DSO Impact Campaign: What Visionary Sounds Like

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VISIONARY SOUNDS LIKE

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THE PEOPLE, PLACE, AND PURPOSE OF THE DSO

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SOUNDS LIKE

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THIS IS WHAT

BEING BOLD: THE IMPACT OF

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VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

EMBRACING VISION. RECOGNIZING OPPORTUNITY. BETTING BIG. MAKING COURAGEOUS DECISIONS.

WHAT VISIONARY SOUNDS LIKE Inspiring, educating, and transforming lives in Detroit and around the world through artistic excellence and a singular pioneering spirit.

We are the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the most visionary orchestra on the planet.

Our story has always been one without compromise in our mission to offer what matters most: supremely gifted musicians performing music that connects to the heart of its community.

Be assured: when the DSO believes in something—when we put the full force of our people, place, and purpose behind an idea—we go after it with stunning results.

Conductor Jader Bignamini leads the orchestra in their first rehearsal after his naming as the DSO’s new Music Director. Bignamini has famously developed his own chromatic language to prepare a score and uses it to annotate the work with multiple colors; he then memorizes the marks so no score is needed during performances. The technique allows him to maintain constant eye contact to communicate with the musicians. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

It’s the reason the world’s finest musicians make their home with us and why our audiences have such a profound connection to those musicians.

It’s how we bring our patrons, donors, staff, and musicians together as a family for experiences only spectacular music can provide, whether at Orchestra Hall, The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, in Detroit’s classrooms, neighborhoods, and regional venues, or via our internationally acclaimed webcasts.

It’s why Detroit, perhaps the greatest musical city in America, remains our home.

It’s why, together with far-sighted investors, we have taken the boldest of moves to ensure a lasting legacy for our diverse audiences and communities.

From leading the revitalization of the city’s Midtown area by restoring Orchestra Hall, building The Max, and expanding our footprint on Woodward Avenue to reaching students in Detroit schools through music education and mentor programs, we are impacting lives and the future of our city through music.

The sheer power of music brings delight to our audiences and empowers them through knowledge, confidence, and social connectivity. Visionary leaders know the rewards of measured risk-taking.

Together, we will never hold back from fulfilling our shared vision for the future.

Listen and you can hear the joy your commitment brings for generations to come, all while impacting the people, place, and purpose of the DSO. Be bold with us, and together we will be unstoppable.

THIS IS WHAT VISIONARY SOUNDS LIKE.

WELCOME TO THE DSO IMPACT CAMPAIGN.

Principal Pops conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra in a DSO Digital Concert in collaboration with Troupe Vertigo performers. Photo by Hart Hollman.

TRANSCENDENT

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COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

HOW WILL WE MAKE MUSIC MATTER TODAY?

WHAT EXCELLENCE SOUNDS LIKE

At the DSO, we wake up every morning energized by the possibilities of transforming the lives of Detroit’s individuals, families, and communities through the enormous power of unsurpassed musical experiences.

Trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost artists, critically acclaimed cutting-edge presentations, Classical, Paradise Jazz, PNC Pops, William Davidson Neighborhood Concerts, Young People’s Family Concerts, CUBE programming, innovative music education programs—they’re all made possible through the passion of our extraordinary donors, musicians, artistic leaders, board members, staff, and community stakeholders who are our oneDSO family.

MUSIC EASILY GOES BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT TO BECOME A POWERFUL VEHICLE THAT ACCESSES THE SOUL. I AM GRATEFUL AND PROUD TO BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES IT ONE OF ITS TOP PRIORITIES TO ENSURE THAT THIS DIVINE EXPERIENCE CAN BE ACCESSED BY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Acting Concertmaster

An Orchestra for the 21st Century

Acting Concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy plays the historic 1703 “Rougemont” Stradivarius loaned from The Henry Ford Museum for the DSO’s American Panorama Winter Music Festival. Photo by Hart Hollman.

Following Neeme Järvi’s extraordinary leadership over 15 years as DSO Music Director, internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin arrived in Detroit to begin his partnership with the DSO in 2008. The collaboration was critically regarded, seeing a continuation of national and international touring and renewed emphasis on recording and American music. With Slatkin, the DSO received its first Grammy nomination in 2017, for Copland’s Third Symphony and Three Latin American Sketches.

Equally important, DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons spearheaded pioneering community engagement efforts to improve the lives of diverse audiences through recognizing their needs and respecting their perspectives. Under her leadership, a strong belief in innovation has resulted in broader, more inclusive and impactful programming, comprehensive education and training programs, affordable ticket pricing, and digital and community-centric initiatives.

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ANNE PARSONS, DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESIDENT AND CEO

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The DSO aspires to excellence and impact with every performance, partnership, innovation, and experience we curate.

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EXEMPLARY CIVIC STEWARDSHIP: THE JAMES B. & ANN V. NICHOLSON FAMILY DSO Lifetime Director and Board Chairman Emeritus James B. Nicholson is recognized as a champion of Detroit, a major proponent of all the city has to offer. Jim and his wife, Ann V. Nicholson, are leaders in their support of the city’s arts and cultural institutions, with distinct pride in the DSO, which they have placed at the top of their philanthropic endeavors. Their advocacy of the excellence and importance of the DSO is recognized through their personal generosity and further emphasized by their ongoing corporate support of the DSO through PVS Chemicals, the family’s Detroit-based global company.

The first Chairman Emeritus of the DSO Board to be bestowed the honor of “DSO Lifetime Director,” Jim co-chaired the capital campaign that opened The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center and went on to co-chair the Campaign for a DSO Renaissance with Chairman Emeritus Peter D. Cummings.

Jim was also critical to many key DSO leadership decisions during his tenure, including the hiring of esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin as Music Director and the naming of Anne Parsons as the DSO’s President and CEO; her position was further ensured through an endowment to the institution from Ann and Jim.

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Three generations of Nicholson family DSO enthusiasts and supporters.

The extended Nicholson family, including sons Jim, David, John, and Timothy, along with their wives and children, have supported the DSO and its home at Orchestra Hall. Ann and Jim have demonstrated, to their family and community, the power of transformative leadership through their decades of commitment to the DSO. It is their love of music, people, and excellence that has inspired so many others to engage and lead. Often referred to by Anne Parsons as “our guardian angels,” we credit the DSO’s current successful run of achieving sustainability and artistic excellence with their leadership support.

Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Chair and trumpeter Terence Blanchard, vocalist Quiana Lynell, and the DSO perform The Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard on the Paradise Jazz Series. Blanchard has scored more than 15 Lee films and recently earned an Oscar nomination for his work on BlacKKKlansman. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

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The Vision of Bignamini The Detroit community and DSO audiences around the world may expect even greater commitment to innovation, diversity, and equity with the appointment of Italian conductor Jader Bignamini as music director during the 2020‒21 season.

