DEAR FRIENDS,Welcome to the West Michigan Symphony’s spectacular 2017-18 season. It’s a year of Romantic and 20th century masterpieces—from Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue to Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Dvorák’s Cello Concerto, Brahms’s Violin Concerto and the Symphony no.4 of Tchaikovsky!

We are happy to welcome back superstar violinist Vadim Gluzman, former WMS Principal Timpanist Andrew Spencer, and guest conductor Bohuslav Rattay. And we are equally excited to introduce you to the astounding young Russian cellist Alexey Stadler, the thrilling young Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán and our own Principal Horn, Paul Clifton, making his WMS solo debut. Once again we feature a concert of “Classical Music for Everyone,” turning our bright yellow spotlight on the fascinating international musical styles of the Romantic era. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to welcome the internationally-recognized composer Austin Wintory as our composer-in-residence. The 2016-17 season had us playing three world premieres of his music and in 2018 we will open our season finale with yet another world premiere of his work. This is a year of favorites and firsts—not only for the audience, but also for your own West Michigan Symphony, I hope you’ll join us.

Scott Speck

BENEFITSTICKET EXCHANGE: If you can’t attend a particular concert, exchange your tickets for another concert within your series in person at the WMS Ticket Office or by calling at 231.726.3231 x223. There is an upcharge to exchange from a Masterworks concert to a Pops concert. There is no refund for an exchange from a Pops to a Masterworks concert.

DONATE YOUR TICKETS: Unable to attend a concert? Donate your tickets and we’ll provide a receipt for tax purposes. To take advantage of this opportunity, please contact WMS Ticket Office PRIOR TO THE NIGHT OF THE CONCERT (in person or by phone).

PURCHASE SINGLE TICKETS FIRST: Season ticket holders can purchase single tickets for concerts and special concerts before they go on sale to the general public.

SINGLE TICKETS GO ON SALE JUNE 1, 2017

Season Tickets

WMS Ticket Office360 W. Western Avenue, 1st FloorMuskegon, MI 49440p: 231.726.3231westmichigansymphony.org

Ticket Options* Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Student**

Full (8) $384 $292 $172 $134 $70

Masterworks (5) $236.75 $176.75 $101.75 $78.75 $43.75

Pops (3) $152.25 $119.25 $73.25 $58.25 $26.25

FLEX8*** $299

FLEX6*** $230.50

Season

*The Frauenthal’s “Public Facility Maintenance Surcharge” (PFMS) of $1.25 per ticket is not considered part of the ticket price and the WMS must collect and pay these fees to the Frauenthal. Full Series: $10; Masterworks Series: $6.25; Pops Series: $3.75; FLEX8: $10; FLEX6: $7.50.

**STUDENT SEASON TICKETS are available for any series. An adult may purchase a student season ticket for a child (15 and under) to be seated next to the adult ticket. Student Season Tickets may be purchased by high school students 16 & up and college students with ID – some exclusions apply.

***Compose your own experience with the WMS FLEX tickets – FLEX8 = 8 vouchers; FLEX6 = 6 vouchers. Redeemable beginning June 1, 2017, for the subscription concert(s) you want, best availableseats when you redeem your FLEX tickets. Not valid for special events.

All sales are final. Dates, artists and programs are subject to change.

WMS Ticket Office HoursMonday – Friday, 9 am – 2 pm

Sign up for our newsletter and stay up-to-date on new season announcements and special events westmichigansymphony.orgtheblockwestmichigan.org

JOIN US FOR OUR 78TH SEASON!

Enjoy the greatest flexibility, the most convenience and the best value when you subscribe to any WMS season ticket package. Not sure about your future plans? Unlimited ticket exchanges are free for subscribers. Whether you purchase Full, Masterworks or Pops, or a flexible “build your own” series, we’re certain you’ll enjoy the benefits of being a part of the WMS family.

Here’s a quick look at the 2017-18 season. For details, look inside!

MASTERWORKS POPS

Sept 29, 2017 Ravel & Gershwin Piano Concertos Dec 15, 2017 A Celtic Christmas

Nov 10, 2017 Enigma Variations Feb 9, 2018 Hollywood’s Greatest Melodies

Jan 12, 2018 Austrian & Germanic Classics Apr 27, 2018 Tango Caliente!

Mar 2, 2018 Classical Music for Everyone: Romantic Nationalism

May 18, 2018 Masterpieces

All Masterworks concerts are preceded by a FREE Lunch n’ Learn, Wednesdays, noon, at The Block.

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY | 360 W. WESTERN AVENUE, SUITE 200 | MUSKEGON, MI 49440 | 231.726.3231 | westmichigansymphony.org

Music Director Scott Speck

The Block360 W. Western Ave 2nd floorMuskegon, MI 49440

MARCH | 2017

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Wheelchair accessible seating and/or special seating needs,please call West Michigan Symphony Ticket Office

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Hollywood’s Greatest MelodiesFebruary 9, 2018 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Andrew Koehler guest conductorDiane Penning sopranoPaul Langford piano

Join Diane Penning, Paul Langford, and the West Michigan Symphony for a survey of the most treasured movie memories. Diane and Paul return to the WMS to sing a variety of titles on the American Film Institute’s list of “100 Best Songs From Movies.” Songs include Climb Every Mountain, Somewhere, The Way We Were, Moon River, and Love is an Open Door from the motion picture Frozen.

