- Enrico Lopez-Yañez will conduct works by Latin American composers, sacred and popular favorites, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel
- Event presented as part of DSO’s Detroit Strategy, a strengthened commitment to the growth and well-being of the City of Detroit
- Family-friendly performance is free and open to the public
Detroit, (January 31, 2022) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is proud to collaborate with organizations and community members in Southwest Detroit to present a musical experience at St. Hedwig Catholic Church on February 9, presented under the auspices of the orchestra’s Detroit Strategy, a strengthened commitment to the growth and well-being of the City of Detroit.
The DSO’s Detroit Strategy is comprised of two initiatives: Detroit Neighborhood Initiative is a community-driven process of dialogue and planning, resulting in cultural partnerships that enrich the community and musical experiences that align with the priorities of Detroit residents; Detroit Harmony is a scalable and sustainable citywide collaboration to improve child development through music education and arts-based learning, and to grow economic opportunity by engaging Detroiters in the provision of instruments and music education. Detroit Harmony aims to put an instrument in the hand of every K-12 student in the city of Detroit who wants to learn to play.
Led by conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the February 9 concert will include works by Latin American composers, sacred and popular favorites, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 9 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Hedwig Catholic Church (3245 Junction Ave, Detroit, MI 48210). This family-friendly event is free and open to the public and no tickets are required. See below for full program information. At the close of this event, Detroit Harmony will present several pre-selected community partners with instrument donations for local students.
With the support of grants from General Motors totaling $350,000 over two years, the DSO met with 77 community-serving organizations in Detroit, held 13 listening sessions with Detroit residents, and implemented 4 Neighborhood Musical Experiences in Chandler Park and Southwest Detroit, engaging with more than 1,600 community members since March of 2021. The DSO has sought out new relationships and engaged both community organizations and Detroit residents in designing and implementing respectful, responsive Musical Experiences in Detroit Neighborhoods. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation joined in supporting these efforts in mid-2021, with a grant of $200,000. This grant expands Musical Experiences into NW Goldberg, Dexter-Linwood, and the surrounding areas, allows the DSO to engage in research and resource provision for early childhood musical engagement citywide. The City of Detroit’s Arts, Culture, & Entrepreneurship (ACE) office provided additional media sponsorship for the February 9 Detroit Neighborhood Initiative event at St. Hedwig Catholic Church.
To protect the health and well-being of our patrons, musicians, and staff, safety policies for this event include mask and vaccine or test requirements for all guests and contactless e-ticketing. All attendees must provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test result (48-hour PCR or 6-hour antigen) and are required to properly wear a mask at all times regardless of vaccination status. Visit dso.org/safetyplan for more information.
The Detroit Neighborhood Initiative is generously sponsored by the General Motors Corporation.
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DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
Wednesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Hedwig Catholic Church (3245 Junction Ave, Detroit, MI 48210)
Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH trans. EUGENE ORMANDY Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH arr. GOUNOD/COZENS Ave Maria
GEORGES BIZET ed. HOFFMAN arr. JEFF TYZIK Suite No.1 from Carmen: Prélude, Aragonaise, Intermezzo, Les Toréadors
ERNESTO LECUONA arr. MORTON GOULD and JEFF TYZIK Andalucía
ZEQUINA ABREU arr. VELASQUEZ Tico Tico
VINICIO MEZA Lucia for String Orchestra
JUAN GARRIDO Pelea de Gallos (featuring Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel)
RICHARD RODGERS arr. TED RICKETTS A Tribute to Richard Rodgers: Song of the High Seas, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, Carousel Waltz, Climb Ev'ry Mountain
ALAN MENKEN arr. CALVIN CUSTER Highlights from Beauty and the Beast
arr. ENRICO LOPEZ-YAÑEZ La Llorona for full orchestra
ARY BARROSO arr. WASSON Aquarela do Brasil
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About Enrico Lopez-Yañez
Enrico Lopez-Yañez is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Nashville Symphony where he leads the Symphony’s Pops Series and Family Series. Lopez-Yañez is quickly establishing himself as one of the nation’s leading conductors of popular music and becoming known for his unique style of audience engagement. Also an active composer and arranger, Lopez-Yañez has been commissioned to write for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Houston Symphony, and has had his works performed by orchestras including the Detroit Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony, Utah Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Columbus Symphony, and Florida Orchestra.
Since working with the Nashville Symphony, Lopez-Yañez has conducted concerts with a broad spectrum of artists including Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, Toby Keith, Trisha Yearwood, Kellie Pickler, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Megan Hilty, Hanson, and more. Additionally, he leads many of the films in concert on the symphony’s Movie Series including Beauty and the Beast, Coco, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Home Alone, among others. Lopez-Yañez also conducts the annual Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th fireworks show, which was first televised on CMT in 2019, reaching millions of viewers across the nation.
In the upcoming season, Lopez-Yañez will collaborate with artists including Nas, Leslie Odom Jr., Stewart Copeland of The Police, Ben Folds, Jennifer Nettles, Boz Scaggs, and more. Lopez-Yañez will appear with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, National Symphony, Pacific Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and will make return appearances with the Detroit Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, and Toledo Symphony. Previously, Lopez- Yañez has appeared with orchestras throughout North America including the Aguascalientes Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Omaha Symphony, and Utah Symphony, among others.
As Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Symphonica Productions, LLC, Lopez-Yañez curates and leads programs designed to cultivate new audiences. An enthusiastic proponent of innovating the education concert experience, his exciting concerts “breathe new, exuberant life into classical programming for kids and families” (Nashville Parent Magazine). Symphonica’s productions have been described as “incredibly special — and something that needs to become the new norm in educational programing” (Lima Symphony).
As a producer, composer, and arranger, Lopez-Yañez’s work can be heard on numerous albums including the UNESCO benefit album Action Moves People United and children’s music albums including The Spaceship that Fell in My Backyard. Lopez-Yañez has won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music and Media Awards, Family Choice Awards, a Global Media Award, and a Parents’ Choice Award.
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. 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 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 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 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.