Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra

The idea of forming an orchestra in Grosse Pointe was born early in 1953 when Thomas Nestor, Stanley Scotford and Alois Chronowski were having coffee together. A meeting was held in March at the home of Mrs. Robert MacDonald at which time the idea was further discussed by Bernard Whitley, Thomas Nestor and Mrs. MacDonald. Within a week the resolution was made by Mssrs. Nestor, Whitley, Chronowski, Cass Piotrowski and John Sweeny III to establish the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra Society in order to promote and administer a community orchestra.

The first rehearsal was held at Pierce Junior High School in January, 1954. The first concert was given on Sunday afternoon, March 7th, 1954 at Parcells Junior High School under the direction of Wayne Dunlap, who was also the conductor of the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra. Fred Kendall, tenor at radio station WJR, was the first soloist.

The Orchestra has had as conductors Wayne Dunlap, Henri Nosco (who had been Assistant Concertmaster of Arturo Toscanini's NBC Symphony) and Felix Resnick, who took over as permanent conductor and music director in 1959. This is his 41st year with the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Resnick is also conductor of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra. He has, on several occasions, conducted the Detroit Symphony in which orchestra he has played the violin for many years. Although a native of New York City, he has spent the greater part of his life in the Detroit area. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and the Julliard School of Music. In 1976, the first Fine Arts Achievement Award in the field of music was presented to Felix Resnick by WSU. He has been recognized by the American Symphony Orchestra League for "original and adventurous programming."

The Grosse Pointe Orchestra Symphony Society is a Michigan nonprofit corporation and retains its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3).

The Society has the following aims and objectives:

To maintain a symphony orchestra in the Grosse Pointes as a community project.
To offer each year a full season of symphonic music with outstanding soloists.
To provide non-professional and professional musucians the opportunity to perform in a community orchestra of high quality.
To promote music appreciation in people of all ages