- Hamilton star comes to Orchestra Hall for special one-night-only appearance as part of the DSO’s Ninth Annual Heroes Gala and Benefit Concert
- Tickets available now for DSO subscribers, Friend Premier level donors, and Heroes Gala attendees; remaining concert-only tickets will go on sale to the general public in early 2019
Detroit, (December 20, 2018) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is excited to announce that actor and singer Leslie Odom, Jr. will perform in concert with the orchestra on Saturday, June 22, 2019. Odom, Jr. is best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway sensation Hamilton, for which he won a Tony Award and a Grammy Award.
The performance is part of the DSO’s Ninth Annual Heroes Gala and Benefit Concert. The Heroes Gala honors the remarkable men and women who impact the vision, values, and success of the organization. Proceeds from the event support the DSO’s commitment to transforming the lives of young people through music education. Longtime DSO supporter and Detroit philanthropist Mort Harris was announced as the 2019 Heroes Gala honoree at the DSO’s Annual Meeting of the Governing Members last week.
The event takes place at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center (3711 Woodward Avenue, Detroit). The concert in Orchestra Hall will take place at 8 p.m., preceded by a black-tie dinner for Gala guests.
Concert-only tickets are available now to DSO subscribers and Friend Premier level donors. Concert tickets will go on sale to the general public in early 2019. Tickets begin at $50 and can be purchased at dso.org, by calling (313) 576-5111, or in-person at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit).
Gala patrons can learn about different levels of support and purchase tickets by contacting Jenni Clark at (313) 576-5449.
About Leslie Odom, Jr.
Tony- and Grammy Award-winning performer Leslie Odom, Jr. has taken the entertainment world by storm across a variety of media – spanning Broadway, television, film, and music.
Odom, Jr.’s self-titled debut album was part-funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign and released in 2014 by Borderlight Entertainment, Inc. In June 2016, the album was re-released with additional material and charted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz Music chart. In winter 2017, he re-released his holiday album Simply Christmas as a deluxe edition with new arrangements and new songs. The holiday album hit #1 on iTunes and the Billboard Jazz Music chart.
Best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom, Jr. received a 2015 Drama Desk Award nomination and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance. He also won a Grammy Award as a principal soloist on the original cast recording. He made his Broadway debut in Rent and starred in the stage adaption of Leap of Faith. Off-Broadway he appeared in Venice and the original staging of Hamilton, both at the Public Theater. He also starred opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in a 2014 City Center Encores! revival of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick...Boom!
Odom, Jr. was most recently seen on the big screen starring alongside Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Judi Dench in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express for Twentieth Century Fox. Previous film work includes the 2012 historical drama Red Tails, executive produced by George Lucas and co-starring Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and David Oyelowo, among others.
On TV, Odom, Jr. starred on the cult-classic musical drama series Smash, created by Theresa Rebeck. He had recurring roles on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CBS’ Persons of Interest and CSI: Miami and made guest appearances on such shows as The Good Wife, Gotham, and Showtime’s House of Lies.
In December 2017, Odom, Jr. returned to the New York City stage in a solo concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The cabaret-style performance was crafted around signature songs and music that shaped this artist’s journey, all performed with a world-class band in front of a live audience. The show was filmed for broadcast as an hour-long PBS special as part of the 17-time Emmy Award-winning series Live From Lincoln Center and premiered April 24, 2018.
This spring, Odom, Jr. added the title of “Author” to his resume with the release of his book Falling Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning. Written in the style of a commencement speech, the book brings together what Odom, Jr. has learned in life so far, tapping into universal themes of starting something new, following your passions, discovering your own potential, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Falling Up is about unlocking your true potential and making your dreams come true even when it seems impossible.
Odom, Jr. currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, fellow actress Nicolette Robinson, and their newborn daughter.
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.