Forces of Nature

November 6, 2026 | 7:30PM
Ford Community & Performing Arts Center

Discover the beauty, power, and wonder of the natural world through four remarkable works for orchestra and piano. Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus Overture opens the evening with energy and brilliance, followed by Debussy’s shimmering Fêtes from Nocturnes for Two Pianos, performed by guest pianists Erika Tazawa and Eric Jenkins. The same duo returns for Saint-Saëns’ beloved Carnival of the Animals, a witty and imaginative musical portrait of the animal kingdom, before Mozart’s majestic Symphony No. 41, the celebrated “Jupiter,” brings the concert to a triumphant close.

Presented in partnership with the Detroit Zoo, this concert celebrates the connection between music, nature, and curiosity. Arrive early to enjoy educational activities and special exhibits presented by the Zoo before the performance.

Program

  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Creatures of Prometheus Overture, Op. 43
  • Claude Debussy: Fêtes from Nocturnes for Two Pianos
    • Erika Tazawa, piano
    • Eric Jenkins, piano
  • Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals
    • featuring pianists Erika Tazawa & Eric Jenkins

Intermission

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, “Jupiter”

Presented in Partnership with

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About the Featured Artist

Erika Tazaw, piano

Erika Tazawa enjoys an active and diverse career as a pianist and conductor, working across orchestral, operatic, choral, and contemporary music. In demand as an orchestral keyboardist, she regularly performs with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has also appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated advocate for new music, she serves as pianist for the contemporary music ensemble Bent Frequency and has collaborated extensively with The Atlanta Opera on new opera projects. Her solo album of 21st-century piano works has been praised by Gramophone for its “intelligent programme-building and committed performances” that “warrant serious attention and exposure,” while Texture lauded her “technical prowess and expressive interpretations.” Tazawa relocated to Detroit in 2025 upon her appointment as conducting faculty and Director of Choral Activities at Wayne State University.

Eric Jenkins, piano

Pianist and vocal coach Eric Jenkins has recently relocated to the Detroit area. He previously served as Staff Accompanist and Collaborative Piano Area Coordinator at Kennesaw State University and on faculty at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he was coach-pianist for the nationally award-winning Bravo Opera Company. Dr. Jenkins has also held appointments on the collaborative piano faculty at Emory University and as a vocal coach with the Georgia State University Opera Theater.

An active recitalist, Dr. Jenkins has collaborated with distinguished instrumentalists and vocalists throughout the United States and abroad, with performances in Canada, Austria, France, Turkey, and Cyprus. He has recently appeared in chamber performances with principals and members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at venues across the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Dr. Jenkins’s operatic work includes extensive experience with The Atlanta Opera, where he has served as both pianist and music director for the 96-Hour Opera Project, an initiative supporting the careers of BIPOC emerging composers and librettists. He has also worked as rehearsal pianist for mainstage productions, including the world premiere of Forsyth County Is Flooding with the Joy of Lake Lanier by Marcus Norris and Adamma Ebo. Beginning in 2010, he served for several years as répétiteur for the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

He made his concerto debut in 2008, performing Benjamin Britten’s Piano Concerto with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and most recently has performed as an orchestral keyboardist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Jenkins holds a Doctor of Music and Master of Music in Collaborative Piano Performance from Florida State University.

Before You Attend

  • Performance begins at 7:30 PM
  • Michael A. Guido Theater, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
  • Learn about parking on our Venue Information page
  • Subscriptions and individual concert tickets can be purchased from our website or through the Symphony office by calling 313.565.2424. Individual tickets may also be purchased from the Theater Box Office at 313.943.2354 or visit dearborntheater.com
  • Accessibility: The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is fully accessible, with accessible seating, restrooms, and parking available. A convenient circle drive at the main entrance provides easy passenger drop-off and pick-up. If you have questions about accessibility or would like assistance planning your visit, please contact the Theater Box Office before your performance.