THE BEST ATMOSPHERE, THE BEST ENERGY I’VE

Bignamini, with an international reputation for conducting opera, a personal love of jazz, and an unwavering commitment to education, arrives in Detroit at a time when his energy and embrace of all musical disciplines is seen as the perfect fit for the trailblazing artistry of the DSO’s musicians. Bignamini brings an inclusive and expansive musical world view to the DSO, and conductor and musicians alike imagine a new iteration of what an orchestra can be: passionate, collaborative, and connected to its community through the joy that only inspirational music can bring.

SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. THIS KIND OF CHEMISTRY

EVER FOUND IS IN THIS ORCHESTRA, WITH THESE

The genius of the DSO’s musicians and the acoustical wonders of Orchestra Hall continue to draw the finest musical talent in the world. Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Wynton Marsalis, and Hélène Grimaud are among the renowned artists who have appeared in recent seasons, serving the core mission of presenting excellence through musical experience.

The DSO’s Paradise Jazz Series celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. The series honors Orchestra Hall’s past legacy as the Paradise Theatre in the 1940s and is considered one of the most prestigious presentations of jazz in the world. The DSO is among the few orchestras, globally, to offer a jazz series on its main stage, led by current Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Chair at the DSO Terence Blanchard, a Blue Note recording artist and one of his generation’s most celebrated jazz trumpeters, composers, and music educators.

HONORING THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COMPOSERS AND MUSICIANS

MUSICIANS, IN THIS CONCERT HALL, WITH THIS AUDIENCE. IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IS VERY, VERY RARE. Jader Bignamini, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Music Director

HE’S GENUINE. WE’RE GENUINE, TOO, IN OUR LOVE AND DESIRE FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO GROW WITH

Acclaimed Artists in Notable Performances Across the Spectrum of Musical Genres

IN CELEBRATION OF CLASSICAL ROOTS:

OUR DSO COMMUNITY. IT’S THIS UNBELIEVABLE, UNDERLYING GENUINE FEELING WE HAVE—IT’S OUR PASSION. haron Sparrow, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Assistant S Principal Flute

African American composers and performers have been championed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for decades, going back at least to Orchestra Hall’s inaugural 1919-20 season when Harry T. Burleigh’s Violin Concerto was presented as part of the pops series. DSO musicians performing with the Detroit Civic Orchestra took part in the world premiere of Florence Price’s Third Symphony at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1940. Famed singer Marian Anderson made numerous appearances with the DSO from the 1930s to the ‘60s, followed by soprano Leontyne Price from the ‘50s to the ‘90s. Beginning in the 1970s, works by William Grant Still, George Walker, and others were regularly part of the DSO season, many led by Resident Conductor Paul Freeman.

The requisite of celebrating the foundational contributions of African Americans to the canon of classical music was also expressed in 1978, in the presentation of the first Classical Roots concert, which featured the DSO and the Brazeal Dennard Chorale. Held at Detroit’s historic Bethel AME Church, the series was founded by Freeman, choral director Brazeal Dennard and other prominent African American leaders.

Classical Roots would move to Orchestra Hall in 1981, where it has remained a staple of the DSO season. Now known as the Arthur L. Johnson-Honorable Damon Jerome Keith Classical Roots Celebration, the distinguished festival has grown to include a gala and lifetime achievement component.

The ongoing mission of Classical Roots, informed by the DSO’s history of representation, now resonates throughout the year: in the 2021-22 season, 25 percent of the music the orchestra performs is by Black composers, including Florence Price, Wynton Marsalis, and James Lee III.

Arthur L. Johnson and Chacona W. Baugh.

Dr. William F. Pickard.

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Leading Through Vision and Historic Perspective The continuing effort to support the Classical Roots Celebration has been spearheaded with many invaluable contributions from Detroit’s artistic, cultural, and civic leaders. Lasting impact has been brought to bear in particular through the efforts of Dr. William F. Pickard, Arthur L. Johnson, Honorable Damon Jerome Keith, and Chacona W. Baugh.

Dr. William F. Pickard is a leading supporter of the Classical Roots mission and a tireless champion of the DSO, where he is a Director Emeritus and a member of the Board of Trustees. He is a staunch advocate of programming in support of raising awareness of African American composers and musicians. Dr. Pickard’s 2019 endowment gift to the DSO is reflected in the addition of the names of Arthur L. Johnson and the Honorable Damon Jerome Keith to the title of the Classical Roots celebration, a personal tribute to the civic leadership of Johnson and Keith and their role as his mentors.

Cultural leader Chacona W. Baugh is a Director Emerita of the DSO, a longtime DSO supporter, and architect and benefactor of the Classical Roots mission. Chacona and her late husband, Arthur L. Johnson, were among the first supporters of the Classical Roots mission. Chacona W. Baugh has worked closely with the Classical Roots Steering Committee, co-chairing it in 2011 and 2012. She continues to develop the Classical Roots mission, through initiatives that reach out into the community, taking artists to area schools and children.

African American Composer Residency A new initiative established in Classical Roots’ 40th year, the program selects a living African American composer to premiere his or her work in conjunction with Classical Roots.

Those honored also speak to students and community members during their residency. Black Bottom, Nkeiru Okoye’s tribute to

IT’S ABOUT HEARING COMPOSERS WE DON’T NORMALLY HEAR ABOUT. THEIR MUSIC SPEAKS TO THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE AND WHAT THEIR FAMILIES ENDURED BUT ALSO WHAT THEY TAUGHT AND THE HOPE THEY BROUGHT TO THEIR FAMILIES. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW OUR HISTORY AS WELL AS OUR FUTURE

Leslie Devereaux, DSO President & CEO Anne Parsons and Music Director Jader Bignamini.

AND WE CAN TELL THAT THROUGH MUSIC. Chacona W. Baugh, Cultural Leader

historic Black Detroit, premiered with the DSO in 2020. The works of Evan Williams and Jonathan Bailey Holland have also been recently performed by the DSO.

A LIFELONG DEDICATION TO THE DSO: LESLIE DEVEREAUX Leslie Devereaux’s love for the musicians and music of the DSO began when she was a young child, attending the DSO’s Young People’s Concerts with her parents. The magic she felt in Orchestra Hall remains with her, a joy she has been inspired to share with Detroit’s children in her commitment to the DSO and its music education programs. A lifelong supporter of the DSO, Leslie Devereaux continues to believe in the transformative power of music and its ability to change, connect, and enrich lives throughout greater Detroit.

African American Orchestra Fellowship Inaugurated in 1990, the African American Orchestra Fellowship is designed to enhance the career development of African American musicians. As of 2021, twenty fellows have graduated from the program. Fellows perform in the orchestra, work closely with coaches and mentors, participate in mock auditions, and represent the DSO in the community. Kenneth Thompkins, Principal Trombone of the DSO, Joshua Jones, Principal Percussion of the Kansas City Symphony, and Alexander Laing, Principal Clarinet of the Phoenix Symphony, are among the distinguished alumni of the Fellowship program.

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AN ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DSO: ED LEVY, JR. AND LINDA DRESNER A lover of classical music since he was first introduced to it as a Detroit public school student, Ed Levy, Jr.’s ardor for orchestral music and its critical role in metropolitan Detroit has led him to become one of the DSO’s most generous and loyal supporters.

