“Free community concerts have become standard operating procedure for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during Leonard Slatkin’s tenure as music director,” writes Mark Stryker in Sunday’s (5/22) Detroit Free Press. “But while the concerts are free to the public they aren’t to the orchestra. Announced today, DTE Energy Foundation’s $2 million gift to the DSO is in large part earmarked specifically to support three more years of the now-annual Community Concert Week presented by the orchestra each fall at venues across the region. Part of DTE’s gift will also fund the DSO endowment in support of music education and other community programming. DTE has sponsored the fall community concerts since 2011. The company’s annual contribution has been $250,000. There will be four free concerts between Sept. 23 and 25. The venues will again be selected by a competition. The public is invited to nominate a concert location, subject to a variety of logistical requirements, at www.dso.org.”
Posted May 24, 2016
