The West Michigan Symphony – 85 Years of Celebrating the Fine Art of Classical Music for Everyone (The Muskegon Channel)
Andy O’Riley February 06 2025
85 years. If you stop and think of it, 85 is really the new 55 so what’s in a number anyway? The West Michigan Symphony Orchestra is celebrating it’s 85th year however, and that idea of 85 being the new 55…..well, that kind of ties in to where we’re going with this. Yes, the symphony is music in it’s highest form as an art to some but it’s also an experience that everyone should get a little bit of once in a while because while we live in a rapidly evolving world where Chat GPT can take the necessity out of creativity, to convey emotion through some strings or a horn….that’s a uniquely human endeavor. We really all do need to stop once in a while and watch in amazement what one, or a large group of people can do when they wish to create beauty, emotion and evoke a reaction that will carry on to the next generation. The arts, they matter.
I’d like to start with a quick example going back to that Chat GPT thing. I was speaking to a younger person the other day and they were telling me that “Chat GPT is their life line because they needed to come up with 6 Facebook posts about their company”. Stunned…and yes, completely aware that I am now the old timer who’s stuck in the past, I was shocked beyond words. My Saturday or Sunday morning every week is doing close to 100 Facebook posts, for all different kinds of organizations integrating pictures, links and resources for their followers. I work very hard to get that done in 60-90 minutes. I am sure that Chat GPT or any other aid is beneficial, but….is there any artistry behind it? Is there really any artistry behind a person telling a computer what sounds to make and what beat to carry with a drum track? If you sing, and sound like a cat being run over by a lawn mower, but Auto Tune can clean it right up….are you a singer?
The West Michigan Symphony Orchestra is such an amazing example of the discipline, drive and dedication it takes to master an instrument and then combine it with others to paint a picture musically in your head that is a living work of art. Can you hear a recoding of it? Sure, but in the recording can you see the focus on the faces of the creators? The passion of the conductor? The faces on the others in the seats around you. No, you can’t. This is why we celebrate 85th anniversaries of cultural importance like the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
Andrew Buelow is the Executive Director of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and we sat down in a beautifully lit room known as “The Block” on West Wester Avenue to talk about the symphony and the importance of it not only for adults, but kids too. Kids need to see and feel what music can do. The West Michigan Symphony Orchestra has an outreach into the schools where kids are actually taught how to hold a violin properly. The way a percussion instrument is to be addressed and as time goes by….they pull the bow across the strings, and they hear that making real music is within their reach. From there, there’s nothing or no one to stop them if they choose to carry on.
With the anniversary year upon us too, look for some pretty awesome programming coming to The Block as well as the Frauenthal Center by way of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. From contemporary cello to jazz organs and American diva’s, there’s going to be something for everyone this year. CLICK HERE to see the upcoming schedule of events.
One final thought. 85 is the new 55 right? We’ve gone over that a few times. That should tell you that you don’t have to be some crotchety old grump to go to a symphony performance. 55 is still pretty cool isn’t it? Not for a second. It’s an experience that can be enjoyed as much in a pair of blue jeans as it can a top hat and tails, so get yourself and your kids down to help celebrate the 85th anniversary of the West Michigan Symphony. After a couple hours of that, they can go back to being “Swifties” or whatever else they are into.
