Dear Friends,

What musical splendor awaits us all in the 2013-14 season – Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, Haydn’s Surprise Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Hamlet Overture, Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, and Beethoven’s Second Symphony!

Our 75th Anniversary Celebration will be announced in the Spring of 2014 when the amazing Russian virtuoso Yuri Rozum makes his third return visit to the West Michigan Symphony, playing not one but two of the great concertos by his beloved Rachmaninoff – the Second Piano Concerto and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.   The official anniversary season will begin in September 2014.

Also featured on our Masterworks series:  Superstar violinist Chee-Yun plays Tchaikovsky’s thrilling Violin Concerto.  Pianist Gabriela Martinez joins us for a concerto by Franz Liszt.  Internationally renowned soprano Martha Guth sings the rapturous Simple Songs by Aaron Kernis.  And we continue the great tradition of promoting our own West Michigan Symphony artists, featuring Concertmaster Jenny Walvoord and Principal Oboist Gabriel Renteria in the Concerto for Violin and Oboe by Johann Sebastian Bach. 

Our Pops Series takes off with Cirque de la Symphonie, back by popular demand with a brand new, bigger and bolder show. We brighten up your Christmas season with a Swingin’ Holiday Celebration featuring Broadway stars Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler, and present the great Nashville songwriters and Grammy Award winners, Music City Hitmakers, performing their own country classics.

Of course, the true highlights of the season are the magnificent musicians of the West Michigan Symphony, who can’t wait to make their music for you.  We’re saving your seats. See you at the Frauenthal!

 Scott Speck, Music Director