64th Season
*Programs are subject to change*
“MYTH, MOTION, AND MAJESTY”
Friday, October 3, 2025 | 7:30pm
Program:
Offenbach – Orpheus in the Underworld Overture
Johann Strauss II – Perpetuum Mobile, Op. 257
Elgar – Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Featuring Youth Artist Solo Competition Winner, Jisoo Park, cello
Intermission
Chabrier – Joyeuse Marche
Respighi – Pines of Rome
Our season opens with a thrilling journey through myth, motion, and majesty. This all-orchestral program highlights the exceptional musicianship of the Dearborn Symphony, offering a vibrant and engaging experience for both longtime patrons and first-time guests.
We begin with Offenbach’s riotous Orpheus in the Underworld Overture, a cheeky romp through the realm of the gods, best known for its exhilarating can-can. Strauss’s Perpetuum Mobile keeps the energy spinning with its witty, whirlwind momentum — a musical joke that never runs out of steam.
We’re proud to feature cellist Jisoo Park, winner of our Youth Artists Solo Competition, performing the passionate and lyrical final movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. His artistry adds a personal and inspiring note to this dynamic evening.
After intermission, Chabrier’s Joyeuse Marche lifts our spirits with bold, bright orchestral color, paving the way for the sonic spectacle of Respighi’s Pines of Rome. This symphonic poem transports listeners from the shadows of ancient catacombs to the triumphant march of Roman legions beneath a blazing sky — an epic finale for a concert that sets the tone for a season of powerful storytelling through music.
“RICK STEVES’ SYMPHONIC EUROPE”
Friday, November 7, 2025 | 7:30pm
Program:
Ward – America the Beautiful
Johann Strauss II – Emperor Waltzes
Wagner – Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Smetana – The Moldau
Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
Intermission
Verdi – Overture to Nabucco
Grieg – Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Bizet – Intermezzo and Farandole from L’Arlésienne
Beethoven – Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9
Sousa – Stars and Stripes Forever
Get ready for a grand tour of Europe with beloved travel expert Rick Steves as your guide. Rick Steves’ Symphonic Europe is a one-of-a-kind concert event that combines breathtaking symphonic music with stunning video from Rick’s acclaimed PBS travel series—projected above the orchestra in high-definition and synchronized live with the music.
From the noble beauty of Elgar and the rhapsodic sweep of Smetana’s The Moldau to the joyful grandeur of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and the iconic charm of Strauss’s Emperor Waltz, each piece in this globe-trotting program evokes a different place, tradition, or cultural landmark. Rick Steves appears on screen throughout the concert, sharing personal insights and stories that deepen the audience’s connection to each work and destination.
This is more than a concert—it’s an immersive journey through Europe’s artistic soul, seen through Rick’s welcoming lens and brought to life by the full power of the Dearborn Symphony. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter, an armchair traveler, or a music lover seeking fresh horizons, this evening offers inspiration, nostalgia, and discovery.
“SHALL WE DANCE?”
Friday, February 6, 2026 | 7:30pm
Program:
Bernstein: Times Square: 1944 from On the Town
Williams: Potter Waltz from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Prima: Sing, Sing, Sing
Piazzolla: Libertango
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Act II, No. 10, Scene (Moderato)
Schwartz: Highlights from Wicked
Intermission
de Falla: Three Dances from The Three Cornered Hat
I. The Neighbours Dance (Seguidillas)
II. The Millers Dance (Farruca)
III. Final Dance (Jota)
Márquez: Danzón No. 2
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Dearborn Symphony invites you to an evening of music made for falling in love with rhythm, with storytelling, and with the joy that comes from sharing an unforgettable night out. Shall We Dance is a romantic and high-spirited celebration for couples, friends, families, and anyone who enjoys the magic that happens when music and movement meet.
The concert opens with Bernstein’s lively Times Square: 1944, followed by the graceful sweep of the Potter Waltz by John Williams, performed with dancers from Downriver Dance Academy under the artistic direction of Spencer Genrich. From the infectious swing of Louis Prima’s Sing, Sing, Sing! to the sultry intensity of Piazzolla’s Libertango, the first half offers a wide palette of style and color. The tender beauty of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake leads naturally into the soaring melodies of Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked.
