DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), the fourth-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros and collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists. The DSO is experienced live by over 400,000 people annually with a year-round performance schedule that includes classical, pops, jazz, world music, holiday, young people’s and free concerts.

The orchestra has earned awards and accolades for nearly 150 recordings since 1918. Past touring and residency destinations include Europe, the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, Japan, the Hollywood Bowl, Florida, the Bravo! Colorado Festival and the State of Michigan. The DSO makes its home in historic Orchestra Hall, one of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls. In 2003, the hall reopened as part of the Max M. Fisher Music Center, an $80 million performing arts facility encompassing the Jacob Bernard Pincus Music Education Center and two multi-purpose performance spaces.

With one of the most extensive music education programs in the country, the DSO trains over 700 young classical and jazz musicians weekly and serves as an educational partner to the adjacent Detroit School of Arts, a magnet public high school for more than 800 students. The DSO’s diversity programs include the pioneering Classical Roots concerts, part of the classical subscription series since 1978. Classical Roots raises awareness about the contributions of African-Americans to classical music and supports increased opportunities through special educational programs such as the DSO’s African-American Orchestral Fellowship Program established in 1990, a mentoring opportunity for young professional musicians.

In the 2008–09 season, conductor Leonard Slatkin became the 12th Music Director of the DSO. Working in collaboration with Slatkin, Toronto Symphony Music Director Peter Oundjian serves as DSO Principal Guest Conductor. Thomas Wilkins, Music Director of the Omaha (Neb.) Symphony, was Resident Conductor of the DSO at the time Lokumbe’s Dear Mrs Parks [Naxos 8.559668] was made.

For more information visit the DSO website at www.detroitsymphony.com.

Ida Kavafian performing Fire and Blood with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Neeme Järvi (2003).

Photo courtesy of Robin Holland

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Role: Orchestra
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