Create Your Own Series

CREATE

OWN

WELCOME

Where’s the Music in Your Life?

As our world slowly regains a new equilibrium, we no longer take things for granted. Instead, it’s as if we are looking at ourselves, our community, for the very first time. Crafting a life that is filled with new meaning, exploration and beauty.

We invite you to discover (or re-discover) the power of music in your life, and the shared experience of live. The orchestra has returned to the stage in full force. The music-making is at its highest level. The energy in the concert hall is palpable, because with the return of you—the audience—the emotional connection between musicians and listener is once again complete.

Come, listen to your West Michigan Symphony this season. Connect. Restore. Nourish Your Spirit.

“

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Music Director Scott SpeckWest Michigan Symphony

CYO: CREATE YOUR OWN SERIES just released!

It’s Your Music. Your Way.

Compose a series that is uniquely yours. With the Create Your Own (CYO) series, you decide which 4 or 6 concerts fit your musical tastes and the dates that fit your schedule.

• Enjoy ultimate flexibility. Choose from any Pops, Masterworks, or The Block concerts found in this brochure.

• Save up to 20% OFF single ticket prices.

• Easy and flexible exchanges should your schedule change.

• Receive best available seating for each selected performance. Note: your seats will be different for each performance.

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR CONCERTS

Browse through this catalog, find 4 or 6 of your favorite concerts.

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR SEATS

Select your desired price level and seating area.

STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR FREE BONUS CONCERT

Select either Music of John Williams or The Planets.

STEP 4: PLACE YOUR ORDER

Use order form on back page, subscribe online at westmichigansymphony.org, or call 231.726.3231.

POPS CONCERTS

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pure entertainment, offering a mix

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MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS

Home for the Holidays

West Michigan native, pianist and consummate performer Rich Ridenour puts a fresh twist on this annual holiday tradition. Features seasonal favorites, a soprano soloist, two youth choirs and the song-fest sing a long. A night of joyful, heartwarming, pure family fun.

Rich Ridenour pianist and conductor Amy Mahoney soprano

WMS Children’s Choir

Haven High School Choir

Louis Armstrong Tribute

FRIDAY

Louis Armstrong’s voice was unmistakable, his personality magnetic, and his artistry astonishing. Celebrated trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling joins your WMS to perform this electrifying homage, featuring “What a Wonderful World”, “Saint Louis Blues”, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and more.

Scott Speck conductor Byron Stripling trumpet and vocals

MASTERWORKS ConCERTS

5 Fridays, 7:30 pm

Frauenthal Theater

A balance of timeless masterpieces and works by living composers, featuring internationally-famed soloists, rising stars and your own WMS musicians.

Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky Mozart & haydn

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 7:30 PM

Scott Speck conductor

Gabriela Martinez piano

Join us for a night of passionate and lyrical musical pyrotechnics.

Hailstork Fanfare on Amazing Grace

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 2

Tchaikovsky Symphony no.5

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 7:30 PM

Scott Speck conductor

Njioma Grevious violin

A satisfying Classical sandwich of Mozart and Haydn, filled with more recent, expressive works in between.

Mozart Symphony no. 35, “Haffner”

Marcus Norris Glory Berlioz Reverie et Caprice

Haydn Symphony no. 94, “Surprise”

chaplin’s smile brahms symphony no.2

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 7:30 PM

Scott Speck conductor Philippe Quint violin

This multi-media performance combines live music with clips from classic Charlie Chaplin films, photos and selections from Chaplin’s autobiography. The concert traces Chaplin’s relationship with 20th-century master composers and his own film scores.

Chaplin

Suite from City Lights

Debussy

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Gershwin

Songs from Porgy & Bess

Tchaikovsky

Waltz from Sleeping Beauty

Chaplin

The Kid Fantasy and Smile

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 7:30 PM

Scott Speck conductor Kip Hickman trombone

Three distinct works combine for this concert featuring WMS’s Principal Trombone, and Brahms’s second symphony, described by Scott Speck as “an oasis of sublime moments, where the world opens up and becomes transcendent.”

Price Ethiopia’s Shadow in America

Grondahl Trombone Concerto Brahms Symphony no. 2

THe Planets

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 7:30 PM

Scott Speck conductor

John Heffernan violin

Take a musical journey from the ocean into the cosmos. Holst’s enduring work is the capstone of this evening full of mystery, wonder and breathtaking awe.

Davies Orkney Wedding with Sunrise

Vaughan Williams

The Lark Ascending

Holst

The Planets

THE

Dixon’s Violin

Electric Violin • Friday • October 7

Improvising on a 5-string electric violin with a looping system he developed, Dixon creates an all-live, one-man symphony of sound. This is music that will mesmerize you, move you, transform you.

