West Michigan Symphony Offers Second Annual FREE Side-By-Side Concert “Rusty” Musicians, Dedicated Amateurs and Professionals Create Harmony
Muskegon, MI — Fans and community members who play an instrument, or used to, will be dusting off their fiddles, flutes and horns for a day of music making side by side with members of the West Michigan Symphony (WMS) on Saturday, July 25. Selections from John Williams’s Star Wars, Bizet’s Carmen Suite and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition are on the bill for the second annual WMS “Side-by-Side” concert. The musicians—“rusty,” avocational and professional—will be gathering in the morning for a full day of rehearsing. The resulting concert—sponsored by Embark Financial Partners—is free to the public and starts at 6:30pm in the Frauenthal Center.
“For years I have encountered adults who participated in band or orchestra in school but didn’t continue playing, and there’s always a wistfulness about how they talk about it,” said Symphony CEO Andy Buelow. “So, we decided to do something about it.”
That “something” turned out to be Symphony Side-by-Side: a full day of practicing, coaching and rehearsing alongside WMS musicians, led by Music Director Scott Speck. The daylong intensive—with the tagline “rusty or not, show us what you’ve got”—starts at 10:30am with sectional sessions led by WMS principal players. Joining them will bemusicians who played in school band or orchestra — some who have played rarely or never since—who are reuniting with their instruments for the occasion. The gathering will also include members of the West Michigan Concert WINDS and Shoreline Community Orchestra, regularly-performing regional ensembles made up of avocational musicians. After lunch, the entire group of 40 amateur and 30 professional players will assemble on the Frauenthal stage for an afternoon-long rehearsal. With the mix of WMS professionals and seasoned volunteers from the Concert Winds and Shoreline Orchestra, the “rusty” players can be assured that someone more experienced will always be nearby to provide support!
WMS announced the opportunity last winter and posted the complete program—along with sheet music excerpts for all the open instruments—on the Symphony’s web page where anyone could peruse it. Music Director Scott Speck, who offers similar programs in northern Illinois with the Chicago Philharmonic, described it as, “Self-selecting. If they looked at the music and decided to tackle it, they were in.”
For anyone who didn’t register but just wants to come and listen, tickets are free, and the concert itself is well worth turning out for. In addition to the above-mentioned musical selections, on the bill is Strauss’sRadetzky March, selections from Grieg’s Peer Gynt, and Fucik’s Entry of the Gladiators. And a summer concert would not be complete without rounding out the program with one of John Philip Sousa’s greatest marches: Stars and Stripes Forever.
To register for free tickets, click HERE. If you’re able, the symphony is asking attendees to give what they can to help sustain this program—with a suggested contribution of $10 per ticket.
2026-2027 Mainstage Season
The West Michigan Symphony’s 2026-2027 mainstage season at the Frauenthal will bring everything from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Violin Concerto to the nostalgic hits of The Beach Boys and the sweeping soundscape of the Wild West. Music Director Scott Speck has speckled the season with surprises, standards and works that promise to inspire and connect. Season ticket packages are available now starting at just $99, and offer more than just great music – flexible ticket exchange, VIP service, additional ticket discounts and a satisfaction guarantee. For full season listing and information click HERE.
About West Michigan Symphony
An anchor cultural organization headquartered in Muskegon celebrating its 86th 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. The WMS also operates The Block, a 120-seat listening room for the musically curious complementing the WMS’s mainstage orchestra offerings with jazz, classical and more. WMS concerts and education events bring 18,500 people—more than 30% of whom are children and students—annually, making it the largest performing arts organization along the West Michigan Lakeshore.
Media
If media is interested in attending and covering any of the above events, a limited number of media passes are available. Please contact Carla Flanders for more information. For media resources including photos, click HERE.
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