Together with his late wife, Julie, he was a major donor in the campaign to restore Orchestra Hall and they later established endowment support for the chair of the Principal Viola, which is known as the Julie and Ed Levy, Jr. Chair. Ed’s commitment to the DSO continues in partnership with his second wife, Linda Dresner, who serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

The couple considers their relationship with the DSO to be significant and their outstanding generosity allows the DSO to continue to develop and evolve their artistic, educational, and community-directed programs.

Photo by Virginio Levrio.

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PASSIONATE DEDICATION TO CHANGING LIVES THROUGH MUSIC

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MUSIC EDUCATION AT THE DSO REACHES ACROSS DETROIT’S COMMUNITIES TO BRING THE PROMISE OF MUSIC TO ALL.

WHAT DEDICATION SOUNDS LIKE Everyone should be able to have their life changed through music.

Music has a powerful emotional impact, and musical training is proven to enhance verbal abilities, reasoning and social skills, and well-being.

In children, music improves academic performance; in adults, music strengthens neurological pathways, enhancing memory and task efficiency.

Individuals who learn to play an instrument and go on to perform in musical ensembles discover the value of teamwork, preparation, personal responsibility, shared values, and the joy of realizing they can conquer seemingly insurmountable difficulties through hard work and practice.

Civic Youth Ensembles clarinetist in master class with DSO mentor musician, Principal Clarinet Ralph Skiano.

Celebrating the Music in Every Detroit Schoolchild for 50 Years.

Since its first school concerts a century ago and particularly since its founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to the diverse communities it connects with across metro Detroit.

Civic Youth Ensembles annual performance in Orchestra Hall. Photo by Andrew Petrov.

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Ages Civic Youth Ensembles 10-18+ 15 directed ensembles Dresner Allegro Ensemble Ages & Pistons Bucket Band

7-14

Four schools, multi-year training programs

Ages Partner Schools 8-10 17 schools Ages Educational Concert Series 5-15 16,000+ students per year

As of 2020, Civic Youth Ensembles offer training through:

Ages Young People’s Family Concerts 7-11 1,000+ students per year

 five string orchestras  three wind ensembles

 three jazz ensembles  two full orchestras

Ages Tiny Tots Concerts 2-5 1,000+ students per year

 several chamber ensembles and jazz combos

Virtual learning—when required to ensure the safety of our community—and our traditional in-class experiences are enhanced through myriad education partnerships. For example, together with Detroit Public Schools Community District and PNC Foundation’s Grow Up Great initiative, we are empowered to further expand early music education throughout the City of Detroit.

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

The Wus’ commitment to the generational value of music education has allowed us to expand our youth programming and now includes training and musician mentoring at the Jacob Bernard Pincus Music Education Center at The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our community yearned for DSO training opportunities. With an agile mindset, innovative spirit, and collaborative culture, the team successfully migrated hundreds of students from in-person to digital training and learning in a matter of months. At the same time, with on-stage performance opportunities limited due to social distancing requirements, DSO musicians became virtual teachers and mentors to students enrolled in CYE, leading dozens of online classes every week.

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Thanks in large part to the generosity of Dr. Clyde Wu and Helen Wu, active participation in music is an opportunity now more than ever before for Detroit’s youth.

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Ages PNC Grow Up Great 2-4 15 schools

The Wu Family Academy offers additional programs through partnerships including:

 Educational Concert Series (ECS): free concerts providing a valuable resource to teachers, students, and families.

All concerts have an accompanying guidebook with lessons and activities, completely free in our Learning Resources hub.

REALIZING THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION: THE CLYDE AND HELEN WU FAMILY A shared passion for music united Dr. Clyde Wu with his wife, Helen Wu, an accomplished pianist. Their lifetime of dedication to music education and service to the Detroit community have been fully realized in their endowment of the Wu Family Academy for Learning and Engagement with a lifetime gift in perpetuity.

The Wus first envisioned the possibilities for broadening the DSO’s enrichment initiatives when Clyde Wu joined the DSO Board of Directors and was tapped to lead the board’s Education Committee. The DSO’s youth programming through the Wu Family Academy for Learning and Engagement now provides the highest quality music education and training programs for a full spectrum of ages and backgrounds in the Detroit communities served by the DSO. It is recognized as one of the most successful and accessible music education programs associated with any major orchestra in the United States, unique in its commitment to reaching all Detroit’s children and helping them realize their potential through music.

 T he Penny and Harold Blumenstein Future Audiences Fund

enables students, teachers, and chaperones at any school within Detroit city limits to attend DSO Educational Concert Series performances for just $1.

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THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION RAISE SELF-EXPECTATION—

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THAT DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK PAY OFF WHILE CAMARADERIE AND COMMUNITY GROW THROUGH CREATING MUSIC TOGETHER. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, FINDING COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THEM IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN TODAY’S WORLD. THE DSO IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF BRINGING MUSIC EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY— IT IS KEY. David M. Wu, M.D., DSO Board Member

Danialle and Peter Karmanos Jr. with their sons.

SUPPORTING THE DSO’S ESSENTIAL ROLE IN DETROIT: DANIALLE AND PETER KARMANOS, JR. The Wus’ reverence for the life-changing qualities of music has been ingrained within their family for generations; their legacy at the DSO is carried on by their son, distinguished pulmonologist David Wu, M.D. Dr. Wu is a member of the DSO Board of Directors and current chair of the DSO’s Education Committee.

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Danialle and Peter Karmanos, Jr. are recognized for their devotion to the support of Detroit’s revitalization and the significant role played by the city’s cultural institutions. Their philanthropic efforts have long extended to the DSO. As passionate investors in education and health, they appreciate the role that music plays in the wellbeing of community. Having grown up in Detroit, Danialle and Peter see “our own childhood experiences as the foundation of our giving. We are fully committed to creating meaningful music and cultural opportunities for Detroit’s children.”

The Karmanos’ generosity promises to impact generations of families throughout the region.

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Transform the lives of Detroit’s future generations with your vision for the DSO and its diverse communities.

in total, the dso’s expansive education programs touch the lives of more than 115,000 students a year.

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 L ive from Orchestra Hall Classroom Edition webcasts on

Facebook and dso.org are widely available in the Metro Detroit region thanks to the Berman Family and the Madeleine and Mandell L. Berman Foundation, whose vision that these programs would be free to all is realized through partnerships and programs with area schools.

 Y oung People’s Family Concerts are an exciting introduction to classical music that often include dance, theater, storytelling, and video, reaching generations of children in our region over many decades.

D SO @ Interlochen is another example of the DSO’s dedication to maximizing impact through partnership, with DSO musicians participating as teachers and mentors as part of Interlochen’s summer music education series. The DSO’s association with Interlochen goes back to the 1960s and ‘70s, and the orchestra later appeared there annually from 1991 to 2006. The orchestra returned to Interlochen in 2019 for a weeklong residency, the first time in 13 years.

During Interlochen’s online summer camp in 2020, DSO musicians led three weeks of classes for young musicians.

