University of Michigan
University of Michigan Symphony Band
The Symphony Band continued its long and robust history of participating in new music commissions, largely through the generosity of the H. Robert Reynolds Commissioning Fund. During this calendar year, the Symphony Band and Symphony Band Chamber Winds have given the world or consortium premieres of six new works, and six more in the Winter term of 2026 to come:
2025
Sonorous, Concerto for trombone, Quinn Mason
David Jackson, soloist
Concerto for Saxophones, Billy Childs
Steve Wilson, soloist
Two Sermons, Bruce Broughton
The combined choirs of UM
The Time Traveler, Patrick Harlan
Bifrost, Jude Vaclavik
Inhere, Adhere, Cole Reyes
Spring 2026
Roaring Zephyr, Concerto for Electric Guitar, D.J. Sparr
Composer as soloist
Coincident Dances, Jesse Montgomery
Kairos, Evan Chambers
TBD, Kristy Kuster
TBD- chamber, Ruben Dario Gomez
Poems from Angel Island, Ethan Gonzales Soledad
Another highlight from the fall term was a rare performance of Gunther Schuller's "In Praise of Winds" Symphony #3, which was commissioned by the University of Michigan in 1981. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Schuller's birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ-wVJuu49w
In May of 2025, the Symphony Band performed on a week-long tour of the state of Michigan for the first time since the 1990s. This tour included 8 free public performances, as well as 11 side-by-side clinics with high school and middle school band students in each community. The tour garnered a significant amount of media attention in the state and attracted several local government officials to attend. Additionally, the success of the tour and its impact on the University as a whole was featured during a segment during President Grasso's recent "State of the University" address. Here is a sizzle reel from the tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvbCdJucChk
In the spring of 2026, the University of Michigan will host the North Central Conference of the CBDNA and NBA in Ann Arbor. Concerts and presentations will occur on central campus in Hill Auditorium and in the Rackham Graduate School Building.
In the summer of 2026, a chamber ensemble from the Symphony Band will travel to Rio de Janeiro to be featured performers at the WASBE international convention.
The Symphony Band continues to publish 5-8 camera captured live performances on its popular Youtube channel that was established under the directorship of Michael Haithcock: https://www.youtube.com/user/umsymphonyband
University of Michigan Concert Band
Three World Premieres in 2025: I, too, am America (premiered all 5 movements) for mezzo soprano and wind ensemble by Henry Dorn; Hollywood Concerto for Bass Trombone and Wind Ensemble by Sterling Maffe; and Ad Astra by Stephen Elsinger, the 2025 Brehm Competition Winner.
The Concert Band will be the featured ensemble in the MSBOA Conducting Symposium that kicks off the Michigan Music Conference in January 2026.
In the Fall of 2026, the Concert Band will premiere a new piece by Jose Ruiz Resto, the first composition in the newly formed "Emergence Series: Compositions for Band with Improvisation.” This series, under the artistic leadership of Courtney Snyder, will feature works that include improvisation for bands of all levels to help provide avenues to teach improvisation to all band students.
University of Michigan Marching Band and Campus Bands
The MMB conducted an historic first with a tour of Germany, Austria and France this past June/July. Performances included collaborations with the Polizeiorchester Bayern, St. Landolin Schule in Ettenheim and the MidEurope Festival.
The MMB gave a surprise performance in collaboration with Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the annual Band-o-Rama concert in Hill Auditorium.
The Marching Band performed a halftime show at the Detroit Lions Monday night football game against the Buccaneers.
230 non-music majors participated in two campus concert bands for the fall term. In the spring, UM fields three full campus bands comprised mostly of non-music majors and music ed majors on secondary instruments.