The Traverse Symphony Orchestra is on a roll! Just this past weekend we had our first collaboration with the students at Interlochen Arts Academy in a ballet production of Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.”
It was an amazing and joyous partnership with the Interlochen orchestra students performing side-by-side with the TSO’s professional musicians under Maestro Kevin Rhodes’s direction. Additionally, we were spellbound by the astounding dancers from the Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Department, led by Joseph Morrisey. After the concert, I heard the comment, “Wow, the TSO is on a roll!”
That comment led me to reflect on the growth of the TSO as we emerged from the pandemic stronger, more diverse, and more engaged with our community than ever before. It also prompts me to share in this article the “why” behind all of the changes at the TSO.
Each of the new offerings, venues, educational programs, and ensembles is a strategic and systematic approach to that section of our mission statement that calls for “creating educational opportunities and community enrichment through excellence in symphonic and other musical experiences.”
With the addition of the Traverse Symphony Jazz Orchestra in 2021 we diversified our programming to attract new audiences and experiences for music lovers in our region. By performing in the heart of downtown at the City Opera House we brought music to the middle of our beautiful community. Soon after that, we added the Maestro Series of recital concerts in The Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park. Once again, broadening our musical horizons, bringing world-class guest artists, and becoming more accessible to the entire community. In the summer of 2022, we offered our first Summer Series of concerts, including Pops concerts on the lawn, first at the Botanic Garden, then in 2023 in Rotary Square in the center of downtown.
During this time the TSO was also expanding our educational outreach with our “Students at the Symphony” program that provides free tickets to students and their families to attend TSO concerts. We added our “Masterworks in Miniature” concerts to bring the classics to children through outreach programs throughout the entire region, and music appreciation, music history, and music theory classes through our online classes. This past year we have added outstanding Suzuki music lessons to our offerings and have welcomed the semi-professional Encore Symphonic Winds into the TSO portfolio.
These changes and additions are all a part of a broad reimagining of how the TSO can better serve our community. As has been widely reported, the next big step for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra is the development of a building that will house our new Community Music School, in the former KMart at the Cherryland Center. Opening in the fall of 2024, this new facility will also become the home for all of our orchestra and education rehearsals, the offices of the TSO, private music lessons, and recital space for many of the TSO programs.
With the opening of the new facility, the Traverse Symphony will have a permanent home that supports all of the new programming and outreach programs that we have developed over the past several years.
Each of these new programs, venues, and outreach offerings form a part of a broad strategic plan that is gathering momentum, and that has been made possible by patrons, donors, philanthropists, foundations, and business partners who share our vision of a thriving cultural center that does so much more than just providing outstanding concerts, but that truly becomes an indispensable part of our beloved community for a future that is as rich as our past.
And, we are just beginning. The Traverse Symphony Orchestra has so much more to explore, to offer, and to partner with in our community. Just keep an eye on this space for our next “next big thing.” We know you are going to love it.
Join us this weekend on Feb. 17-18 at The Cathedral Barn for a piano recital featuring the musically exotic worlds of Spain, Portugal, and South America with extraordinary pianist, Sara Davis Buechner. Then on March 17 in Corson Auditorium, experience the genius of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, featuring Tina Qu on violin, and many of the TSO principal players.
Tickets and more information at www.TraverseSymphony.org.