Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra

Since its inception in 1975 the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Felix Resnick, has continued to serve the Detroit Metropolitan Area by presenting outstanding performances designed to please a wide range of musical tastes, from the classics to pops. The mission of the BBSO is to provide a high quality, professional orchestra for the Birmingham-Bloomfield community and its surrounding areas, and to offer citizens of all ages the opportunity to experience quality performances featuring distinguished artists. The BBSO strives to cultivate interest in the musical arts for the entire family with emphasis on educational growth. The orchestra has won for 12 years in the row, the Award for being the “Most Outstanding Community Orchestra in Southeastern Michigan” presented by the Detroit Motor City Awards. No other community orchestra has made reached this recognition level.

Maestro Resnick has shaped this orchestra into one of the premiere musical organizations in Michigan with his 30-years as Music Director & Conductor. As BBSO’s 31st Year began, Charles Greenwell took over the position of Music Director & Principal Conductor while Maestro Resnick became Conductor Laureate. Comprised of professional musicians from all over Southeastern Michigan, the BBSO has also performed with such internationally known artists as the late Henry Mancini, Mitch Miller, the Moody Blues, Yanni, Art Garfunkle, and Smokey Robinson. For several years the BBSO was the “backup” orchestra for Pineknob Music Theatre (now DTE Music Theatre). The BBSO’s first CD, “Sounds of the Season,” was the number one selling classical recording in the Detroit Metro Area in December 1996. The 2007-2008 Season marks a 33-years milestone for the BBSO. Excellence in performance has gained the Symphony the recognition of being a fine organization and a gem for the communities it serves. The BBSO conducts surveys with audiences at the concerts in order to assess how well the Symphony is carrying out its mission. With two surveys in the 1990’s and 2000’s, 5 years apart, our concert-goers rated the quality of the BBSO extremely high and considered the BBSO to be one of the best entertainment values in the area.

Charles Greenwell joined the Symphony nineteen years ago and has added a different dimension to the symphonic music scene. In his own inimitable way he chats informally with the audience during his concerts about the composers and the works to be performed. Audience members as well as musicians gain a new appreciation for each work performed. His Concerts are truly a delightful learning and listening experience.

The BBSO likes to recognize youth through music. Not only does the BBSO have a Young Artist Competition, but they also go out to schools with small ensembles to perform. A partnership with Wilson Five Violins, BASF, Michigan Music Teachers Association, and Evola Music enables the BBSO to offer two Young Artist Competitions, one for piano and one for orchestral instruments. Cash prizes are awarded to winners of both those competitions. In addition the winners are given the rare chance to perform a concerto with a professional orchestra.

Our Symphony & Schools Program allows BBSO ensembles to visit the schools in Oakland County to promote music. On occasion these students have been asked to sit in with the orchestra as it performs. For example, in 2000 a dozen-area high school student joined the BBSO in the “1812 Overture.” In 2001 the BBSO joined forces with Edison-Perdue Academy in Pontiac, where Director Quincy Stewart III had just begun a band program. Since 2003 – present, the BBSO has a music partnership with Hutchinson Middle School of Detroit, MI, with our Adopt-A-School Project. In 2005, three BBSO ensembles performed at Berkley High School with following workshops for the students.

In 2001-02 the BBSO musicians began showcasing their students at pre-concerts before each regular concert. Then each student and their parents were invited to attend actual BBSO concert. The program was so well received it continues today, the BBSO is in partnership with the Detroit Public School, Hutchins Middle School, where a BBSO Musician gives private string lessons to select students and then there is a performance in the spring. The BBSO also couples with local service groups that help with the concert ushering while displaying their works for the community at large. The following groups have been involved: the Birmingham Community Coalition, Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club, the Birmingham-Bloomfield Area Senior Citizens Council, the Birmingham Kiwanis Club, the Birmingham Optimist Club, and the Cultural Council of Birmingham-Bloomfield. The BBSO continues to look for partnership opportunities to further music and its types of presentation including dance, vocal and opera. Partnerships with corporations have included Autocom, ADP , HOUR Magazine and Comcast.

The BBSO musicians elect an Orchestra Committee at the first rehearsal of each season for the purpose of fostering open communication between the musicians and management. A five-member committee helps to represent all the entire orchestra salutes and voices any issues or concerns to the Board, conductors, or administrator. Also, the Board of Directors implemented a plan to insure fairness among the compensation of all the musicians, giving all players slight raises each year.

The Symphony encourages new composers to submit their compositions for performance and the BBSO has been very successful in promoting these new works over their 33-year history. The most recent work performed was “The Tuskegee Airmen Suite” by Brian Belanger of Royal Oak, MI. The first new work was “Jazz-Synthesis” written by David VanDePitte of Detroit back in 1976. The BBSO also premiered a violin concerto written by Marcus Wade. During the 2001-02 Season, a partnership with “Meet the Composer” and the BBSO commissioned James Lentini, Wayne State Professor of Music, to write a premiere piece for our percussion section entitled “Shake, Rattle & Roll.” During the 2005-06 Season, the BBSO performed a world premiere Violin Concerto by Michigan Composer Mark Gottlieb.

The BBSO Orchestra Administrator/Coordinator seeks out more opportunities for our small ensembles of our musicians to perform with local chorale groups, church services, and school plays and corporations openings. These opportunities keep increasing each year as a result of our growing reputation.

The motivation that drives people to build, direct, fundraise or play in a symphony orchestra, is probably as mysterious as the inspiration that causes great composers to create great music in the first place. But whenever all of these items come together, a wonderful sound can be heard and the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra is one place where this miracle occurs.