Past Events
Celebration of Soul 2010
Click here to view information from Celebration of Soul 2010.
Bravo! Awards 2009
Click here to view information from Bravo! Awards 2009.
Symphony on the Green 2009
Click here to view information from Symphony on the Green 2009.
Duke Ellington Pre-Concert Dinner
On November 14, 2008, the Grand Rapids Symphony presented “An Evening with the
View the invitation here.
Encore 2008
Encore was held on Friday, September 12, 2008. Friends of the Symphony enjoyed dinner prior to the Opening Night Opening Night of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 2008-09 Season.
Photos of this event are below:
A Decade with David!
The Opening Gala celebrating David Lockington's 10th Season with the Grand Rapids Symphony
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Steelcase Ballroom at DeVos Place
Chairs: Dan & Pamella DeVos and Jim & Kathy Hackett
Guest artist: Joshua Bell
This event was a celebration of David and the artistic growth of the orchestra since his arrival as music director; recognizing musical excellence under his leadership. The gala began with a social hour at 5:00 pm, followed by a 4-course gourmet dinner including some of David Lockington's favorites and chef's choices. The dinner program included words from Jesse Rosen, President of the League of American Orchestras (NY). Composer Phillip Sawyer wrote a piece to honor David and the artistic growth and musical excellence of the orchestra under his leadership. Dinner was followed by a concert with the Grand Rapids Symphony featuring Joshua Bell in DeVos Performance Hall. Immediately following the concert was a champagne reception toasting Maestro Lockington and the success of the orchestra.
View the Save-the-Date postcard here: page 1; page 2
Click here to view the invitation.
Click here to view the RSVP card.
Check out what the Grand Rapids Press had to say about the event here.
Photo from the evening:
Symphony on the Green 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008 at Kent Country Club.
For ten years, the Grand Rapids Symphony has successfully mixed a fun day on the links with raising funds for our numerous education programs, and this year was no different. Kent Country Club hosted the event for the third year. Golf lovers of every skill level were invited to participate in the four person scramble. Prizes were awarded to several foursomes, longest drive and closest to the pin. The outing also featured the Symphony on the Green Raffle, which included fabulous prizes.
View the invitation here: page 1; page 2
Celebration of Soul 2008
Celebration of Soul 2008 was held on Saturday, March 1, 2008. A dinner in the Ambassador Ballroom at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, honoring Rev. Lyman Parks, Sr., James & Charsie Sawyer, and Rev. Ed Dobson, preceeded the Symphony with Soul concert. The event was co-chaired by Skot & Barbara Welch and Marvin & MaLinda Sapp and raised over $80,000 to help support the Grand Rapids Symphony's education programs and the Young, Gifted & Black Scholarship Fund. This year’s special guest artists was Take 6, winner of ten Grammy Awards.
Young, Gifted & Black Scholarship winner Benjamin Boone performed at the dinner. In addition to Take 6, the concert featured the Grand Rapids Symphony performing three movements from Duke Ellington's suite, "Black, Brown and Beige," and the Grand Rapids Community Gospel Choir.
Jeff Kaczmarczyk of The Grand Rapids Press had this to say about Take 6: "More than once in its 11-song set, the vocal ensemble had the audience on its feet with a blend of comforting words and high-energy singing, some tunes by itself, others with the orchestra. Even by itself, when you add in vocal percussion, Take 6 often sounds more like an even dozen."
Click here to view the invitation.
Bravo! 2007
It was an evening to remember...
On Wednesday, November 7, 2007 the DeVos Performance Hall was transformed for an event honoring Mrs. Helen DeVos. Highlights of this memorable evening included presenting Mrs. DeVos with a lifetime achievement award and an unforgettable performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony, conducted by Music Director David Lockington featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Pinchas Zukerman and cellist Amanda Forsyth.
Bravo 2007 Invitation.pdf
The Three Maestros
The Three Maestros was held on October 24, 2006 at DeVos Place and raised over $100,000 to help support the Grand Rapids Symphony’s education programs.
Highlights of the night featured Music Director David Lockington, Associate Conductor John Varineau and Robert Lyall, Opera Grand Rapids Artistic Director, sharing the podium for the first time.
Celebration of Soul 2007
Celebration of Soul was held on February 24, 2007 at the Pantlind Ballroom at Amyway Grand Plaza Hotel and raised over $50,000 to help support the Grand Rapids Symphony's eduction programs and the Young, Gifted & Black Scholarship Fund.
Our evening together at the Grand Rapids Symphony's Celebration of Soul dinner followed by the Symphony with Soul concert was certainly memorable. We enjoyed a program honoring Ruth Jones-Hairston and George A. Bayard III with a Legacy Award. The tributes by friends and remarks made by the recipients were powerful reminders of the many ways each leader is making Black History today.
Other highlights of the event included Joseph Conyers' soulful performance of “Walk With Me”, the energetic performance by the Martin Luther King Jr. Honors Choir, and Deborah Bayard’s touching solo which reminded us that music and the Arts truly bridge all cultures and comprise our shared heritage. The Symphony with Soul concert extended the celebration featuring the powerful composition by Adolphus Hailstork and our own much- loved performers conducted by Duane Davis, James Sawyer and Debra Perry. Regina Carter’s commanding jazz violin performance capped a concert rich with varied musical genres.
Symphony on the Green 2009
Symphony on the Green 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Thank you to everyone that participated in the 2009 Symphony on the Green golf outing! The rain held off and Kent Country Club provided a beautiful backdrop for a wonderful day of golf sponsored by the Wege Foundation. Congratulations to our 2009 Symphony on the Green golf outing champions - Joe Murphy, Jim Ward, Russ Reed, and Laurie Dooge.