Welcome

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Orchestra Hall! Whether it’s your first concert or your fiftieth, thank you for joining us to experience the joy of music with your Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

As we begin a new year, we also reflect on the successes of 2022. At our Annual Meeting in December, we were thrilled to announce a tenth consecutive balanced budget and renewed support for our DSO Impact Campaign, ensuring our organization remains a cultural beacon in Detroit for generations. We also celebrated the passionate leadership of Music Director Jader Bignamini. Under Jader, our orchestra shines, creating indelible musical moments that invigorate our creative spirit. This Spring, Jader will conduct programs with pianists Alexander Gavrylyuk (February 23-25) and George Li (March 24-26), and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers (March 30-April 1), plus the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Trombone Concerto with DSO Principal Trombone Ken Thompkins in May.

The DSO continues to push boundaries with innovative programming. From a concert by the DSO Cello Section fusing classical repertoire with pop hits in The Cube on February 9—to The Princess Bride in Concert on Valentine’s Day and the Classical Roots Celebration in March (read our cover story in this issue)—the DSO spans genres and interests, uniting us all around a shared community in a love of music.

The William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series returns for a twelfth year, bringing DSO performances and chamber recitals to seven Metro Detroit communities from January to June. Highlights include Reinecke’s Flute Concerto with DSO Principal Flute Hannah Hammel Maser and appearances by saxophonist Timothy McAllister, violinist Tai Murray, and conductor/violinist/countertenor Dmitry Sinkovsky. Jader will make his Neighborhood debut this May, conducting music by Paganini and Tchaikovsky in Southfield, Monroe, and Beverly Hills.

We also acknowledge renewed organizational leadership with the announcement of David T. Provost as the DSO’s new Chair of the Board of Directors. In addition to David’s election at our Annual Meeting, we paid tribute to outgoing Chair Mark Davidoff. Across Mark’s seven years of exemplary leadership, he’s left an undeniable impression on our organization, and we are forever grateful for his immeasurable contributions to making the DSO the thriving organization we know today. Mark has set a remarkable precedent that we will strive to uphold. We’re delighted to work together to make our orchestra the best it can be by securing continued financial stability through the DSO Impact Campaign, advocating for our robust education programs, and celebrating the jewel that we have in Orchestra Hall and The Max.

We look forward to welcoming you for a great year of spectacular performances!

Erik Rönmark David T. Provost

President and CEO Chair, Board of Directors