Program conducted by Brent Havens; performed by the DSO, a full rock band, and vocalist MiG Ayesa
Features a kaleidoscope of Queen's greatest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” and more
Limited tickets still available at dso.org
Detroit, (September 11, 2024) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) kicks off its 2024–2025 PNC Pops Series with a bang with The Music of Queen on September 20–21 at Orchestra Hall. The program will be conducted by frequent DSO collaborator Brent Havens and features vocalist MiG Ayesa alongside the DSO and a full rock band.
The program will feature a kaleidoscope of Queen's greatest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” and more.
The Music of Queen will take place on Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 21 at 8 p.m. at Orchestra Hall.
Limited tickets are still available for these performances. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at dso.org or by calling the Box Office at 313.576.5111, open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning September 16.)
The title sponsor of the DSO’s PNC Pops Series is PNC Bank.
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PNC Pops Series
Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 21 at 8 p.m.
Orchestra Hall
Brent Havens, conductor
Mig Ayesa, vocals
"We will, we will ROCK YOU!" Bridging the gulf between rock n’ roll and classical music, conductor and arranger Brent Havens takes the podium for a tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Performed by the DSO and a full rock band, join us for a kaleidoscope of Queen's greatest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” and so much more.
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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 networks such as ESPN, and even cartoons. Havens has also worked 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 and the BBC Concert Orchestra in London, the CBSO in Birmingham, England, the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, Orchestra of Opera North in Leeds, England, and countless others.
Havens recently completed the score for the film Quo Vadis, a Premier Pictures remake of the 1956 gladiator film. In 2013, he worked with the Baltimore Symphony and the NFL's Baltimore Ravens to arrange and produce the music for the Thanksgiving Day halftime show between the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, adapting both classical music and rock songs into a single four-minute show. Havens is Arranger/Guest Conductor for all the symphonic rock programs for Windborne Music.
About MiG Ayesa
MiG Ayesa started his career in Australia in Buddy. He was then chosen to join the London cast including a Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. MiG’s other West End credits include We Will Rock You, Rent, Thriller Live, and Seasons of Larson.
His Broadway credits include Burn the Floor and Rock of Ages, which he also joined on the first US National Tour and in the Philippines. Back in Australia, his credits include Grease, Cinderella, Aladdin, West Side Story, Rent, Fame, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a UK and Australian tour of The Music of Queen: Rock And Symphonic Spectacular. He reprised the role of Galileo for the 10th Anniversary World Arena Tour of We Will Rock You and as one of the Tenors of Rock at their resident headline show in Las Vegas and on the high seas. Ayesa also sailed with Rock Rhapsody, as well as headlining his own one man show, MiG Rocks the Boat.
In the Philippines, Ayesa played Robert Kincaid in the first international production of The Bridges of Madison County and starred with Lea Salonga and Tanya Manalang for the major concert event Curtains Up, as well as his own concert celebrating Shangri-La’s 25th Anniversary, and most recently originated the role of Jamie Crimson in the world premiere production of All Out of Love.
MiG starred as Joe King in the TV series The Ferals. His other television credits Include Fil It Up, Mission: Top Secret, Hits and Memories, The Midday Show, IMT, Carols in the Domain, It’s About Time, Carols by Candlelight, People’s Choice Awards, Vidiot, Good Morning Australia, and Hey Hey It’s Saturday as well as various commercials including a global campaign for Ray Ban.
Ayesa’s film credits include Queen of the Damned and Subterano. A finalist in the global hit TV show Rock Star: INXS, Ayesa released his self-titled debut album through Decca/Universal and was an original cast member of Handel’s Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise. As well as releasing his second album More Than Ever, Ayesa has also penned theme songs for various TV shows as well as writing “Fill My Cup” for FWD, along with his own fundraising awareness campaign for the victims of Philippine floods with “United As One.”
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 performance schedule that features the PVS Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. In addition, the DSO presents the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in metro area venues, as well as 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.
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.