WHAT WE’RE DOING

 

Jackson Symphony Orchestra has evolved over 73 seasons into a multicultural hub located in downtown Jackson. Our professional orchestra offers our community five Classical Concerts a year featuring world-class soloists. The orchestra also regularly takes the opportunity to premiere works by up-and-coming composers. Each of our Classical Concerts is preceded by a Pre-Concert Conversation where attendees can gain insight into the composers and music they are about to hear, often our guest artists and composers join these talks, bringing the audience even closer to the music. Additionally, our orchestra presents seasonal pops concerts in the summer, fall, and spring along with The Nutcracker in collaboration with Ballet Chelsea. These family-friendly events include music for all ages to relate to and enjoy while making memories that will last a lifetime.

Our Community Music School provides private, group, and after-school lessons to people of all ages who want to learn an instrument or improve their skills. Our financial aid program helps many families to participate in our music school and merit-based scholarships are also offered annually. All students are provided with opportunities to perform throughout our community to build their confidence and performance skills. Young musicians looking for orchestral experience can join the Jackson Symphony Youth Orchestra for high school-aged students. The JYSO has several opportunities to perform throughout the year including occasional side-by-sides with the JSO. The Community Music School is also passionate about working with our local school network to bring programming to their students. The JSO offers an annual children’s educational concert free to all schools to attend. Our music school also offers programming in select schools and we continue to expand this to more and more institutions. Our Creative Outlets and Inclusion programming ensure music education and enrichment to our at-risk and underserved youth.

Our Music on Tap series offers music lovers a chance to enjoy a wide variety of original music including: Bluegrass, Jazz, Rock and Roll, and Folk performed by nationally and internationally touring artists. The JSO’s guiding principle that “music brings life enrichment” is especially featured in our Random Acts of Music where our musicians perform virtually and at various locations across Jackson County. We hope you will find these samples of our music enjoyable and uplifting.

 

 


MCACA

 

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PHOTO GALLERY

 

JSO CONCERT FEATURING STUDENT ARTWORK

JSO concert featuring student artwork


JSO CONCERT @WEATHERWAX HALL

Jso concert @Weatherwax Hall


JSO CONCERT @ WEATHERWAX HALL

JSO concert @ Weatherwax Hall


CHAMBERS GOOD MORNING GREATER JACKSON

Chambers Good Morning Greater Jackson


SPRING ARBOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

Spring Arbor student volunteers


MUSIC ON TAP

Music on Tap


FREE GRANDPARENTS DAY EVENT WITH AARP

Free Grandparents Day Event with AARP


FREE GRANDPARENTS DAY EVENT WITH AARP

Free Grandparents Day Event with AARP


BRIGHT WALLS

Bright Walls


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops

SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops


SUMMER POPS

Summer Pops

COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM

Community Music School outreach program


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM

CMS Outreach


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM

CMS Outreach


JSO MUSICIANS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

JSO Musicians-Community Outreach


JSO MUSICIANS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

JSO musicians-community outreach


JSO MUSICIANS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH

JSO musicians-community outreach


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL RECITAL

Community Music School recital


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL RECITAL

Communty Music School recital


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL RECITAL

Community Music School recital


COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL RECITAL

Community Music School recital


EDUCATION CONCERT

Education concert


EDUCATION CONCERT

Education Concert


EDUCATION CONCERT

Education Concert


EDUCATION CONCERT

Education Concert


TEACHER AND STUDENT

Teacher and student


TEACHER AND STUDENT

Teacher and student


TEACHER AND STUDENT

Student and teacher


TEACHER AND STUDENT

Student and teacher


INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO

Instrument petting zoo


INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO

Instrument Petting Zoo


INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO

Instrument Petting Zoo


BACH’S BOXED LUNCH

Bach’s Boxed Lunch


BACH’S BOXED LUNCH

Bach’s Boxed Lunch


BACH’S BOXED LUNCH

Bach’s Boxed Lunch



 


 

AUDIO SAMPLES

 

Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93, Mvt. 1

Gioachino Rossini | Overture to La gazza ladra

Ludwig van Beethoven | Piano Concerto No. 1 Mvt. 3

Leonard Bernstein | Chichester Psalms Mvt. 1

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | Capriccio Espagnol


 

VIDEOS

 

The JSO performs the last movement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony

The JSO gives the Michigan premiere of Lowell Liebermann’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (Mvt. 3) with Julian Schwarz

Music on Tap – Oktoberfest

Creative Outlets and Inclusion

 


 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

nutcracker-2018-jso

 

THE NUTCRACKER

The JSO is pleased to join forces with Ballet Chelsea to present its 21st annual performance of The Nutcracker on December 1-2 and 8-9, 2018. This annual production is a full-length, narrated ballet, choreographed by Ballet Chelsea Artistic Director Wendi DuBois and will feature a live symphony orchestra. Audiences young and old from all over southern Michigan return year after year for this family holiday favorite. From Christmas Eve festivities at the Stahlbaum’s, complete with godfather Drosselmeier and his charming mechanical dolls, to a fierce midnight battle, and on to the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets, Ballet Chelsea’s dances captivate audiences with their energy and artistry.

 


 

 

THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER

Let the JSO and the Jackson School of the Arts transport you into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Don’t forget to wear your Hogwarts gear representing your favorite house or character.

PROGRAM

Children’s Suite from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
– Harry’s Wondrous World
– Diagon’s Alley
– Nimbus 2000

Harry Potter Symphonic Suite
– Fireworks
– Flight of the Order of the Phoenix
– Harry and Hermione
– Obliviate
– Lily’s Theme
– Courtyard Apocalypse

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

———Intermission———

Harry Potter Symphonic Suite
– Hogwart’s March

Concert Suite from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
– Voldemort!/Hedwig’s Theme
– The Quidditch World Cup (The Irish)
– Foreign Visitors Arrive
– Potter Waltz
– Harry in Winter
– Voldemort!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
– Witches, Wands and Wizards
– Buckbeak’s Flight
– Aunt Marge’s Waltz
– The Knight Bus

Hedwig’s Theme


 

 

 


 

BACK TO BACK CONCERT

This Back to Back Concert showcases both high school orchestras followed by the JSO. Ballet Chelsea will grace the stage in a guest appearance with the JSO…a sure delight for music and dance lovers! In the Back to Back Concert, Chelsea High School students have the opportunity to share the stage with a professional orchestra, giving the the students a performance experience that is both educational and inspiring.

 


PROGRAM

Chelsea High School Concert Orchestra
Jed Fritzmeier, conductor

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov Caucasian Sketches: Procession of the Sardar
arr. Isaac

Georges Bizet L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2: Farandole
arr. Isaac

Chelsea High School Symphony Orchestra
Jed Fritzmeier, conductor
Camille Saint-Saens Bacchanale from Samson and Dalila, op. 47

Georges Bizet Selections from Carmen

———Intermission———

Jackson Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Aubin, conductor

Leonard Bernstein On the Town: Three Dance Episodes
Dancer from Ballet Chelsea
Wendi DuBois, Artistic Director

Gregory Yasinitsky Jazz Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Mvt. 3
Willis Delony, piano

Aaron Copland Letter from Home

Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story: Mambo

 


 

 

SOUND SAFARI CONCERT

This FREE concert is geared towards kids six and under (with a parent) but everyone is invited. Just as animals have all types of characteristics, musical instruments can produce many sounds.