The open rehearsal, featuring a rare opportunity to watch Williams working behind-the-scenes with the orchestra, begins promptly at 10 a.m. in Orchestra Hall and is followed by a gourmet luncheon, catered by Opus One, at 11:30 a.m. in the Music Box. During the lunch, attendees will hear Williams speak about his legendary, award-winning career. Proceeds for the event benefit DSO education and outreach programs.
Known for redefining film music and by making it an intrinsic part of plot and character development, John Williams is one of the most popular and successful composers in American movie history. From the majestic Star Wars score to the magical soundtracks of the Harry Potter films, he has created some of the most recognizable, exciting and moving movie music of all time. His long-time collaborations with director and producer Steven Spielberg have resulted in such scores as E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. Williams also partnered with George Lucas to compose the music for the Star Wars franchise. In 2005, the score to the first Star Wars film was honored by the American Film Institute as the greatest American movie score of all time.
An alumni of UCLA and the Juilliard School, Williams has been nominated for 45 Academy Awards, winning five. He has also won 20 Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards and seven BAFTA Awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In addition to his film scoring work, Williams was conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980 to 1993 and continues to conduct concerts with orchestras around the world. Currently, Williams is the Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. He holds honorary degrees from 21 American universities, including Juilliard, the Berklee College of Music in Boston, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Southern California.
TICKETS to the "Open Rehearsal & Celebrity Luncheon with John Williams" are $60 for Donors, $100 for Patrons and $150 for Benefactors. Parking is included in the price; structure tickets will be validated if presented upon entry to the Max M. Fisher Music Center. Tickets for the open rehearsal ONLY are $20. -- www.detroitsymphony.com
