Made possible by Gilbert Family Foundation
All events are free and open to the public, registration is required
Events include performances by DSO musicians and guest artists, yoga, sensory-friendly concert, poetry, and 34th annual Concert of Colors
Detroit, (July 2, 2025) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will host a free outdoor festival in its Sosnick Courtyard on July 9 through 20, made possible by the Gilbert Family Foundation.
The DSO invites audiences to experience diverse performances by DSO musicians and guest artists at a unique outdoor venue. Sosnick Courtyard is located at 51 Parsons St in Midtown Detroit, adjacent to the DSO’s home of the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. All events are free and open to the public, though registration is required. Seats are available on a first come first served basis, and patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. Visit dso.org to reserve general admission tickets.
Programming will include: a DSO quartet featuring Hae Jeong Heidi Han (violin), Hai-Xin Wu (violin), Will Haapaniemi (viola), and Jeremy Crosmer (cello); Yoga & Music in partnership with Detroit Yoga Lab; a “Decades through Detroit” performance presented by Allen Dennard; a performance by Detroit vocal ensemble Audivi; pre-concert activities preceding a sensory-friendly family concert presented by Joe Reilly (please note: this concert will take place indoors in The Cube, pre-concert activities will be in Sosnick Courtyard); a program by New Music Detroit as part of the 34th annual Concert of Colors festival; “Stories Through Song & Poetry” presented by Audra Kubat and featuring various poets and musicians; a program showcasing the brilliance of Motown legend Marvin Gaye presented by the Detroit City Jazz Orchestra Plus; and an evening of blues, jazz, mariachi, and percussion music with six performances on the Wolverine Stage as part of the Concert of Colors festival. The Concert of Colors festival is one of the nation’s premier global music festivals, taking place annually in Detroit in collaboration with the city’s leading cultural institutions.
See below for event information and visit dso.org/summer for a full list of DSO summer programming.
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SUMMER IN SOSNICK FESTIVAL EVENTS
Made possible by Gilbert Family Foundation
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 AT 7:30 PM – VARIATION MINUS 7
Come and celebrate the music of Black artists and Detroit natives in this classical fusion chamber concert. Carefully curated by DSO's Jeremy Crosmer, this program features string quartets by GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Jessie Montgomery, jazz-crossover legend Kris Johnson, and "Composetheway" founder Jordyn Davis, as well as a few of Crosmer's own original compositions.
Hai-Xin Wu, violin
Hae Jeong Heidi Han, violin
Will Haapaniemi, viola
Jeremy Crosmer, cello
THURSDAY, JULY 10 AT 6 PM – YOGA & MUSIC
At Detroit Yoga Lab, our classes are designed to support your whole self—the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you're seeking strength, clarity, or deep restoration, our offerings meet you where you are and help you grow from there.
We emphasize functional alignment to keep your body safe and strong, and we offer a range of class styles—from slow, grounding flows to fiery, challenging sequences. Each practice is an invitation to reconnect with yourself, build resilience, and find balance in your life.
This is more than a workout. It’s a space to evolve, supported by skilled teachers and a community that’s walking the path with you.
Rebecca Murawski, instructor
Jacob Schwandt, solo guitar
FRIDAY, JULY 11 AT 8 PM – ALLEN DENNARD PRESENTS “DECADES THROUGH DETROIT”
Allen Dennard’s “Decades Through Detroit” is a musical exploration of the evolution of genres innovated by Detroit artists. The concert experience will also highlight Detroit artists that have signature approaches to existing genres. You won't want to miss this exciting world premiere!
SATURDAY, JULY 12 AT 7:30 PM – AUDIVI
Professional vocal ensemble Audivi returns to the DSO to present a program on the Summer in Sosnick series. Audivi has performed alongside the DSO as a larger chorus. Recent performances have included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Puccini’s Turandot, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, and, most recently, Bizet’s Carmen in 2025.
SUNDAY, JULY 13 AT 3 PM – JOE REILLY PRESENTS “CELEBRATE THE EARTH”
2–3 p.m.: pre-concert activities in Sosnick Courtyard and inside the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center ("The Max") (3711 Woodward Avenue)
3 p.m.: Concert in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube ("The Cube"), located within The Max
This sensory-friendly program takes patrons along an interactive musical journey exploring the joys of nature. Original songs highlight topics that include animals, amphibians, the Great Lakes, insects, and so much more. The music covers a wide variety of genres, and the songs are designed for the audience to interact and sing along. It's a fun and memorable show, with messages to get everyone thinking about the natural world around them.
Arrive early to enjoy pre-concert activities at 2 p.m., including instrument exploration, a DSO Music Box activity, yard games in Sosnick Courtyard, and more.
What is a sensory-friendly concert?
Relaxed and sensory-friendly events are designed for individuals on the autism spectrum and with other sensory sensitivities. Our culture can be unforgiving if you're unable to conform to standard concert etiquette. This can exclude individuals who are unable to sit still or who may express emotions such as joy or excitement through vocalization. This relaxed, sensory-friendly concert aims to remove barriers, allowing everyone to be themselves and enjoy a musical experience in a safe and judgement-free environment.
