- Popular outdoor concerts, now in 27th year, will take place July 3-6
- Sameer Patel conducts; DSO will share stage with Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band
Detroit, (June 13, 2019) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will return to historic Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford to present the 27th annual Salute to America celebration, with four concerts in as many nights.
Salute to America is a family-favorite outdoor Fourth of July concert experience, complete with patriotic music and a fireworks finale. Michigan native Sameer Patel will conduct the DSO, who will share the stage with the Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band (conducted by Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Pick) and vocalist Tish Oney.
The concerts take place Wednesday, July 3, Thursday, July 4, Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6.
Gates open at 6 p.m. First Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps will perform on the grounds at approximately 7 p.m. The Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m., followed by the DSO at 8:30 p.m.
See below for more information about tickets, seating, food and beverages, and more.
Salute to America is sponsored by Bank of America and Ford Motor Company.
About Sameer Patel
A Detroit native, Sameer Patel currently serves as associate conductor of the San Diego Symphony. He has performed as a guest conductor with many leading orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Leipziger Sinfonieorchester, and others.
Patel studied at the University of Michigan and later moved to Europe to further his training. His mentors include Gianandrea Noseda, Daniele Gatti, Kurt Masur, Bernard Haitink, David Zinman, and Neeme and Paavo Järvi. He is the recipient of three Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Awards as well as citations from the Accademia Chigiana, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation, and League of American Orchestras.
About Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Pick
Originally from New Windsor, NY, Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Pick earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College. Before joining the United States Army, CW2 Pick spent five years as a public school music teacher in New York and Ohio, and since then his assignments have included the USAREUR Band and Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany, the 323D Army Band in Fort Sam Houston, TX, and most recently at the 392D Army Band at Ft. Lee, VA, where he served as Commander and Bandmaster.
About The Jazz Ambassadors
The Jazz Ambassadors is the United States Army’s premier big band. This 19-member ensemble, formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and abroad performing America’s original art form, jazz.
The Jazz Ambassadors have performed in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and Europe, and in joint concerts with the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and many more, as well as at Carnegie Hall with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops.
Ticket and Event Information
27th Annual Salute to America at Greenfield Village
Wednesday, July 3
Thursday, July 4
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
at Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford (20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI)
Tickets are on sale now at The Henry Ford website or by calling (313) 982-6001. General admission tickets are $23.75 for Henry Ford Members and DSO Subscribers, $28 for nonmembers. Lower-cost tickets for children aged 5-11 are also available, and children 4 and under are free. Ticket prices will increase later this month.
Please note: DSO Subscribers should call The Henry Ford Call Center at (313) 982-6001 to purchase tickets at the discounted Subscriber rate.
VIP tickets are also available by calling (313) 982-6001. VIP tickets include access to a premium seating area and hospitality tent as well as upgraded parking.
A dining option with buffet supper at Greenfield Village’s Eagle Tavern is also available. Please call (313) 982-6001 for more information.
General admission ticketholders may enter the grounds when doors open at 6 p.m. All lawn seating is first-come, first-served. Chairs are not provided – patrons are highly encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets.
Wheelchairs may be rented but must be booked in advance of the event – please inquire when purchasing tickets or call The Henry Ford at (313) 982-6001 to make a reservation. Patrons are welcome to bring their own wheelchairs or scooters, however, upright scooters (Segways) are not allowed on premises. Patrons may also bring children’s strollers and wagons, but recreational scooters, bicycles, and in-line/in-sole skates are not allowed inside the Village gates.
Patrons are welcome to bring food and beverages for personal consumption only, and food and beverages (including beer and wine) will be sold on the grounds. Please note that outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Salute to America is a rain or shine event. Patrons should wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes and prepare for changes in the weather.
About The Henry Ford
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally-recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thehenryford.org, its national television programs, The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Did I Mention Invention? and other resources, The Henry Ford helps individuals of all kinds to unlock their potential and help shape a better future. The Henry Ford advanced its role as a catalyst for change in education with the acquisition of The STEMIE Coalition, a growing affiliation of organizations dedicated to fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in students, K-12. The Henry Ford hosts the National Invention Convention and makes innovation learning curriculum accessible to educators and students worldwide.
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 institution. Conductor Leonard Slatkin, who recently concluded an acclaimed decade-long tenure at the helm, now serves as the DSO’s Music Director Laureate, endowed by the Kresge Foundation. 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 America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, Orchestra Hall will celebrate 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 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.