Muriel Anderson

Harp Guitar • Friday • November 18

A rare opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring sound of this unique instrument. Anderson’s artistry embraces world music, played with a sense of grace and joy, infused with humor.

BY WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY

Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 pm

For the musically curious, West Michigan’s intimate listening room brings you a mix of jazz, classical solo and crossover, plus a few concerts that transcend categorization.

Terry Lower & The BLT Trio +

Jazz Classics • Saturday • October 22

Known for his technical prowess and hard swinging style, pianist Terry Lower joins with friends for an evening of straight-ahead jazz, familiar classics, and The Great American Songbook.

Matt Beck

Piano & Percussion • Saturday • January 14

The West Michigan Symphony’s principal percussionist is back with a program featuring the rarely heard piano and percussion arrangement of Stravinsky’s groundbreaking “The Rite of Spring.”

Dixon’s Violin

Gabriela Martinez

Classical Piano • Saturday • November 5

On the heels of her performance with Scott Speck and West Michigan Symphony, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez will put The Block’s Steinway through its paces with an inspiring solo recital.

Bryan Eng Trio

Piano Jazz • Friday • January 27

Multifaceted jazz musician and actor Bryan Eng is one of his generation’s most promising young entertainers. His cool sounds and unique talents have been featured on Broadway, TV, films, and commercials.

Michael J. Reed

Njioma Grevious

Njioma Grevious

Classical Violin • Saturday • March 4

Njioma Grevious is happy every time she picks up the violin, whether performing at the White House or for underserved children in her native New York.

Michael J. Reed Quartet

Straight-Ahead Jazz • Friday • April 14

On the heels of his second album, Michigan-based jazzer Michael J. Reed brings his group to The Block for an evening of straight-ahead jazz featuring his special brand of dynamic drumming.

TAKE3

Classical Crossover • Friday • March 10

With a flair for the wild and unexpected, this genre-defying trio is back to combine top pop hits, Americana, and classical with rock-star charisma.

Byron Stripling Quartet

A Taste Of New Orleans • Saturday • April 29

He wowed everyone back in the summer of ‘20 with his WMS Virtual Concert and now he’s back to shake the rafters of West Michigan’s music listening room.

WMS Low Brass

Classical Brass Ensemble • Saturday • March 25

The Symphony’s Low Brass section steps “out of the back row” into the spotlight. Hear the music of Gabrieli and Beethoven to up-and-coming, 25-year-old composer Kevin Day’s “Ignition.”

Diego Rivera Quartet

Latin-Inspired Jazz • Saturday • May 13

Known for his muscular tone and unique blend of Latino and straight-ahead jazz, Diego Rivera presents all this and more.

Bryan Eng

Muriel Anderson

Byron Stripling

Gabriela Martinez

Subscriber benefits

Subscribe for beautiful MUSIC, plus exclusive BENEFITS.

• THE BEST SEATS are reserved for you all season long

• SAVE UP TO 20% off single ticket prices—it’s like getting one concert FREE!

• FLEXIBLE, EASY TICKET EXCHANGE when your schedule changes

• 10% DISCOUNT FOR WMS FRAUENTHAL CONCERTS: purchase additional tickets for yourself, family and friends!

• VIP ACCESS to events, information and service

• WMS SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: if not completely satisfied simply call Patron Services to resolve

Dates, artists and programs are subject to change.

Prefer an existing ticket package?

Here are some other options:

FRAUENTHAL THEATER

Music of John Williams

Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky

Home for the Holidays Mozart & Haydn Chaplin’s Smile Louis Armstrong Tribute Brahms Symphony no.2 The Planets

THE BLOCK

Premier WMS Unplugged Jazz Dixon’s Violin Terry Lower & the BLT Trio+ Gabriela Martinez Muriel Anderson Matt Beck Bryan Eng Trio Njioma Grevious Take3

WMS Low Brass Michael J. Reed Quartet Byron Stripling Quartet Diego Rivera Quartet

CLICKITY CLACK HO HO HO

December 3 • 10 am • The Block

Add tickets to your package for yourself family & friends

Based on the book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, ‘Click Clack Ho Ho Ho’ takes us to Farmer Brown’s barn to find out what the animals are up to for Christmas.

1-hour concert designed for kids ages 3 – 8

Premier Super PopsMasterworks Pops

MY SEASON TICKET PACKAGE

Frauenthal Theater Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier

Tier

Premier (8 concerts) $456 $366 $246 $196

Super Pops (5 concerts) $295 $238 $160 $126

Masterworks (5 concerts) $295 $238 $160 $126

Pops (3 concerts) $201 $153 $105 $84

The Block Table* Floor

Premier (12 concerts) $462 $306

Unplugged (6 concerts) $246 $165

Jazz (5 concerts) $206 $138

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