Wednesday, May 8, 2024 — The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) recently wrapped up its first chamber music season in over four years, returning to venues in Southeast Michigan after a pandemic-induced hiatus. While the A2SO typically presents performances in large halls like Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium or the Michigan Theater, chamber performances offer opportunities to engage with audiences in an intimate and approachable way.
Thanks to generous support from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF), the A2SO was able to present two free series of chamber performances to audiences in Dexter, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor in January of 2024, plus another round in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor last month. For the final concert of the April cycle, audience demand compelled the A2SO to add additional seating to Ann Arbor’s Northside Community Church to accommodate guests.
Christopher Lemon, AAACF’s Vice President for Community Investment, remarks:
“Enrichment opportunities like the Public Chamber Series are so vital to supporting our community. The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra to bring these performances to our community at no cost to attendees. We hope that everyone considers taking part in these wonderful celebrations of music and culture.”
For A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini, the return of the orchestra’s chamber concerts is an example of putting mission into practice:
“Deep and meaningful work in communities throughout the region is a hallmark of the A2SO’s arts and cultural investment. While the pandemic forced us to temporarily shutter our chamber music activity, we’re thrilled to resume these much-loved concerts and provide accessible and personable concert experiences with the vital support of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.”
Kathryn Marks, A2SO Director of Learning & Community, comments:
“After hearing about how beloved this program was before the pandemic, I was so excited to get the ball rolling again. The AAACF played a pivotal role in funding the public chamber concerts this year, and we hope to keep them accessible to as many people as possible for many seasons to come. Chamber music is such a unique form of community engagement and we are overjoyed to bring it back under the Learning & Community umbrella!”
The A2SO’s Learning & Community initiatives will continue across May with a brand-new series of KinderConcerts, curated musical events for kids ages 5 and under. A2SO principal horn Adam Unsworth will join collaborative pianist Kathryn Goodson and A2SO Learning & Community Program Manager Marissa Honig for 30-minute programs of free, fun, and engaging horn music at local libraries in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea. and Dexter. Support for the A2SO’s KinderConcerts is provided by Stephanie & David Pyne, Kiwanis Club, and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. More information can be found at a2so.org/kinderconcerts.
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is one of the Midwest’s premier regional orchestras, creating live, orchestral music for 70,000 listeners each year. Formed in 1928, the orchestra engages with the community through innovative and imaginative concert programming, educational programs, radio broadcasts, recordings, and online streaming. To find out more about the A2SO’s events and initiatives, visit www.a2so.org.