We have exciting news … TMSO sponsorships are now available!
For the past two decades, Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra has given 100% FREE concerts all over the metro-Detroit community, and we are now looking to expand our circle with more community connections & new, larger concert venues! But we need YOUR help…
For our 2024-2025 concert season, Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra is looking for businesses who would like to become sponsors in return for advertising space in our new professionally-printed concert programs (as well as promotion on social media). These sponsorships will allow the orchestra to rent larger community venues, commission new pieces, attract professional guest artists to solo with TMSO, and continue to print educational music pages (among other things!). At this time, advertising sponsorships range from $200 – $500.
Here’s how you can help:
If you own a business, work for a business, know someone from a business that would be interested in this opportunity, or just want to suggest a business, please email us at troymetrosymphony@gmail.com.
TMSO is looking forward to building new connections within the Troy-metro community!
About the orchestra:
TMSO is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer community orchestra of all ages, from highschoolers to retirees. We perform free classical & sacred concerts for the dual purpose of glorifying God through our music, as well as sharing beautiful symphonic music with the community. TMSO is a teaching orchestra with a vision to educate our audiences about the repertoire & composers we perform in each concert through the dialogue of our conductor’s program notes and the use of music activity sheets provided for children at each concert. For the past 19 years, Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra has been giving free symphonic concerts in the community. For the past several concert seasons, we have collaborated with professional musicians across Michigan, bringing them to the Troy-metro area and featuring them as guest artists in our concert series. We have also begun a concentrated music education effort, developing printed materials available to both children and adults at our concerts.
History:
Established in 2005, the Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra began with the vision of one man, Leonard Holliday. He wanted to gather together an orchestra of volunteer musicians who could use their God-given talents for the glory of the Lord by performing classical & sacred music that reflected God’s beauty & order. He first created Orion Chamber Music Society String Camp for young musicians to equip them for ministry in the local church and community. Many of those young musicians, as well as adult musicians in the area, were invited to play in Mr. Holliday’s new chamber ensemble – the Orion Chamber Music Society (OCMS, which would later become known as TMSO). He recruited musicians in the Detroit-metro area … adults as well as accomplished high school & college students to be in the ensemble. Over time, the orchestra changed its name to Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra to better reflect the community where it met to rehearse & perform as well as its growth into a larger community orchestra.
In the past two decades, the orchestra has presented both solo & ensemble recitals and full-orchestra concerts to the community, all free of charge. TMSO has also commissioned various composers across the nation to write original pieces for the orchestra. It has performed at fundraising events for Child Evangelism Fellowship and Right to Life, as well as for the mayor of Troy’s 2023 State of the City address.
Vision:
At its establishment, TMSO’s vision was twofold: glorifying the Lord and educating our audiences through the performance of excellent symphonic music. Simply put, according to the Bible, the ultimate purpose of man is to glorify God. Our orchestra aims to do this in our conversations, our concerts, and our outreach to the community. Also, as a teaching orchestra, TMSO’s conductors have always shared information about repertoire, composers, and instruments with the audience at each concert so they could be more attentive and involved listeners. Our concert programs always include both sacred hymns and classical repertoire, featuring soloists (both from the orchestra and professional musicians from the area) in concerto literature… exposing the community and orchestra members to so many great symphonies and other orchestral classics. As our orchestra looks ahead to the future, TMSO’s original vision continues to be our focus.
Exposure in Michigan Communities:
In the past few years, TMSO has performed concerts in Troy, Sterling Heights, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Southfield, Imlay City, Lake Orion, Davison, Clarkston, Rochester, Roseville, Utica, Clinton Township, Warren, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti.
Leadership:
Travis Cook is a native of Farmington Hills and was privileged to grow up as part of the rich musical tradition of Metro-Detroit. He holds a degree in Music Education and Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He continued his education at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance.
Travis is currently the Director of Bands at Plymouth Christian Academy where he directs the Beginning Bands, Middle School Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. Travis is also an active performer; he is the founder and trombonist of the Cuivré brass quintet, bandleader and lead trombone of the Swing Syndicate Big Band, and an active freelance musician in Metro Detroit. Travis was appointed Music Director of the Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra at the conclusion of a successful trial season in 2022/2023. Under his leadership, the orchestra has seen growth in members, increased quality of musicianship, and engaging collaboration with other artists and arts organizations.
Contact TMSO:
Facebook @TroyMetroSymphonyOrchestra
Instagram @troymetrosymphonyorchestra
YouTube at www.youtube.com/@TroyMetroSymphonyOrchestra
Website: www.troymetro.org