 T he DSO Summer Institute serves pre-professional and

conservatory musicians through a week-long, full-scholarship educational experience. Conceived by the DSO’s musicians and launched during the pandemic, the program provides opportunities to work closely with DSO musicians in an array of virtual course offerings. During the summer of 2020, 68 DSO musicians participated in this innovative and entrepreneurial program, serving 113 aspiring artists from around the world.

That said, we have more to do!

Which is why starting in 2020-2021 we launched a city-wide engagement effort: Detroit Harmony.

Proud CYE parents and friends enjoying the music of the youth orchestras in an Orchestra Hall concert.

Through comprehensive systemic collaborations with organizations and individuals across the city, Detroit Harmony seeks to improve childhood development through music education and to grow economic opportunity by employing Detroiters in the provision of instruments and instruction.

The strategic planning process for this new initiative has been supported by the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. With Detroit Harmony, we envision a city where every K-12 student can choose their musical destiny, a city where instruments are available to each and every child, accompanied by excellent and supportive musical education.

Pistons Bucket Band instruction is conducted at Charles L. Spain ElementaryMiddle School in Detroit. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

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Detroit Harmony builds on DSO outreach opportunities already available in select Detroit public schools, including:

 T he Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Allegro Ensemble,

 CYE Detroit Pistons Bucket Band, a musical learning experi-

an endowed entry level in-school violin program offering free tuition and instruments to all participants.

ence based in percussion and rhythm basics.

We are keeping up with adult dreams as well, with Detroit Community Ensembles for amateur teen and adult players with an emphasis on lifelong learning through playing with others at similar levels of musicianship.

BUCKET BAND IS NOT JUST A PLACE TO GO TO PLAY BUCKETS; IT’S A PLACE YOU GO TO HANG OUT, MAKE FRIENDS, AND BE YOURSELF. IT IS LIKE A SECOND FAMILY TO ME. THERE’S NEVER A MOMENT IN BUCKET BAND WHERE YOU FEEL DOWN. IT’S JUST AMAZING. Civic Youth Ensembles Director Leslie DeShorzer instructs Dresner Foundation Allegro students at Detroit’s Ellington Conservatory of Music & Art at Beckham Academy. Photo by Leslie DeShazor.

Griffin, 6th grader

Every child deserves this choice.

The program reflects our commitment as an arts organization to improving the quality of life for all Detroiters by upholding diversity through inclusion and enriching the community through deepening our musical and educational impact across the region.

Principal Percussion Joe Becker teaches Detroit schoolchildren about rhythm in a music therapy session. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

INVESTING IN THE

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MAJESTIC

POWER OF PLACE BUILDING EXTENDED COMMUNITY THROUGH THE LEGACY OF ORCHESTRA HALL AND ITS HOME AT THE MAX M. AND MARJORIE S. FISHER MUSIC CENTER.

WHAT MAJESTIC SOUNDS LIKE

Music is in the DNA of Detroit. It has always been a strong, meaningful, and essential part of the hearts, souls, and minds of Detroiters.

And nowhere are the residents of southeastern Michigan more at home with their joy in music than at Orchestra Hall with the DSO.

Orchestra Hall: Flawless by Design The DSO and Orchestra Hall are together today because of a remarkable moment of leadership 100 years ago when citizens of Detroit banded together to create the concert hall that is still considered among the finest in the world, in the rarified company of Boston’s Symphony Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and Vienna’s Musikverein.

Orchestra’s Hall’s nearly flawless acoustics have been scientifically verified, the result of incredible bass response that provides warmth, extremely hard surfaces that don’t absorb sound, and a high degree of resonance, providing the right ratio of direct to indirect sound. The true magic occurs when music is being made in the space, creating the strongest and most powerful effect on concertgoers. DSO audiences know that attending a concert at Orchestra Hall provides one of the most unbelievably emotional experiences in the world.

It is an architectural treasure, first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

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The Paradise of Orchestra Hall Orchestra Hall has been many things to Detroiters through the generations.

On December 26, 1941, it emerged as the Paradise Theatre, the only theater in America to compare with New York’s famed Apollo.

The Paradise quickly became not only one of the leading venues for jazz in Detroit but also one of America’s elite theaters for Black entertainers.

Louis Armstrong was the first headliner at the Paradise Theatre.

During its ten-year run (1941-1951), many of the most famous names in jazz and R&B made their way to its stage, including Count Basie, Billie Eckstine, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Moms Mabley, and Sammy Davis Jr. with the Will Mastin Trio.

Above: Lillie Marie Brown, who was Joe Louis’s niece, adjusts the marquee at the Paradise Theatre in 1944. Left: Louis Armstrong, backstage at the Paradise Theatre in the late 1940s, returned to play the venue frequently, after opening the theater the day after Christmas in 1941. (Ed McKenzie Collection, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History)

OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CONCERT HALLS IN THE WORLD. EVERY TIME I RETURN—EVERY TIME— I’M IN AWE. IT’S PERFECTION. IT’S THIS HARMONY BETWEEN WARMTH, SHINE, SUSTAIN. ORCHESTRA HALL MAKES OUR WORK INSPIRING. Hélène Grimaud, pianist

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE

Cultural Destination Powering Detroit’s Economy

PLAYED ORCHESTRA HALL— ELLA FITZGERALD, LOUIS

Detroit has always been one of the most artistic, innovative, and culturally significant cities in the world, a position magnified through the development and expansion of the DSO’s midtown music campus.

ARMSTRONG—ENDLESS GREATS. IT’S A CROWNING

Orchestra Hall, along with the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center which also includes the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube, Jacob Bernard Pincus Music Education Center, Robert A. and Maggie Allesee Rehearsal Hall, and the Sosnick Courtyard, has played a major role in the renaissance of Midtown Detroit. The cultural center has restored vibrancy to the city and led to economic development along the Woodward and Cass corridors.

THIS HALL IS JUST A GEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS HERE I THOUGHT: IT’S A PEARL, ONE

ACHIEVEMENT OF A CERTAIN PART OF YOUR CAREER TO BE ABLE TO PLAY ORCHESTRA HALL BECAUSE OF ITS LEGACY. Terence Blanchard, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair

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The Max hosts hundreds of community, non-profit, and cultural institution events throughout the year, for example:  At Orchestra Hall, the prestigious Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latinx classical string players.  At the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube, diverse programming such as Om @ The Max, Salsa Dancing, and Poetry Slams.  In Allesee Hall, the birth of Detroit Public Theatre.  In the Sosnick Courtyard, a mix of performance art, chamber music, jazz, and out of the box, avant-garde programming.

Ensuring the Legacy of Orchestra Hall Maintaining Orchestra Hall and the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center is a privilege and responsibility for those who understand why its history matters—the DSO is a symbol of Detroit’s spirit, culture, and commitment to the arts.