Your sensory-friendly experience includes:
- A relaxed, family-friendly concert environment that embraces neurodiversity
- An information guide and social narrative to help you prepare for the event, which will be available on dso.org and distributed to ticketholders in advance
- A limited number of Sensory Toolkits containing fidget toys and noise-reducing headphones, available for use during the event
- An indoor quiet room, to take a break if needed
- Movement and dancing during the concert—both are welcome!
- Flexible seating and freedom to change seats throughout the concert
- Limited audience size for reduced crowds
- Trained event staff: The Mid-Michigan Autism Association has provided training to DSO staff to help them better understand the characteristics of autism and how to better communicate and support autistic individuals
Please contact Kiersten Alcorn, Manager of Community Engagement, at kalcorn@dso.org with any accessibility questions.
THURSDAY, JULY 17 AT 7:30 PM – 34TH ANNUAL CONCERT OF COLORS FEATURING NEW MUSIC DETROIT
New Music Detroit presents a concert for the 34th annual Concert of Colors, featuring music by Leith Campbell, Nina Shekhar, Ayanna Woods, David Lang, and Keiko Devaux. Inspired by kintsukuroi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold—the works on this concert program reflect a philosophy that values resilience and celebrates imperfection as part of an object’s history. Embodying that spirit, the music explores ideas of transformation, fragmentation, and renewal in ways that resonate with both personal and collective experience.
Joseph Becker, percussion
Leith Campbell, saxophone and composer
Úna O’Riordan, cello
Magnolia Rohrer, violin and viola
Justin Snyder, piano
Jocelyn Zelasko Conselva, voice
Learn more about the Concert of Colors.
FRIDAY, JULY 18 AT 8 PM – AUDRA KUBAT PRESENTS “STORIES THROUGH SONG AND POETRY”
Join us for a special evening highlighting some of Detroit’s finest writers of song and spoken word. Weaving stories with melodies and rhythm in a “Writers in the Round” style offering, this line-up of performers promises to move, inspire, and uplift.
Audra Kubat, host
jessica Care moore and King Moore
Emily Rose
Jassmine Parks
John Bunkley
Don “Doop” Duprie
SATURDAY, JULY 19 AT 8 PM – DETROIT JAZZ CITY ORCHESTRA PLUS
The Detroit City Jazz Orchestra Plus is the premier jazz ensemble in the City of Detroit. The ensemble is directed by Alex J. Harding, with special thanks and appreciation to Daniel Aldridge and composer/arranger, Walt Szymanski. This ensemble's mission is dedicated to presenting and preserving the multitude of legendary music from Detroit. You will not want to miss this concert experience, as they showcase the creative brilliance of the great Marvin Gaye!
SUNDAY, JULY 20 AT 12 PM – 34TH ANNUAL CONCERT OF COLORS ON THE WOLVERINE STAGE
An evening of six performances spanning the genres of blues, jazz, mariachi, and more. Performances to feature:
Carmen Jackson (12:05 p.m.)
Jo Serrapere (1:15 p.m.)
U of M Flint Jazz (2:30 p.m.)
Chris Canas Band (3:45 p.m.)
U of M Percussions (5 p.m.)
Mariachi Femenil Detroit (6:15 p.m.)
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About the DSO
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. Led by Music Director Jader Bignamini since 2020, the DSO makes its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, offering a robust performance schedule that features classical, pops, jazz, and family concerts, plus community performances. Enrico Lopez-Yañez was named Principal Pops Conductor in 2023, trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as the orchestra’s Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair, and Tabita Berglund began her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor in the 2024–25 season. A dedication to broadcast innovation and technology 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.
The DSO’s distinguished history of recordings—many led by its renowned music directors—spans nearly a century, beginning with the orchestra’s first 78 rpm singles with Ossip Gabrilowitsch released on the Victrola label in 1928. A steady recording output has continued since then, with highlights including more than 20 releases with Paul Paray for Mercury’s Living Presence series, and 27 under the baton of Neeme Järvi, mostly on the Chandos label. In the 1970s, the DSO took part in the historic Black Composers Series for Columbia Records led by its then-Associate Conductor Paul Freeman and later made several acclaimed recordings with Antal Doráti for the Decca label. More recently, under the direction of Leonard Slatkin, the DSO recorded music by Rachmaninoff, Copland, and John Williams for the Naxos label, earning its first GRAMMY® nomination in 2017 for Copland’s Third Symphony / Three Latin American Sketches. The first recording with Jader Bignamini, of Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony, was released in March 2025 on the Pentatone label.
Since its first school concerts a century ago, and particularly since the founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to students, teachers, and families in Detroit and surrounding communities. The DSO remains committed to expanding its participation in the growth and well-being of Detroit through programs like its Detroit Neighborhood Initiative—cultural events co-created with community partners and residents—and Detroit Harmony, a promise to provide an instrument and instruction to any student in the city who wants to learn. With unwavering support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact lives through the power of unforgettable musical experiences.