West Michigan Symphony announces changes to Winter-Spring concert schedule

Muskegon, Michigan, January 20, 2021—Since the Shelter-at-Home order was suspended in early June, West Michigan Symphony has been bringing music from the Frauenthal stage directly into West Michigan area homes via its groundbreaking Virtual Concert Series. Today WMS unveiled its updated Winter-Spring concert schedule. Among the most notable changes, the Mambo Kings will replace Cherish the Ladies for the March 19 Pops program. Detroit jazz flutist Alexander Zonjic’s appearance has moved from April to early July.  And the final Masterworks concert will feature former Beatle Paul McCartney’s 1999 symphonic poem Spiral, along with Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony—in place of Holst’s The Planets.

 Public response to the Virtual Concerts has been uniformly enthusiastic. “The concert brought needed cheer into our home during these tough times,” wrote one patron. “It was a whole new experience—like being among the musicians!” enthused another.

“We are asking our audience to stay with us,” said Music Director Scott Speck. “Their loyalty and support has been amazing and has helped our players continue bringing musical hope and cheer to the community. There is a light at the end of the tunnel—please be patient a little bit longer!”  

Michigan has begun offering COVID-19 vaccines for people ages 65 and up.  However, it is still not known when performance venues like the Frauenthal Center will be allowed to reopen. When it happens, it will likely be a gradual reopening, with smaller capacity, masked and physically distanced audiences under the Frauenthal Center’s established safety protocols. 

For now, West Michigan Symphony will proceed with its Virtual Concerts.  These performances are accessible to subscribers via a private link sent prior to each program.  Following the listed Video Premiere, each concert is available for viewing using the same link for 10 days. Single concerts—including any of the previous performances beginning with last summer’s—can be purchased by non-subscribers on a pay-per-view basis via the WMS website at westmichigansymphony.org.  

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY WINTER-SPRING 2021 SCHEDULE

THE MAMBO KINGS
Video Premiere: Friday, March 19, 7:30 pm

Scott Speck conductor

From the sultry melancholy of “Tango King” Astor Piazzola and the burning Afro Cuban Tito Puente, to the rhythmic playfulness of jazz great Dave Brubeck and the pop strains of The Beatles, Mambo Kings will be your guide on a Latin jazz tour of the Pan American experience.
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A PORTRAIT OF AMERICA
Video Premiere: Friday, April 23, 7:30 pm

Scott Speck conductor
Tessa Lark violin

Still Out of the Silence
Copland John Henry
Torke Sky (commissioned for Tessa Lark)
Copland Appalachian Spring
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HISPANIA NIGHTS
Video Premiere: Friday, May 21, 7:30 pm

Scott Speck conductor
Aldo Lopez-Gavalian piano

Marquez Danzon no. 2
López-Gavilán Emporium
Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Ginastera Estancia Dances Suite
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THE THREE M’s: MENDELSSOHN, MCCARTNEY & MOZART
Video Premiere: Friday, June 11, 7:30 pm

Scott Speck conductor

Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
McCartney Spiral
Mozart: Symphony no. 41, “Jupiter”
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FUNKY GROOVIN’ WITH JAZZ FLUTIST ALEXANDER ZONJIC
Video Premiere: Friday, July 2, 7:30 pm

Alexander Zonjic flutist

“I’m always looking forward,” says Alexander Zonjic. “I’m always optimistic.” In that spirit, Alexander Zonjic presents this uplifting musical celebration that both completes the 2020-21 WMS Season and kicks off the Muskegon summer.
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Subscribers are being mailed the updated brochure along with instructions on how to opt in to the Virtual Concerts. They have until February 5 to select one of the following options:

• Sign up for the winter-spring Virtual Concerts, thereby saving their seats for when the hall reopens
• Convert their subscription into a donation to WMS. Subscriber donors will also save their seats for the hall reopening
• Convert their subscription into a MusicFutures Pass good toward any upcoming WMS concert through June of 2022
• Receive a full refund

For more information, visit www.westmichigansymphony.org.