Summer Sessions outdoor programming continues in DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard and the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube with a variety of events including The Kris Johnson Group, Kisma Jordan, Yoga & Music, and a Salsa Dance Party
Tickets on sale now at dso.org
Detroit, (August 4, 2022) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced its August summer programming in Sosnick Courtyard and the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (The Cube).
Summer Sessions concerts will continue 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 including The Kris Johnson Group (August 10) and Kisma Jordan (August 27) for genre-defying music experiences. The DSO will also continue Yoga & Music programming on August 25, led by Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructors and featuring Detroit artist DJ Kyle Hall. In the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube, Salsa Dance Party returns on August 13.
On August 10 at 7 p.m., The Kris Johnson Group performs in Sosnick Courtyard. Originally formed in 2007, the group plays an eclectic blend of Detroit-infused original music and explores grooves from the Black American Music canon, including themes of freedom and fearless self-expression. The group first collaborated under the tutelage of legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and is comprised of Johnson, Lulu Fall, and a diverse group of artists, each of whom are prolific educators, performers, improvisers, composers, and arrangers.
On August 13 at 8 p.m., Salsa Dance Party returns to The Cube with host Mambo Marci, an award-winning dancer and instructor. The evening will open with a salsa lesson accessible to all skill levels, followed by an open dance floor with live music performed by Venezuelan American vocalist Mariana Risquez and her 12-piece ensemble, and DJ sets by DJ Fercho.
On August 25 at 7 p.m., Yoga & Live Music: Electronic Flow continues in Sosnick Courtyard with a performance by Detroit artist DJ Kyle Hall. The class will be led by a Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructor and is accessible to all skill levels.
On August 27 at 7 p.m., Kisma Jordan presents the OperaSOUL Experience Mixtape in Sosnick Courtyard. The OperaSOUL Experience expands the scope of classical voice by blending operatic vocals with soul-pop music, including the use of violins with turntables. The organic practice of singing opera with other music styles creates a platform that celebrates gifted, professionally trained singers who demonstrate a great deal of vocal versatility. The music mixes original songs and reinterpreted covers, creating an evolving music experience that signifies a new way opera can be heard and explored.
General admission tickets for Sosnick Courtyard 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. General admission tickets for events in The Cube begin at $20 and can be purchased at dso.org. A limited number of VIP experiences and cabaret seating are also available for purchase.
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions performances and programming in The Cube are made possible with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Peter and Julie Cummings.
See below or visit dso.org/summer for a current list of performances.
DSO SAFETY POLICIES: Masks are strongly recommended for all patrons attending events at The Max and other DSO venues. Proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test for all guests is required upon entry for indoor events and is not required for outdoor events (including in Sosnick Courtyard). Visit dso.org/safetyplan for the latest updates.
CONCERT INFORMATION
Events in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (located within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit):
- Salsa Dance Party – August 13 at 8 p.m.
Salsa Dance Party returns hosted by award-winning dancer-instructor Mambo Marci, who will open the evening with teach a salsa lesson accessible to all skill levels, followed by an open dance floor accompanied by live music performed by award-winning Venezuelan-American vocalist Mariana Risquez and her 12-piece ensemble and DJ Sets by DJ Fercho.
Mambo Marci, instructor
Mariana Risquez, vocalist
DJ Fercho, DJ
Ticket Information:
VIP – $40 with cabaret table seating in The Cube
General Admission – $20
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions events (located in Sosnick Courtyard, 51 Parsons St, Detroit—adjacent to the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center):
- Wednesday, August 10 at 7 p.m. – The Kris Johnson Group: Originally formed in 2007, the Kris Johnson Group plays an eclectic blend of Detroit-infused original music. Kris gathered the founding members from friendships formed in high school, under the tutelage of Marcus Belgrave, whose inspiration led them to genre-bending artistry. The result is a dynamic ensemble that explores an array of grooves from the Black American Music canon and themes of freedom and fearless self-expression. The music is delivered by a diverse group of artists, each of whom are prolific educators, performers, improvisers, composers, and arrangers in their own right. Principal among these collaborators is Lulu Fall, Kris's partner in music and in life.
- Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. – Yoga & Live Music: Electronic Flow: Join us in Sosnick Courtyard for an evening of yoga and live music performed by Detroit artist DJ Kyle Hall. The class will be led by a Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructor and is accessible to all skill levels. Namaste.
- Saturday, August 27 at 7 p.m. – Kisma Jordan: OperaSOUL Experience Mixtape: The OperaSOUL Experience expands the scope of classical voice and its audience as a concert experience that seamlessly blends operatic vocals with soul-pop music. The organic practice of singing opera with other music styles creates a platform that celebrates gifted, professionally trained singers who demonstrate a great deal of vocal versatility. This movement's creativity rests on the singers' abilities and an orchestral design that combines violins with turntables. The music mixes original songs and reinterpreted covers, creating an evolving music experience that signifies a new way opera can be heard and explored.
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. 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.