Summer Sessions outdoor programming continues in DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard with a variety of events including Paxton/Spangler Septet, a DSO String Quartet, Yoga & Music, King Alexander, Noah Jackson, and Detroit’s 30th Annual Concert of Colors festival
In The Cube: Sheefy McFly Experience with Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra, plus a night of funk, soul, and electronica with Amp Fiddler x Urban Art Orchestra
Tickets on sale now at dso.org
Detroit, (June 30, 2022) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) today announced its July summer programming in Sosnick Courtyard and the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube (The Cube).
On July 1 at 5 p.m., Detroit native, visual artist, painter, producer, DJ, and emcee Tashif “Sheefy Mcfly” Turner presents a multidisciplinary experience across the DSO campus. The evening features a DJ set and art pop-up in Sosnick Courtyard, the premiere of Turner’s new body of work in the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center’s William Davidson Atrium, concluding with a live painting and concert with Detroit's Urban Art Orchestra with a special guest appearance on a song by Royce da 5'9" in 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 Paxton/Spangler Septet (July 8), a DSO String Quartet (July 11), King Alexander (July 29), and Noah Jackson (July 30) for genre-defying music experiences. The DSO will also continue Yoga & Music programming with two events on July 14 and July 28, led by Detroit Yoga Lab certified instructors and featuring guitarist Alan Ayoub, bassist Dan Kolton, and harpist Ahya Simone.
On July 21 at 7 p.m., 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, join us as we celebrate three decades of free outdoor, live music and arts events throughout Detroit’s Cultural Center.
On July 22 at 8 p.m., singer, songwriter, and producer Amp Fiddler is joined by Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra for a night of funk, soul, and electronica in The Cube. Amp Fiddler has worked with George Clinton, J Dilla, and Prince—forging a legacy of combining textures of dance music with funk and soul—highlighting Detroit's rich musical heritage through the decades.
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 $30 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):
- Sheefy McFly Experience with Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra – July 1 at 5 p.m.
Detroit native, visual artist, painter, producer, DJ, and emcee Tashif “Sheefy Mcfly” Turner presents a multidisciplinary experience across the DSO campus. The evening features a DJ set and art pop-up in Sosnick Courtyard, the premiere of Turner’s new body of work in the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Atrium, concluding with a live painting and concert with Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra in The Cube.
Tashif “Sheefy” McFly, artist
Deon Jamar, DJ
De’Sean Jones, composer
Urban Art Orchestra, ensemble
Ticket Information:
VIP – $79 Full experience with cabaret table seating in The Cube
General Admission – $49 Full experience with GA theater seating in The Cube - Amp Fiddler x Urban Art Orchestra – July 22 at 8 p.m.
Singer, songwriter, and producer Amp Fiddler is joined by Detroit's Urban Art Orchestra for a night of funk, soul, and electronica in The Cube. Amp Fiddler has worked with George Clinton, J Dilla, and Prince—forging a legacy of combining textures of dance music with funk and soul—highlighting Detroit's rich musical heritage through the decades.
Amp Fiddler, vocalist
Urban Art Orchestra, ensemble
Ticket Information:
Cabaret Table Seating – $60
General Admission Theater Seating – $30
Sosnick Courtyard Summer Sessions events (located in Sosnick Courtyard, 51 Parsons St, Detroit—adjacent to the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center):
- Friday, July 8 at 7 p.m. – Paxton/Spangler Septet Performs Ugqozi: The Paxton/Spangler Septet takes the stage in Sosnick Courtyard to perform songs from their new album Ugqozi, which translates from isiZulu as "inspiration." This inspiration “is layered and can be felt and understood on various levels,” combining the influences of South African jazz and the unique synergy between the musicians’ instrumental blending and aesthetic understanding.
- Monday, July 11 at 7 p.m. – DSO Outdoors: Experience the talent of DSO musicians, the bliss of warm summer air, and the sense of community that comes from enjoying live music with others. A DSO String Quartet will perform Dvořák’s famous American Quartet, selections from Scott Joplin, and celebrated Motown tunes arranged by DSO cellist Jeremy Crosmer.
- Thursday, July 14 at 7 p.m. – Yoga & Music with Dan Kolton and Al Ayoub: Join us in Sosnick Courtyard for a warm summer evening yoga practice accessible to all skill levels led by a Detroit Yoga Lab certified yoga instructor. Guitarist Alan Ayoub and bassist Dan Kolton will provide an electro-acoustic stream of consciousness from Bach, to Blackbird and beyond to accompany your practice. Namaste.
- Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. – 30th Annual Concert of Colors: 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, join us as we celebrate three decades of free outdoor, live music and arts events throughout Detroit’s Cultural Center. Learn more about Concert of Colors.
- Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m. – Yoga & Live Music with Ahya Simone (harp): Join us in Sosnick Courtyard for a warm summer evening yoga practice accessible to all skill levels led by a Detroit Yoga Lab certified yoga instructor and accompanied by live music featuring harpist Ahya Simone.
- Friday, July 29 at 7 p.m. – King Alexander: King Alexander takes the stage in Sosnick Courtyard to perform feel-good R&B groves and soulful vibes. Born and raised in Detroit, Alexander White—professionally known as King Alexander—adds a modern twist to retro R&B, drawing inspiration from Usher, Michael Jackson, and Prince.
- Saturday, July 30 at 7 p.m. – Noah Jackson: Full Circle: Noah Jackson returns with his new band Full Circle for an outdoor evening of jazz that will inspire music lovers of every persuasion. “Eventually things in life come Full Circle. This band was created to reflect the philosophy that music is not just meant to stand alone, but to be experienced by all who hear.” – Noah Jackson
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.