MasterpiecesMay 18, 2018 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Scott Speck conductorVadim Gluzman violin

Austin Wintory Composer-in-residence new workBrahms Violin Concerto in D major, Vadim Gluzman, violinTchaikovsky Symphony no.4 in F minor

Our final concert of the season features three great masterpieces. Brahms’ iconic Violin Concerto in D major features Russian-Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman. Tchaikovsky’s soulful and melodic Symphony no. 4 boasts one of the top ten endings in orchestra music. And WMS composer-in-residence Austin Wintory, creates his fourth world premiere for us. A thrilling season finale.

Classical Music for Everyone: Romantic NationalismMarch 2, 2018 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Scott Speck conductor Alexey Stadler cello

Sibelius Finlandia (Scandinavian)De Falla Miller’s Dance (Spanish)Ravel Pavane for a Dead Princess (French)Gliére Russian Sailors’ Dance (Russian)Copland Hoe Down (American)Dvorák Cello Concerto in B minor (Czech), Alexey Stadler, cello

Explore Romantic music via the countries from which they originate. You’ll experience classical music’s Romantic era as it developed in Scandinavia, Spain, France, America, Bohemia and Russia. The concert closes with one of the most important cello concertos ever written, Dvorák’s Cello Concerto, featuring Russian cellist Alexey Stadler.

Austrian & Germanic ClassicsJanuary 12, 2018 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Scott Speck conductorPaul Clifton horn

Mozart Overture to Don GiovanniStrauss Horn Concerto no.1, Paul Clifton, hornMendelssohn Symphony no.1 C minor

Mozart’s arresting and exciting overture to the opera Don Giovanni kicks off this homage to the classical period. WMS Principal horn, Paul Clifton, is featured on Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto no. 1, which itself is a tribute to Mozart. And Felix Mendelssohn, often considered classical music’s greatest child prodigy, poured his dramatic and harmonically adventurous gifts into his Symphony no. 1.

Ravel & Gershwin Piano ConcertosSeptember 29, 2017 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Scott Speck conductorAldo López-Gavilán piano

Wagner Overture to The Flying DutchmanRavel Piano Concerto in G major, Aldo López-Gavilán, pianoGershwin An American in ParisGershwin Rhapsody in Blue, Aldo López-Gavilán, piano

Inspired by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Ravel incorporated American jazz into his Piano Concerto in G. Gershwin in turn lent a suave French flair to An American in Paris. Brilliant Cuban pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán makes his WMS debut in two concertos.

Enigma VariationsNovember 10, 2017 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Bohuslav Rattay guest conductorAndrew Spencer timpani

Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a FaunDaugherty Raise the Roof, Andrew Spencer, timpaniElgar Enigma Variations

Claude Debussy’s revolutionary Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun opens this program. Former WMS principal timpanist Andrew Spencer returns for Michael Daugherty’s timpani concerto, Raise the Roof. Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations pay musical tribute to the composer’s illustrious and fascinating friends. The work ends triumphantly with allusions to the earlier variations.

A Celtic ChristmasDecember 15, 2017 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Scott Speck conductorCathie Ryan Irish music vocalist WMS Children’s Choir Beth Slimko, director

Irish vocalist Cathie Ryan and her band return to the West Michigan Symphony with a program she has created for us, reflecting her Celtic roots in a wide array of holiday works. Ring in the holidays with Ryan, the West Michigan Symphony orchestra, and the West Michigan Symphony Children’s Choir as they bring traditional, popular and Irish-themed music of the season to West Michigan.

Cathie Ryan Band @ The Block | Sat | Dec 16, 2017 | 7:30 pm

Vadim Gluzman & Angela Yoffee @ The BlockSat | May 19, 2018 | 7:30 pm

Andrew Spencer @ The Block | Sat | Nov 11, 2017 | 7:30 pm

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Aldo López-Gavilán @ The Block | Sat | Sept 30, 2017 | 7:30 pm

Tango Caliente!April 27, 2018 | 7:30 pm | Friday | Frauenthal Theater

Matthew Kraemer guest conductor Camille Zamora soprano Hector Del Curto bandoneon

Be transported by the seductive sounds of the dance of romance... the tango! Star soprano Camille Zamora joins the WMS, together with four stellar Argentinian dancers and internationally acclaimed bandoneon artist Hector Del Curto, for a night of fiery tango classics including La Cumparsita, Oblivión, El Choclo, Volver, Por Una Cabeza by Ástor Piazzolla, Carlos Gardel and others. Fall in love with the seductive heart of tango. ¡Caliente!