Detroit Symphony Orchestra stays in tune with the times

What does a world music festival featuring a global stew of rock, folk, hip-hop, reggae and other music genres have in common with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra?

Plenty it seems, as Detroit’s popular Concert of Colors annual diversity music festival and the city’s venerable symphony successfully joined forces to help both organizations thrive and, hopefully, grow stronger by feeding off of each other’s individual strengths.

The DSO’s readiness to host the four-day Concert of Colors when the festival was unable to continue at the city’s riverfront Chene Park location in 2006, brought a whole new audience into the symphony’s beautiful Orchestra Hall and Max M. Fisher Music Center—many who heard the symphony for the first time as the group played as one of the festival acts.

Partnering with the Concert of Colors, a newly tricked-out Web site and a new 37/11 program that offers affordable symphony ticket prices for younger patrons are but only a few ways the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is aggressively reaching out to a younger and more diverse potential audience.

Reports in recent years about the financial difficulties of other Midwestern symphony orchestras, like those in the Ohio cities of Cincinnati and Columbus, plus a challenging financial climate in the Motor City itself, makes the DSO’s success as a viable and well-regarded symphony even more impressive.

Excitement is especially evident these days as the DSO celebrates the beginning of “the Slatkin era”. Leonard Slatkin recently ended a 12-year tenure as Music Director of The National Symphony Orchestra and brings his international reputation and talent to Detroit this year as our new symphony director. Slatkin’s personable manner, and his emphasis on music education and advocacy, makes him a perfect fit with the DSO as they continue their efforts to broaden their appeal and survive as their core audience ages.

The DSO partnership with the Concert of Colors originally drew us as symphony subscribers. We attended the diversity festival several times at their Chene Park location and followed the festival when it relocated to the DSO’s venue. We loved Orchestra Hall, with its beautiful auditorium and perfect acoustics, and enjoyed hearing the symphony play during the festival’s first night in 2006. A look at the DSO schedule intrigued us enough to sign up for seven-concert series of tickets, and we’ve continued to enjoy both the symphony and the Concert of Colors at The Max.

While the symphony schedule offers plenty of Mozart, Beethoven and other classical music greats, we’ve also enjoyed several of the orchestra’s more adventurous offerings and the occasional concert from their Pops, Jazz or other special concert series.

One of my favorite classical shows included tap dancer Savion Glover as a featured soloist where the sounds of his tapping feet served as a sort of instrumental accompaniment to a performance of Duke Ellington’s classical symphony, “The River”. We’ve also enjoyed seeing acts like Celtic fiddler and step dancer Natalie McMaster, as well as jazz trumpeter Bryon Stripling playing New Orleans and Louis Armstrong classics.

Featuring contemporary talent and music, a continuing dedication to traditional classical music and a commitment to making music accessible to all audiences, are key ingredients in the DSO’s effort to continue to thrive and stay in tune with the times.  

© Dominique King 2008

Comments

[kat calvin]

I love that they're doing the 37/11 thing! If I wasn't a law student I would sign up... Great post!

[Dominique]

The DSO does a few free performances each year. I know they were out at the metroparks (Stony and Kensington) in the Detroit area doing free concerts in the past. They've also performed at the Concert of Colors the past couple of years (and that's a free festival).

I do love that the DSO has really made a concerted effort to present different types of music and appeal to a larger audience. As I said on another forum, it's not your grandparents' symphony...there's something for everyone!

[Rachel Burton]

I've always wanted to go to the DSO, and that Concert of Colors looks really cool. Thanks for the great article!

[Dominique]

The Concert of Colors is a must-do if you love music...especially a variety different types of music. We've discovered so many musical artists at the CofC that we would never otherwise heard. I always come away with at least one CD from the festival each year...and usually more!
I'll blog about the fest next summer f'sure.

[Marni]

Hi Kat - no reason you can't sign up as a law student for 37/11. As long as you are between 18 and 37, you are welcome. The launch party this saturday night is going to be a lot of fun, so definitely check it out. Also, all students, regardless of age, can get $5 tickets to DSO concerts through the end of November for only $5, so definitely take advantage of that, as well.

BTW, Dominique, from the folks here at the DSO, thank you for a great post.

Sincerely,
Marni

[Dominique]

Marni-

Thanks go to the DSO for giving us some great musical memories!