- Orchestra, vocalist, and full rock band will perform hits like “How Will I Know?” and “I Will Always Love You”
- Tickets available for concert only, or special packages including pre- and post-concert perks
Detroit, (December 6, 2018) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will ring in 2019 with The Music of Whitney Houston, an orchestral celebration of one of pop’s best-selling and most-loved talents. Conductor/arranger Brent Havens will lead the DSO and a full rock band fronted by vocalist Rashidra Scott for a program that includes all the Whitney hits: “Greatest Love of All,” “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay,” “How Will I Know?” and more.
Tickets are on sale now for the concert, which begins at 10 p.m on Monday, December 31 and concludes just after midnight, with a countdown and celebration to mark the new year.
New Year’s Eve Bash packages are also available at various levels; Bash patrons can gain access to exclusive pre- and post-concert perks like hors d’oeuvres, a midnight champagne toast, an afterparty with dancing and drinks, and more. See below for complete ticketing and Bash package information.
All events take place at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in Midtown Detroit.
The New Year’s Eve Bash is made possible with support from the Stanley and Judith Frankel Family Foundation.
About Brent Havens
Berklee-trained arranger/conductor Brent Havens has written music for orchestras, feature films, and virtually every kind of television. His TV work includes movies for networks such as ABC, CBS, and ABC Family Channel Network, commercials, sports music for ESPN, and even cartoons. Havens also collaborated with the Doobie Brothers and the Milwaukee Symphony, arranging and conducting the combined group for Harley Davidson’s 100th Anniversary Birthday Party Finale attended by over 150,000 fans.
He has worked with some of the world’s greatest orchestras—including the Royal Philharmonic in London, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and countless others. In 2013 Havens conducted the Malaysian Philharmonic for the Music of Michael Jackson, and he returned to Kuala Lumpur in 2014 with the Music of Led Zeppelin and 2015 with the Music of Queen.
Havens is Arranger/Guest Conductor for 14 symphonic rock programs: the Music of Led Zeppelin, the Music of the Doors, the Music of Pink Floyd, the Music of the Eagles, the Music of Queen, the Music of Michael Jackson, the Music of The Who, The Music of Whitney Houston, the Music of The Rolling Stones, the Music of U2, the Music of Journey, The Music of Elton John, and most recently The Music of David Bowie and The Music of Prince. Havens also premiered a full orchestral show for Lou Gramm, the voice of Foreigner, with Lou singing out front.
About Rashidra Scott
From an early age Rashidra Scott was known around town as “the little girl with the big voice.” From community musical theatre to church music ministry, she was constantly in demand for civic and social performances at local and national events.
Scott took her talents to Berklee College of Music, earning her B.A. of Music, and then to Walt Disney Entertainment, where she spent four years as a featured vocalist on Disney Cruise Line (Disney Wonder) and Tarzan Rocks! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She was also a proud member of the opening team at Hong Kong Disneyland, performing Nala in The Festival of The Lion King.
Scott then moved to New York, where she was recently seen on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carol King Musical. Her Broadway credits also include ensemble and lead roles in Avenue Q, Finian’s Rainbow, Hair, and Sister Act. Scott’s television appearances include Violet (the singing nurse) on Sony/Fox’s Rescue Me, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Dancing with the Stars, the 2011 and 2014 Tony Awards, The View, Good Morning America, The Today Show, the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade, and the Macy’s and CBS Thanksgiving Day parades.
Scott has worked with symphony orchestras across the country as “The Voice,” superstar diva Whitney Houston, bringing the music of one of pop’s greatest talents to concert halls everywhere.
Ticket Information and New Year’s Eve Bash Ticket Packages
Concert-only tickets begin at $50. Concert-only tickets can be purchased from the DSO Box Office at dso.org, by calling (313) 576-5111, or in-person at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit).
New Year’s Eve Bash tickets, which include a variety of benefits at different levels, begin at $150. Please visit dso.org/nye to purchase Bash ticket packages. See below for a complete list of levels.
Pre-concert New Year’s Eve Bash events begin at 8 p.m. Post-concert New Year’s Eve Bash events begin at the conclusion of the concert (just after midnight) and continue until 2 a.m.
New Year’s Eve Bash ticket packages include:
So Emotional Package ($150 per person)
Balcony seating for the concert
Post-concert access to The Diva Lair, with a DJ, dancing, and open bar until 2 a.m.
Post-concert breakfast buffet
Garage parking
New Year’s Eve swag bag
Dance With Somebody Package ($250 per person)
Main Floor A seating for the concert
Pre-concert open bar beginning at 8 p.m., plus open bar access during concert intermission
Champagne toast at midnight
Post-concert access to The Diva Lair, with a DJ, dancing, and open bar until 2 a.m.
Post-concert breakfast buffet
Valet parking
New Year’s Eve swag bag
The Bodyguard Package ($350 per person)
Box level seating for the concert
Pre-concert open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and access to the Queen of the Night Lounge beginning at 8 p.m., plus open bar access during concert intermission
Champagne toast at midnight
Post-concert access to The Diva Lair, with a DJ, dancing, and open bar until 2 a.m.
Post-concert breakfast buffet
Valet parking
VIP New Year’s Eve swag bag
The Greatest Love of All Suite ($3,000 for a party of eight)
Entertain a party of eight in style with the VIP treatment – the whole party receives The Bodyguard Package benefits, plus a private champagne bottle for the box and an exclusive meet-and-greet with the performers after the concert.
Availability is limited for The Greatest Love of All Suite. Please contact Jenni Clark at (313) 576-5449 for details.
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.