The music will return to Muskegon: Postponed West Michigan Symphony concerts rescheduled for May & June
The music will return.
After postponing its events and concerts through March 21 due to the coronavirus, the West Michigan Symphony (WMS) announced today it will also push back its April 17 “Mardi Gras in Muskegon” concert as part of its response to the global pandemic.
But, WMS Executive Director Andy Buelow emphasized, the events will return—and live music will again be played in downtown Muskegon in the near future.
“During this time of turmoil, we at West Michigan Symphony extend a hand to our patrons, neighbors and the community,” Buelow said in a press release. “Music Director Scott Speck, the board, staff, and I are working to safeguard the future of this musical treasure we hold in common.”
The Mardi Gras concert, a night celebrating New Orleans jazz with trumpeter Byron Stripling, will now take place at 7:30pm on Friday, May 22. The Masterworks III concert, originally scheduled for March 13, will be held at 7:30pm on Friday, June 12. Cellist Sujari Britt was originally going to perform at the Masterworks III concert, but, due to the uncertainty of travel at the moment, the WMS may instead substitute her spot with an orchestral work and invite her to return at a future date.
The Block, West Michigan Symphony’s intimate performance space on Western Avenue, will also postpone all of its events until mid-May. The postponed events include: House of Hamill, originally slated for Saturday, March 28, and Fareed Haque and Tony Monaco, formerly on the lineup for Saturday, May 2. The next program, a Saturday, May 16 recital featuring violinist Chee-Yun, remains on the calendar.
Fareed Haque and Tony Monaco have been rebooked for Saturday, June 6. Efforts are underway to reschedule House of Hamill.
For current WMS ticket holders, the following options are available:
- Hold on to your tickets, which will be honored for rescheduled dates.
- Request a credit voucher for the value of the ticket purchase, which can be used for future performances
- Convert the value of your tickets into a donation to WMS or The Block, which the symphony emphasized is needed more than ever right now.
For help or further information, patrons may call 231-726-3231 or email info@westmichigansymphony.org. Although WMS offices and The Block are closed to outside business and walk-in traffic, the staff continues to answer the phone, check email and process transactions.
And for those who’d like a reminder of the live music that will once again fill downtown Muskegon, click here for WMS’ YouTube channel.
“We’re still here, and we continue to move forward with plans for the future,” Buelow said. “Although we face many unknowns, we invite the community to join us in seeing, believing in, and preparing for that future—hopefully not too distant—when we are physically able to gather again to experience live music together.”