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MY FAVORITE MOMENT IS WHEN WE HAVE CONCURRENT EVENTS IN ALL OF OUR SPACES: THE DSO IS PLAYING BEETHOVEN IN ORCHESTRA HALL, THE DETROIT PUBLIC THEATRE IS PERFORMING A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PLAY IN THE ROBERT A. AND MAGGIE ALLESEE HALL, THERE’S A POETRY SLAM AT THE CUBE. THE MOST MAGICAL PART OF

Samuel and Jean Frankel with fellow DSO supporters Geraldine and Dr. Melvin Lester.

THAT TYPE OF EVENING IS WHEN THE AUDIENCES CONVENE IN THE WILLIAM DAVIDSON ATRIUM AND THEY’RE CO-MINGLING—IT REALLY ILLUSTRATES OUR VISION OF BEING A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE. YOU CAN HEAR JAZZ AND CHECK OUT THE ORCHESTRA AND ITS CLASSICAL PROGRAMMING. THE PLACE RADIATES WITH PALPABLE ENERGY. Chris Harrington, Senior Director of Jazz and @The Max

It is financially demanding.

By joining the DSO Impact Campaign, you’ll preserve the vibrancy and relevance of Orchestra Hall and The Max. Strong endowment ensures its viability and health for future generations, allowing the DSO as well as countless other partners to continue to engage, entertain, and educate new audiences for decades to come.

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Where our Diverse Communities Gather for Inspiration, Celebration, and Innovation

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THE DSO IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF WHO DETROITERS ARE. WHETHER IT’S THE DSO REACHING OUT TO SCHOOLCHILDREN AND DOING EDUCATIONAL WORK OR PLAYING IN THE COMMUNITY—THOSE THINGS ONLY HAVE MEANING IF THE ORCHESTRA ITSELF AND WHAT WE DO WHEN WE’RE PERFORMING IS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. Haden McKay, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Cello

MULTI-GENERATIONAL PASSIONATE COMMITMENT: THE SAMUEL AND JEAN FRANKEL FAMILY Without the tremendous vision and support of DSO Lifetime Director Samuel Frankel and his wife, Jean Frankel, Orchestra Hall and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra would not be here today for legions of music lovers to enjoy and appreciate.

The Frankels were among the founding and most ardent champions in the campaign to save Orchestra Hall in the 1970s and the family continued its passionate patronage and loyalty to the orchestra with the next generation, DSO Lifetime Director and Chairman Emeritus Stanley Frankel and his wife, Judy Frankel. The couple shared the late DSO bassoonist and Trustee Paul Ganson’s inspired plan of saving Orchestra Hall; their leadership led to the restoration of Orchestra Hall, allowing the DSO to return to its ancestral home permanently in 1989.

Continuing support for the DSO is embraced by the extended family including Bruce and Dale Frankel, Stuart and Maxine Frankel, Jo Elyn and George Nyman and stretches into the third generation with Aaron Frankel, who became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2015 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2020 and his wife, Carolynn Frankel, who joined the Board of Trustees in 2018.

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Carolynn and Aaron Frankel

BUILDING THE DSO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS: THE MAX M. AND MARJORIE S. FISHER FAMILY The Frankel family has long held the DSO to be not only one of Detroit’s most valuable cultural assets but an important economic draw as well, one which significantly enhances the quality of life for those who live in, work in, and visit the city. True believers in the power of music to move mankind, to galvanize a city towards renewal, and to enrich and mentor future generations, the Frankels’ affection for the institution is a most profound gift.

When the DSO’s Max M. Fisher Music Center opened in 2003, it was celebrated as a visionary and extraordinary civic accomplishment. Yet when the original plans were presented to Fisher in 1993 by Peter D. Cummings, his son-in-law and member of the DSO Board of Directors, the great philanthropist and community leader encouraged Cummings to think bigger.

The reimagined and expanded concept of what the project could mean to Detroit’s renaissance and the city’s cultural landscape would elicit major financial backing from Mr. Fisher, resulting in one of America’s great music centers. Now known as The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center or “The Max,” the center continues to enrich the lives of Detroiters and those who visit the city, an inspiring example of how one family’s legacy of community involvement can continue to impact lives for generations. The Fishers recognized the essentialness of place in developing The Max but they also understood the integral role of our musicians in creating art for the ages, an element acknowledged by Marjorie S. Fisher with her almost certainly unique bequest of an individual gift to each DSO musician at her passing.

Julie F. Cummings, Max and Marjorie’s daughter, and her husband, Peter D. Cummings, continue the remarkable legacy of the elder Fishers through their own enduring stewardship of the DSO. Peter is a Chairman Emeritus of the Board who continues to be engaged through his unique perspective on the future of the DSO and the role it can play for the residents of Detroit. Julie and Peter’s recent major gift to the DSO breathed new life into the former Music Box at The Max by reimagining it as The CUBE. The venue has grown

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THE DSO IS NOT JUST AN ORGANIZATION THAT APPEALS TO A NARROW GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS— IT IS A CONTRIBUTOR OF BROAD AND DEEP VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FROM AN ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC STANDPOINT. THE ARTS ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS TO COMMUNITIES AND THE DSO’S REPUTATION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR DRAWS OF LIVING AND WORKING IN DETROIT. Faye Alexander Nelson, DSO Board Member

The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation board meeting in the Herman and Sharon Frankel Donor Lounge at the DSO.

to become one of Detroit’s liveliest and best-attended venues, featuring a spectrum of traditional and innovative programming reflective of Detroit’s cultural diversity.

DSO Chairman Emeritus Phillip Wm. Fisher, Max and Marjorie’s son, and his wife, Lauren Fisher honor their family’s passion and support of the DSO through their ongoing involvement and endowment support of the orchestra, the institution, and its people. Phillip was the heart and soul behind the transformation of “oneDSO” culture—a commitment to uniting staff, musicians, and board—which carries on today and is one of the key factors for the stability of the organization through the pandemic. Phillip continues to serve on several board committees and currently chairs the DSO Impact Campaign.

Second generation members also building upon the legacy of their parents include DSO Director Emerita Jane Sherman and her husband, Larry Sherman, Mary Fisher, Marjorie Fisher and her husband Roy Furman.

Detroit native and devoted philanthropist Stephen M. Ross, Max Fisher’s nephew, has also accelerated the institution’s renaissance and midtown’s revitalization through generously contributing to DSO campaigns over the decades.

Marjorie’s daughter, Alissandra Aronow, is one example of the next generation of Fishers in support of the DSO as she embraces the family’s legacy of community involvement through Detroit Harmony. A total of four generations of Fisher family members have been involved in multiple aspects of the DSO’s mission and remain integral parts of the DSO family.

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Grammy-nominated singer artist Mumu Fresh performs in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube.

The DSO’s Midtown Detroit Woodward Avenue main campus, left to right: Orchestra Hall, the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, and the Jacob Bernard Pincus Music Education Center.

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DSO Music Director Neeme Järvi and Wiliam “Bill” Davidson as they kick off the DSO European Tour of 1998. Guardian Industries, chaired by Mr. Davidson, contributed $1M to the tour.

