts including those from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS).
“We are so excited to welcome audiences back to The Max and Orchestra Hall for a full season of concerts by our incredible DSO musicians, Music Director Jader Bignamini, and guest artists from around the world,” said DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons. “While we understand everyone’s desire to return to normal, we have concluded that these new policies are necessary to safely welcome back as many people as possible. I remain hopeful that the steps we take now will be temporary and that they will ultimately help to reduce the spread of COVID-19. I invite all to watch our free, live webcasts at dso.org if you are unable to join us in person.”
Single tickets for the DSO’s Classical and PNC Pops series go on sale Thursday, September 2 at the DSO Box Office and dso.org. A new season of Live from Orchestra Hall webcasts, including every Classical Series program and select PNC Pops Series programs, will be announced in the coming weeks. The new 2021-2022 Paradise Jazz Series, with both in-person and digital options, was announced on Tuesday.
Ticket holders will receive complete details on how to present their proof of vaccination or negative test results prior to their scheduled performance. For more information and updates, visit dso.org/safetyplan. Policies will remain in effect for as long as community transmission requires and will be regularly assessed. Policies are subject to change.
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.