The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has announced that it will honor philanthropists Penny and Harold Blumenstein and Music Director Leonard Slatkin at its eighth annual Heroes Gala on Saturday, June 23, 2018.
Penny and Harold Blumenstein have been DSO supporters for decades, and the transformational Penny and Harold Blumenstein Future Audiences Fund makes it possible for students, teachers, and chaperones at any school within Detroit city limits to attend DSO Educational Concert Series performances for just $1. Penny Blumenstein was a member of the DSO Board of Directors beginning in 2002 and became a Board of Trustees member in 2013.
Leonard Slatkin, in his tenth and final season as DSO music director, has energetically helmed the orchestra as it entered a new era of artistic excellence and international prominence. United under the banner of being the most accessible orchestra in the world, Slatkin and the DSO have taken on new initiatives, including the free webcast series Live from Orchestra Hall, the annual Winter Music Festival, and the Soundcard student ticket program. During Slatkin’s tenure, the DSO has also released acclaimed and Grammy-nominated recordings, embarked on an historic tour of Japan and China, played Carnegie Hall, expanded the orchestra’s educational offerings, and strengthened its community engagement and connection with audiences.
In December 2017, Slatkin and his wife Cindy McTee established the Cindy and Leonard Slatkin Emerging Artists Fund, a $100,000 commitment to the DSO endowment that will provide support for up-and-coming artists to perform with the orchestra. After the 2017-2018 Season, Slatkin will continue to advise on all artistic matters in the new role of Music Director Laureate.
Proceeds from the eighth annual Heroes Gala will support the DSO’s commitment to transforming the lives of young people through music education. Guest artists and program will be announced in the coming weeks.
