West Michigan Symphony Kicks Off 2025 with Mozart, Beethoven and Weber; Featuring Farewell Performance by Longtime Principal Clarinet Jonathan Holden 

Muskegon, MI — Principal Clarinet Jonathan Holden is a longtime stalwart member of West Michigan Symphony, whose tenure dates to his time as a doctoral student at MSU 20 years ago. Dr. Holden will make his final solo appearance with WMS performing the Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 2 at 7:30pm Friday, January 24. Also on the program, led by Music Director Scott Speck, will be Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Walker’s Lyric for Strings and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2. Sponsored by the Howmet Community Fund, the performance takes place in the Frauenthal Center, 425 W. Western Avenue in Muskegon. Mike and Kay Olthoff are the 2024-2025 Season Sponsors; Blue Lake Public Radio is the Media Sponsor. Tickets starting at $19 for adults, $10 for students, click HERE or call 231.727.8001 for more information.

Holden is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Florida State University and Principal Clarinet of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. He has given clinics, master classes and performances in the US and overseas, and performed with over 20 professional orchestras throughout the US, including the Louisiana, Fort Wayne and Orlando Philharmonic orchestras, the Grand Rapids and Baton Rouge Symphony orchestras, and the Sarasota Orchestra. Born in Great Britain, he completed his training in the US and now lives with his family in Tallahassee.

WMS Director, Scott Speck commented, “Jonathan Holden has been an important part of my musical life for over two decades. As a substitute musician he played Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony in my WMS audition concert back in 2002, an event I remember vividly for the rich clarinet duet. He later joined our orchestra as Principal Clarinetist, and the rest is history. His consummate artistry has been a constant inspiration to me, to our orchestra, and to Frauenthal and Block audiences alike.  Even after moving away from Michigan to take high-profile teaching positions in Mississippi and Florida, he has remained with the West Michigan Symphony for sixteen seasons. It’s a thrill to present him as a soloist in the brilliant Weber second concerto during his final season as our official principal, but we’re certain the relationship doesn’t end here.”

WMS enjoys not only bringing music to life during performances but also sharing more intimate knowledge and behind the scenes information about the music. For example, throughout his life George Walker — the first African American recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music—referred to Lyric for Strings as “my grandmother’s piece.” He was in the process of composing his first string quartet when he learned of the death of his maternal grandmother, Melvina King, who had been born into slavery. He later arranged the slow movement for string orchestra, dedicated to his grandmother’s memory, and retitled it as the Lyric for Strings.

Free shuttle transport is available from Muskegon Farmer’s Market to the door of the Frauenthal, and back again after the concert. A post-concert gathering is held in the lower-level Frau Lounge, an opportunity for the audience to mingle with conductor and musicians. Beverages, desserts and charcuterie will be available for purchase.

Additional Opportunities to Engage:
The musical feast continues at The Block on Saturday, January 25 at 7:30pm when Holden joins with friends for an inspiring program of Brahms, Bartok and Mozart. Joining him will be Associate Principal Cellist Igor Cetkovic, pianist Emily Grabinski, and guest violinist Stefan Hubenov, Associate Concertmaster of the Kalamazoo Symphony. For tickets, $34 to $50 and $10 for students, call 231.726.3231 or purchase online HERE.  

Audience members and the general public are invited to learn more about performances at free Lunch ‘n Learn events held in The Block at 12 noon Wednesdays prior to Masterworks concerts. Sponsored by Embark Financial Partners, the event will be hosted by Music Director Scott Speck and includes Q & A and conversations with the featured guest artist. A complimentary lunch will be provided by Kuntry Cookin’. Space is limited, advanced reservations required, learn more HERE.

YOUR VOTE. YOUR MUSIC. WMS invites the public to get involved by voting for their favorite overture, piano concerto and symphony from a selection of choices. The top votes will be chosen for the opening Masterworks concert for the 2025/26 Season.  Voting is open now, through May 15, 2025. One vote per person. Results will be unveiled at the 2024/25 season finale, May 30, 2025 and via the WMS website. All participants can also enter a drawing to win one of three prizes: Coffee with Music Director Scott Speck; pair of tickets for May 30, 2025 season finale; pair of tickets for the Audience Choice Concert Nov 14, 2025. VOTE HERE.
 
Media:
If media is interested in attending and covering this event, a limited number of media passes are available. Please contact Carla Flanders for more information. To view and download WMS media kit for this press release, click HERE. To view Jonathan Holden’s, full bio click HERE.
 
More about West Michigan Symphony:
An anchor cultural organization headquartered in Muskegon celebrating its 85th Anniversary Season this year, West Michigan Symphony led by Music Director Scott Speck is a resident presenting group at the Frauenthal Center, where its eight-concert season is the most visible part of a larger artistic enterprise of far-reaching community benefit. WMS concerts and education events bring 16,500 people—more than 30% of whom are children and students—downtown annually, making it the largest performing arts organization on the West Shore. ###