CONNECTING DETROIT AND THE WORLD THROUGH THE DSO: THE DAVIDSON AND GERSON FAMILIES The Davidson and Gerson families’ relationship with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra began three generations ago with Ralph and Sarah Wetsman Davidson who admired the orchestra and introduced it to their children — William “Bill” Davidson and Dorothy Davidson Gerson — through the DSO Young People’s Concerts.

Bill Davidson became a fan and a generous contributor, supporting the DSO personally and through Guardian Industries, the Detroit Pistons, and his other businesses. He was steadfast in his belief that the orchestra was culturally vital to the lives of Southeast Michigan residents and economically important in attracting other businesses and key employees to the region. Karen W. Davidson, Mr. Davidson’s widow, remains a strong supporter of the DSO as well as other cultural and educational institutions in Michigan.

Music teacher Darrius Washington finds a teaching moment in helping student La’Miyah spot the woodwinds and other orchestra sections during a DTE Community Concert. Washington first encountered the DSO when he was in the 8th grade and has been bringing his own students to DSO concerts for years.

“I remember hearing the music and falling in love. I’d never heard classical music before that day. But once I got exposed, I was hooked.” Photo by Sarah Smarch, Greater Grace Temple, Detroit.

Dorothy Davidson Gerson, Mr. Davidson’s sister, and her husband, Byron H. Gerson, were also loyal supporters of the DSO and enthusiastic series subscribers over many years. Their son, Ralph J. Gerson, worked with Mr. Davidson to establish the “Guardian Touring Fund” to support travel for concerts in the U.S. and overseas by the orchestra. Ralph J. Gerson, who serves as an officer on the DSO Board of Directors and Chair of the Investment Committee, and his wife, Erica Ward Gerson, are committed

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CONNECTING THROUGH LISTENING. PIONEERING COMMUNITY GROWTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC. Generations of Davidson and Gerson support: Ethan Davidson, Karen Davidson, Gretchen Davidson, Dorothy Gerson, Erica Ward Gerson, Ralph Gerson.

supporters of the DSO and key officers and directors of local arts, medical, and educational institutions.

The DSO has been a pillar of the Detroit arts and culture sector for more than 130 years.

listening. Listening allows responsiveness. Listening allows reciprocity. True listening builds trust and respect.

Generational stewardship also continues with Mr. Davidson’s son, Ethan Davidson, and his wife, Gretchen Davidson, who support the DSO, have a strong desire to promote music in the region, and have assumed leadership roles in other local musical organizations such as the Michigan Opera Theater and the Motown Museum.

Musical connection matters to us.

As our understanding of the communities around us grows, we will grow in the understanding of ourselves. We invite you to join us on this journey so that together we can equitably serve all people of Detroit.

Finally, the William Davidson Foundation, a private family foundation, is dedicated to advancing the vitality of our region and extending Bill Davidson’s philanthropic legacy. For example, Mr. Davidson saw the DSO as a global ambassador for Detroit through the universality and excellence of its artistic expression. His companies sponsored DSO tours and Mr. and Mrs. Davidson personally joined the orchestra on one of its European tours. He also helped the DSO expand its reach in Southeast Michigan, working with Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin to launch the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series. The popular series is held in venues across metropolitan Detroit and is now made possible through the support of the William Davidson Foundation, which also sponsored the DSO’s 2017 Asia Tour.

The William Davidson Foundation made a transformational investment in the DSO in 2017. In support of the long-term stability of the DSO, a portion of the $15 million grant was designated as a 1:1 match toward the DSO’s permanent endowment, resulting in a larger investment thanks to the Foundation’s leadership and foresight.

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We are determined, perhaps more than ever, to play a significant role in the growth and joy of our entire city.

To fully realize our shared vision of being an inclusive and culturally relevant community where all people can experience their world through music, we must continue to strengthen our roots here, in the incredible, resilient, and vital city of Detroit.

We understand that to address the greatest needs of the Detroit community, we must come to better know and comprehensively understand the people who hold these needs. We must create spaces for open listening and take time to thoughtfully process the information that is shared. We must build trust.

The success of our relationship with Detroit communities— what we have come to call our Detroit Strategy—is reliant upon our ability to deeply connect with the people in those communities. As musicians and presenters, we are used to speaking and being heard. But to be true to this commitment, we need to exercise another skill of the musician, the skill of

Bringing Healing to our Community through Music Recognizing the restorative power of music, the DSO and its musicians are dedicated to bringing musical experiences to area hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and senior communities throughout the metro Detroit area.

Our Partners in Community Health and Wellness include:  alzheimer’s association  american house senior living communities

 beaumont arts for the spirit  henry ford health system

 john d. dingell v.a. medical center  kadima mental health services

WHAT

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CONNECTED

SOUNDS LIKE

IT’S EASIER THAN EVER TO SEE US, HEAR US, LEARN WITH US. DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE OF TOUCHING EVERY HEART WITH MUSIC THROUGH CUTTING EDGE, INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, AND PATRON-MINDED PRICING. At the DSO, we believe the delight of exceptional music should be available to everyone through affordable tickets, a culture that welcomes all people, and diverse, deliberate programming created to make us the most connected orchestra on the planet.

We’ve never been shy about reaching into the future to bring our audiences the most outstanding musical experiences available—we were the first orchestra in the world to perform a live concert via radio broadcast in 1922.

Since then, the innovation, diverse range, and risk-taking for which we are known have continued to prove our standing as one of the world’s greatest cultural resources.

We envision a future where we are not constrained by our physical surroundings—one that is uplifting and unifying and helps us navigate through sometimes impossibly difficult times with grace, power, and compassion.

A virtual community performance of “Spirit of Detroit: A Symphony of the People.” Using an arrangement by cellist Jeremy Crosmer of the theme in Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets, participants from Detroit and beyond joined the DSO for this virtual project conducted from Italy by Music Director Jader Bignamini. Made possible by support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Full concerts, concert highlights, virtual collaborative ensembles, pre-concert lectures, watch parties, educational videos and materials for teachers, children, and adults—they’re all available at dso.org.

The latest technology at work in the Alfred R Glancy III control room: webcast director Habib Azar’s movements resemble those of the conductor onstage, his trained eyes moving to different camera feeds, arms out-stretched and pointing not to orchestra sections but to monitors.

 L ive from Orchestra Hall

ince 2011, our pioneering webcasts have connected us with S audiences around the world utilizing the latest technology.

A 2019 camera upgrade, thanks to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, allows us to record concerts in 4K Ultra High Definition. DSO webcasts have registered more than two million views since launching.

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D TE Community Concert Series

Powered by the DTE Energy Foundation, an investment that ensures every seat is free, a factor which is not lost on the many school groups able to attend the daytime concerts and the educators who treasure the enriching experience.

C YE @ HOME Left: Yoga + Live Music: patrons practice socially distanced yoga to the sound of a live string ensemble outdoors in the DSO’s Sosnick Courtyard. Right: Assistant Principal Cello Abraham Feder performs at the DSO’s new musicianhosted webseries Between 2 Stands live taping event in Sosnick Courtyard.