After intermission, the stage lights up with the Spanish folk energy of de Falla’s Three Dances from The Three Cornered Hat. Márquez’s ever-popular Danzón No. 2 brings the evening to a warm and exhilarating close.
Whether you are celebrating new love, deep friendship, or simply the joy of being moved by great music, Shall We Dance offers the perfect backdrop for a memorable night together.
“MAD ABOUT MARCHES”
Friday, March 27, 2026 | 7:30pm
Program:
Sousa – Washington Post March
Tesh – Roundball Rock (Theme to NBA on NBC)
Ravelli – University of Michigan Fight Song
O’Reilly – Michigan State University Fight Song
John Williams – The Imperial March
John Williams – Olympic Fanfare or Summon the Heroes
Traditional – St. Louis Blues March
Bizet – March of the Toreadors
Hindemith – March from Symphonic Metamorphosis
Intermission
Berlioz – March to the Scaffold
Sousa – Liberty Bell March
Bagley – National Emblem March
Silvestri – Captain America March
Sousa – The Thunderer
Sousa – Hands Across the Sea
Verdi – Triumphal March from Aida
Wilson/Williams – 76 Trombones
Johann Strauss Sr. – Radetzky March
What happens when school spirit, cinematic power, and classical fanfare meet center stage? You get Mad About Marches—a sport-centric evening of pure orchestral momentum that brings together fans of music, athletics, and pageantry in one unforgettable celebration.
This pulse-pounding program kicks off with a flurry of iconic marches that span stadiums, screen, and ceremony. From Sousa’s Washington Post March to the unmistakable energy of Roundball Rock (the theme to NBA on NBC), the first half delivers big brass, booming percussion, and instantly recognizable anthems. Audiences will cheer for local favorites like the University of Michigan and Michigan State University fight songs, get swept up in the thrill of John Williams’ Imperial March, and soar with one of his Olympic masterpieces. It’s a full-court press of musical power and pride.
The second half keeps the adrenaline flowing with cinematic blockbusters like Captain America March, sweeping symphonic drama in Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold, and festive crowd-pleasers including Liberty Bell, 76 Trombones, and the ever-interactive Radetzky March. Verdi’s Triumphal March from Aida and Strauss’s brilliant pageantry round out an evening built for clapping, cheering, and community celebration.
In a season devoted to motion and music, Mad About Marches is all about momentum—from the first snare snap to the last thunderous chord. Whether you’re a die-hard band geek, a film score fanatic, or just someone who loves a strong beat and a great show, this concert delivers the kind of excitement only a live orchestra can provide.
“VERDI’S REQUIEM”
Friday, May 8, 2026 | 7:30pm
Program:
Giuseppe Verdi – Messa da Requiem
The Dearborn Symphony closes its 64th season with Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem—a monumental work of beauty, power, and soul-stirring emotion. With its sweeping scale and operatic intensity, the Requiem is an unforgettable experience for orchestra, chorus, and audience alike.
This performance marks a meaningful homecoming. Verdi’s Requiem was the centerpiece of the inaugural performance at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center 25 years ago, in September 2001. Now, a quarter-century later, the Dearborn Symphony and Vanguard Voices, under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey, reunite to bring this epic work back to the stage where it first launched a new era of the performing arts in Dearborn.
Verdi’s music speaks directly to the heart. His Requiem combines the grandeur of sacred tradition with the drama of the opera house, moving seamlessly from quiet introspection to fiery declarations of fear, hope, and redemption. The thunderous Dies irae, the poignant Lacrimosa, and the soaring final prayer of the Libera me create a spiritual and emotional arc that transcends time and place.
Joined by four guest soloists (to be announced), a full chorus, and the rich forces of the Dearborn Symphony, this nearly 90-minute masterpiece will bring our “Music That Moves” season to a close with an experience of overwhelming musical and emotional impact.
Join us for a season that really moves!
All programs subject to change. All performances will be held at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Friday night concerts begin at 7:30pm.
Steven Jarvi, Conductor & Music Director
