In Michigan, we often think of spring as the time of rebirth and renewal, but for me it has always been the fall – the start of a new school year, and for the Traverse City Philharmonic the start of a new season.
This year brings even more excitement and growth in the life of the TC Phil. First of all, you’ll notice our new name! What began 73 years ago as the Northwestern Michigan Symphony Orchestra, was renamed Traverse Symphony Orchestra in 1985. Now as we begin a new chapter in the life of the organization we are embracing our new name: Traverse City Philharmonic. The word philharmonic comes from the Greek, meaning “music lover.” What better name could there be for an organization that has spread its wings — now offering our Symphonic Series, TC Jazz Series, Maestro Series of recitals, Summer Concert Series, Encore Symphonic Winds, community outreach concerts, and our new Community Music School!
We are so excited to feature a multitude of world-class musicians who live in Michigan this season, including our own Maestro Kevin Rhodes, who is conducting in Rome as I write this, fresh off engagements in Milan, Bratislava, and Oslo among his extensive European productions. The season is off to a thrilling start on Sep. 15 with Detroit native and MSU assistant professor of jazz trumpet, Anthony Stanco, leading the TC Jazz in a tribute to the jazz trumpet greats Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. Then two weeks later on Sept. 29 Maestro Rhodes leads the full orchestra through the worlds of magic flutes, thieving magpies, barbers in Seville, and even Turkish harems with the most popular overtures by Rossini and Mozart. As we continue the season we will be featuring Michigan soloists, including beloved Michigander and first gold medalist of the Van Cliburn piano competition, Ralph Votapek, leading a trio of faculty all-stars from Michigan State University.
The theme of featuring Michigan artists continues throughout the season with concerts including Interlochen Arts Academy professors; guitarist, Dr. Matthew Cochran, TC Phil principal pianist Dr. Dorothy Vogel, TC Phil Principal Bassist, Gary Gatzke Jr., choirs from NMC, compositions from Jeffrey Cobb, director of music programs at NMC, a recital featuring Maestro Rhodes with Michigan flutist extraordinaire, Nancy Stagnitta, and Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” featuring the ballet students of Interlochen Arts Academy. In addition to the Michigan focus this year, we are showcasing violinist Jeremy Cohen, a student of Itzhak Perlman with seven Grammy nominations who will be performing everything from tangos to swing with the TC Jazz in January. Renowned violinist Judith Ingolfsson joins us in October for the captivating Samuel Barber “Violin Concerto.” Though she hails from Iceland, we’ll make her an honorary Michigander!
As I think about new life this fall, I would also like to highlight the opening of the Traverse City Philharmonic Center this month and our new rehearsal and recital space, the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation Hall, at our new home in the Cherryland Center. Our inaugural performance there will be with Maestro Rhodes on piano, Oct. 12-13, though we begin using the hall for rehearsals in September! And of course, this is also the new home of the TC Phil Community Music School. This brings me back to the birth of a new school year which also aligns with the first season of new education classes for students of all ages in our Community Music School. Soon our building will come alive with students of all ages bustling through the hallways, with instrument cases in hand. We are thrilled to be offering lessons, classes, and ensemble rehearsals in the exquisite acoustic of our new Hall. Class sign-up for Suzuki strings and piano, Encore Symphonic Winds, Civic Orchestras and Chamber Ensembles, and our classes in music appreciation are all available on our website: TCphil.org We truly have offerings for everyone in our community!
So as we approach the TC Phil’s renewal this fall, we look forward to the next stages of rebirth — accelerated growth and development. Come, join us on this amazing journey.