D SO Digital Concerts

During the pandemic, we retooled our webcast offerings to provide subscribers and donors with all-access to new, live concerts, with single tickets available for purchase. The new series led The New Yorker to proclaim, “The DSO leads the pack in presenting concerts online.”

D SO Replay

Our on-demand archive of more than 200 past performances, made available for free in 2020.

W illiam Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series

The popular series celebrates more than a decade of bringing the artistry of the DSO beyond the walls of Orchestra Hall into seven communities across Metro Detroit.

D SO On the Go

Serving Detroit-based organizations with concerts in diverse community gathering places throughout the region.

Our online collection of training content to aid and supplement CYE students’ practice, whenever they are unable to attend in-person or virtual lessons and rehearsals at The Max.

W atch Parties

Special, fun screenings of past performances on social media and our website, including special Family Watch Parties programmed by the moms, dads, aunts, and uncles of the DSO.

N extGen

The DSO’s young professionals’ membership program. Only $40 annually, NextGen unlocks $10 single tickets for nearly every DSO performance, as well as invitations to exclusive pre- and post-concert events and signature experiences.

 S oundcard

For students of any age, costs $25 annually and grants members free access to more than 100 DSO performances across the Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and William Davidson Neighborhood Concerts series.

Patrons create unique musical compositions in Sosnick Courtyard with Sound Sculpture technology: interactive sound and light building blocks allow participants to physically pick up and arrange notes. Photo by Trista Dymond.

TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP: THE POWER OF THE DSO IMPACT CAMPAIGN.

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WITH A GOAL OF INSPIRING $75M IN NEW ENDOWMENT, THIS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO IMPACT THE DSO AND DETROIT FOR GENERATIONS.

WHAT TRANSFORMATIVE SOUNDS LIKE As of December 31, 2020, the DSO’s endowment balance totaled approximately $62M with a projected total of $81M when all current commitments are received. Our goal by 2023 is to secure an additional $75M in pledges to the endowment.

Strong Endowment Ensures:  A financially sustainable future for the DSO and our home

in Orchestra Hall

 A safeguard of our artistic excellence and launching pad for audacious artistic vision

 The guaranteed future for our education and training programs for coming generations

 The latitude to invest in bold new initiatives with awe-inspiring potential

Relevance in a Changing Detroit As an arts organization, we define the cutting edge in our industry, evolving to address the diverse cultural and educational requirements of our communities through a deeper responsiveness to their needs.

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Allegro Ensemble perform in the Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Cube. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

The Social Progress Initiative, announced in 2017, evaluates DSO programming on three core values—Inclusion, Enrichment, and Expression—to reflect our commitment to improving the

quality of life for the people of Detroit and beyond through the power of music.

Music makes a Lasting Difference Our dedication to bring music education into our schools continues to amplify through in-school performances and classroom visits, while specifically strengthening our partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District. Our commitment to connecting with every child in the metro Detroit region is additionally activated through the broad reach of DSO’s Live from Orchestra Hall Classroom Edition concert webcasts.

The Wu Family Academy continues to develop our region’s young musicians, while creating new training opportunities for underserved youth.

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ENDOWMENT/BUDGET RATIO AS AN ORCHESTRA, WE’RE INSTITUTIONALLY HEALTHIER THAN EVER

St. Louis Boston

eight consecutive balanced budgets (2013-20)

organizational values redefined and embraced through a democratic process resulting in a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, innovation, diversity, and resilience.

three collective bargaining agreements with musicians, over the last eight years, were reached ahead of deadline. real estate assets were sold, funding facility maintenance and de-risking the dso’s legacy defined benefit pension plans.

100% of dso musicians made a combined gift of $100,000 to the dso’s endowment in support of artistic excellence in detroit.

new personnel, including 39 highly talented and sought-after musicians, and numerous staff members were added to the dso family between 2012 and 202o.

Chicago Pittsburgh Dallas Saint Paul San Diego Cleveland

a return to touring: in 2014, with domestic engagements at carnegie hall and in florida; in 2017, with its first international tour in 16 years, including concerts in japan and our debut in china; in 2019, a revival of the dso’s summer residency at interlochen center for the arts, its first since 20o6; and, a planned return to florida in 2022.

Atlanta

Detroit

j ader bignamini, the critically acclaimed italian conductor, named new music director beginning with the 202o-2021 season.

an enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that aligns musicians, board, and staff through shared beliefs, intentions, and action plans.

San Francisco Philadelphia National

A comparison of orchestra endowments, relative to their operating budget, reveals the DSO is undercapitalized in comparison to its peers.

New York Cincinnati Baltimore Kansas City Houston Los Angeles Utah Milwaukee Seattle Minnesota Nashville

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DSO 10-YEAR PLAN NARRATIVE FINAL PHASES EVERY GIFT TO OUR ENDOWMENT BUILDS A BIGGER SPRINGBOARD FOR:

WE’RE CLOSE TO OUR GOAL OF BEING FINANCIALLY

WE’VE GROWN AND CHANGED WITH THE CITY AND

SUSTAINABLE FOR PERPETUITY. WE NEED DONORS

WE’RE REEMERGING IN THIS COMPLETELY NEW AND

TO GET THAT LAST PIECE DONE. WHEN WE DO THAT,

FABULOUS WAY, INCORPORATING SO MANY MORE

WE WILL BE THE ONLY ORCHESTRA IN THE COUNTRY

THINGS AS AN ORGANIZATION THAN WE EVER DID.

WITH NO LIABILITY. THAT MEANS THE POWER OF

THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON WITH THE DSO NOW.

EVERY ENDOWMENT DOLLAR IS GEOMETRICALLY

Caroline Coade, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Viola

CHANGED, GEOMETRICALLY MORE POWERFUL. Mark Davidoff, DSO Board Chairman

 Spectacular Musicianship  Inspirational Creativity  Cutting-Edge Inventiveness  Bold Artistic Vision  Amplified Community Impact

AMPLIFY & ACCELERATE

THRIVE

OBJECTIVES Celebrate CYE50 Execute Detroit Strategy Fulfill Leadership Succession Plans Expand artistic vision of Jader Bignamini with January 2022 Florida Tour

OBJECTIVES Artistic excellence and mission-critical programs capitalized Visionary projects inspire leadership support

2022-2023

SUSTAIN & RESTORE 2021

OBJECTIVES Continue fiscal discipline Launch CYE50 Activate Detroit Strategy Assess and evolve DSO Mission & Values Maintain service of mission-critical programs

2024+

Earned Revenue

+

Contributed Revenue

+

Endowment Draw

=

Balanced Budget

(including all artistic, facility, personnel as well as Detroit strategy, education, and community-service program expenses)

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THE GREAT MUSIC HISTORY OF DETROIT AND THE DSO IS REALLY DUE IN PART TO THE WONDERFUL EDUCATION ONCE PROVIDED IN DETROIT’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS —IT’S WHY I BELIEVE MUCH OF THE DSO’S

The DSO is undercapitalized compared to its orchestra peers in the United States. Achieving an additional $75 million in endowment will place the DSO at a competitive level financially but also artistically, as a vigorous endowment is a sign of a highly valued institution and one of the critical aspects musicians and administrators consider when accepting a position.

