Detroit Symphony Orchestra

We are thrilled to announce Gracie Potter as our new Principal Trombone! After an impressive audition last November, Gracie will make her debut at this weekend’s concerts. A standout talent in the brass world, she has performed with esteemed ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. Please join us in welcoming Gracie to the DSO family!

Opera around the globe! In January, a group of DSO champions traveled to Palermo, Italy as orchestra ambassadors in support of Music Director Jader Bignamini, where they attended opening night of his Otello program at the Teatro Massimo. This week, Jader is back on stage in Orchestra Hall leading an incredible cast of vocalists for Bizet’s Carmen: bit.ly/4cw3tj2

A very Detroit collaboration ?? The new Third Man Records X Detroit Symphony Orchestra vinyl collab for Wynton Marsalis's Blues Symphony is ready to spin! This limited edition pressing in black, blue, and gold marks the inaugural DSO recording with Music Director Jader Bignamini and launches the DSO’s Gold Record Collective which supports a robust and enduring recording future for the orchestra: https://lnkd.in/gN7KFTsw Original jacket artwork and center label art by Judy Bowman depicts the rhythm of Detroit.

Since 2001, the Dr. Arthur L. Johnson?–?Honorable Damon Jerome Keith Classical Roots Celebration has been produced by a dedicated steering committee. Each member brings their passion and energy to uplift the DSO Classical Roots mission. This year's committee co-chairs are Nicole Brown, Director of Community Partnerships and Engagement within the Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research at Detroit Future City, and Dr. Mable Jones (retired). Explore sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages now to join these leaders in celebrating the legacy and future of Classical Roots on March 1: dso.org/classicalroots

#DetroitHarmony: THIS is what vision and collaboration look like. To date, Detroit Harmony has distributed 1,600 instruments—including harps—to Detroit students, and is working with partners to ensure they have access to music education. Damien Crutcher (Managing Director, Detroit Harmony; music educator, conductor), Lydia Cleaver (harpist and harp instructor, Cass Technical High School), and Paola Smith (Assistant Director, MSU’s Community Music School-Detroit [CMSD]) first imagined the possibility of adding a harp program to the music classes at CMSD. When they needed instruments to materialize the vision, Detroit Harmony answered the call. Playing on donated harps and with Cleaver as instructor, the inaugural class has expanded from 3 students to 9 in just one year. Now: Detroit Harmony is working with Hungry For Music (a national partner) to get more harps donated. Learn more about this arts collaboration in the Detroit Free Press: bit.ly/4i4VETV #DetroitHarmony #musiceducation #Detroit #arts #community #collaboration

We loved making this video with our friends at the Windsor Symphony Orchestra ?? What have been some of your favorite collaborations and why? Tell us about it ?? #MusicHasNoBorders #Collaboration #Friendship

This week, we proudly continued our more than two-decade partnership with the Sphinx Organization Organization by hosting the 28th Annual Sphinx Competition in Orchestra Hall. The national competition engages young Black and Latinx string musicians to compete for nearly $100,000 in prizes and an opportunity to perform with and receive mentorship from established professional musicians. Following success in yesterday’s semi-final round, the top competitors return to Orchestra Hall on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the Finals Concert. Get tickets to attend the concert at dso.org or check out the livestream on YouTube in partnership with Detroit PBS >> https://lnkd.in/gBM-AEGt

We asked Assistant Conductor Na'Zir McFadden what piece embodies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and it wasn't surprising that he chose Florence Price's Overture No. 2 from the 2023 Classical Roots Celebration. Listen to the full piece now at dso.org/replay as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement.?

Meet the 2025 Classical Roots Honorees and this season's Marlowe Stoudamire Award for Innovation and Community Collaboration recipient. Classical Roots is 6 weeks away: explore Arthur L. Johnson-Honorable Damon Jerome Keith Classical Roots Celebration packages and sponsorship opportunities now dso.org/classicalroots Classical Roots seeks to increase awareness of the significant contributions that African American composers and musicians have made to classical music. Funds raised through the Celebration provide increased opportunities for African Americans in classical music through DSO programs including the African American Orchestra Fellowship. #ClassicalRoots #DetroitSymphonyOrchestra

The 47th Classical Roots concert and 24th Annual Arthur L. Johnson- Honorable Damon Jerome Keith Celebration take place March 1! Join us in an intentional 2025: explore Celebration packages and sponsorship opportunities that support the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s mission to increase awareness of the significant contributions that African Americans composers and musicians have made to classical music at dso.org/classicalroots ? Funds raised through the Celebration provide increased opportunities for African Americans in classical music through DSO programs including the African American Orchestra Fellowship. ? Follow along to learn more about this year's honorees, composers, and program.? #ClassicalRoots #DetroitSymphonyOrchestra