MISSION TODAY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION. I THINK IT’S CRITICAL FOR DETROIT, FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. STUDYING MUSIC CRITICALLY PREPARES OUR YOUTH FOR LIFE IN A BETTER WAY. Chacona W. Baugh, DSO Director Emerita

Artistic excellence and community impact are not possible without financial stability, of which endowment is the bedrock. A major endowment is a symbol of people’s belief in an institution—it reflects institutional loyalty and gratitude.

It allows for “doing the right thing, at the right moment, with the right opportunity,” says DSO Board Chair Emeritus Phillip Wm. Fisher.

Music Director Jader Bignamini and orchestra during a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.

WE’RE REALLY WALKING NOW ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, WHO INVESTED IN THE DSO OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS WITH THE COMMITMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A SYMPHONY OF THIS STATURE TODAY. IT’S IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE OUR GREAT LEGACY, FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A PLACE TO COME TOGETHER. IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO INVEST IN THE DSO FOR OUR FUTURE. Jim Vella, DSO Board Member

Through careful financial stewardship and farsighted decisions on the part of its Board of Directors, the DSO in 2020 achieved an operating surplus for the eighth consecutive year, and grew the annual fund and endowment.

By examining our role in a changing Detroit, we have aimed to prioritize resources, incorporate fresh thinking into our existing programs, and create new programs to answer the critical needs of our communities.

For investors, it’s a time of great opportunity—to inspire countless achievements, command boundless creativity, and unleash the DSO’s full potential to change lives for the better.

We are energized by our commitment to harmonize Detroit, and all Detroiters, through music.

A packed crowd dances at the 26th Annual Concert of Colors street party kick-off event in Sosnick Courtyard, presented in partnership with WDET. Concert of Colors is a week-long festival to unite metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups through music and dance from around the world; the DSO has been a full partner since 2006. Photo by Sarah Smarch.

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WHAT VISIONARY SOUNDS LIKE:

DSO IMPACT CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES

AS WE ENDEAVOR TO RAISE $75 MILLION IN PERPETUAL CAPITAL AND RESTRICTED OPERATING CASH, THE DSO IS COMMITTED TO THREE PILLARS OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY:

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EDUCATION:

Perpetuating music education as the heartbeat of our community through world-class training programs

Guaranteeing the Wu Family Academy’s legacy and the oneDSO community’s dedication to education

Partnering across metro Detroit systems, schools, and educators to ensure every child who wants to learn has the opportunity

ARTISTIC VISION:

Inspiring through innovative and diverse musical experiences

Attracting and retaining top talent in service of creativity and organizational purpose

Enabling DSO musicians as innovators for public good and catalysts for change

Maximizing our local and global connectivity by cultivating authentic partnerships and accelerating digital innovation and engagement

Enhancing community vibrancy as an economic engine for Detroit and driver of prosperity

ORCHESTRA HALL:

Preserving our 100-year-old acoustical masterpiece, a Detroit community asset and gathering place

A jubilant Jader Bignamini onstage at Orchestra Hall the week his tenure as the DSO’s Music Director was announced. Photo by Jungfu Han, Detroit Free Press.

WHAT WILL THE LEADING ORCHESTRA IN AMERICA SOUND LIKE IN THE 21ST CENTURY? For many, the answer lies here, with the people, place, and purpose of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

We are internationally celebrated yet remain deeply rooted in our hometown of Detroit, connected to our diverse community and fully committed to empowering all people through the joy and life-changing impact of music.

We are recognized by our industry peers as visionary in our commitment to present world-class artistic excellence and community benefit to our global audiences.

We are looking for the next generation of bold leaders, those who hear the importance of keeping the music playing.

The dedicated excellence of our world-class musicians, renowned music directors, industry-leading staff, and our lay leadership are at the heart of why the DSO is the globally recognized institution it is today.

As we celebrated Orchestra Hall’s centennial in 2019, we remembered the pioneers who inspired us over the past 100 years.

Who will lead the DSO forward for the next century and what assets will accelerate our innovation?

Artistic excellence and community impact are only possible with financial sustainability. Both require leadership committing perpetual capital to accelerate our future.

Thanks to donors, we have raised sufficient annual cash to achieve a balanced budget for the past eight years, yet we need a more robust endowment income to reduce cash pressures and to perpetuate our future. We aspire to ascend from the bottom third of endowed American orchestras to the top third.

Our goal is to raise $75 million in endowment by 2023 and with your valued stretch commitment we will succeed in our DSO Impact Campaign goal. Ultimately, the accumulated restricted

endowment, once reached, will yield the income needed every year to ensure stability that transcends health, economic, or political crises.

We have set the stage for increased community impact and we invite you to join other leaders in pursuit of advancing artistic excellence for future generations.

Our oneDSO culture provides a strong foundation for our work together—musicians, staff, and donors heralding the benefits of aligned values for the mutual benefit of one another and the organization we love.

Our committed donors are leaders who believe in the value the DSO brings to our local, national, and global communities through stellar programming.

Especially now, we know that agents for change like you are critical to seizing the opportunities in front of us.

We have so many assets to achieve our goals. All we need is you!

Your commitment will move us forward. Join us by making a stretch gift to perpetuate our future success.

This is what leadership sounds, and feels, like.

We deeply appreciate your consideration and future involvement.

Together in vision,

anne parsons,

president & ceo, james b. and ann v. nicholson chair

phillip wm. fisher,

campaign chair, dso board chair emeritus

Artistic Leadership

Administrative Leadership

Jader Bignamini, music director Leonard Slatkin, music director laureate Jeff Tyzik, principal pops conductor Terence Blanchard, fred a. & barbara m. erb jazz creative director chair Neeme Järvi, music director emeritus

Anne Parsons, president and ceo, james b. and ann v. nicholson chair Jill Elder, vice president and chief development officer Linda Lutz, vice president and chief financial officer Erik Rönmark, vice president and general manager

Board Leadership Mark Davidoff, chairman, board of directors Renato Jamett, trustee chair David Assemany, governing members chair

Credits: Editor/Writer: Sue Levytsky Designer: Julie Pincus Copyeditor/Proofreader: Matt Carlson

Photography: Unless otherwise noted, photos used throughout this monograph are from the collection of the DSO. Every effort has been made to locate the holders of copyright materials.

The following have graciously given permission to print and/or reprint the following material: Leslie DeShazor, Trista Diamond, Junfu Han, Hart Hollman, Virginio Levrio, Andrew Petrov, Sarah Smarch. All other photos courtesy of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Special Thanks: With appreciation to Mark Stryker and his seminal work for the DSO, “Destiny, 100 Years of Music, Magic, and Community at Orchestra Hall in Detroit,” which proved invaluable in researching and creating this publication.

Printer: Colortech Graphics, Inc.

To join us and learn more about how you can impact our

community through an investment with the DSO, please contact Jill Elder, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, at 313.576.5484 or at jelder@dso.org.

Photo, back cover by Sarah Smarch.

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