Tell us about your business, including the type of products or services you offer? As the preeminent, regionally based, professional orchestra serving Oakland County from Commerce Township to Troy, and Bloomfield Hills to Southfield, the Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra presents some of the very best in live music for Southeast Michigan. With internationally acclaimed guest performing artists and large roster of local professional musicians, we are connecting people to communities and music to experience—we are Music Where You Live. The Mission of the BBSO is to offer the transformative experience of live music.
What makes the BBSO unique? We offer live classical music concerts in ways that many of the large performing organizations cannot. We always prioritize quality in as many forms as possible: music, world-renowned guest artists, creative programming, visual aesthetics, acoustics, and customer service. We see the experience of going to a concert not just the musical component, but the entire experience from ordering tickets to parking to meeting the artists and having a comfortable place to sit. All of our concerts are followed by a complimentary after glow reception where the entire audience is invited to socialize and meet the musicians, conductor, and guest artists.
How has the business changed since you opened it? Originally founded as a community orchestra in West Bloomfield, the BBSO now serves a larger geographic region with all professional musicians. It has called many performing venues home over the years, especially Temple Bethel, but currently presents concerts predominately at Christ Church Cranbrook.
Care to share a memorable story about a Chamber event or experience? The BBSO has for years participated in the Village Fair and continually strives to build upon its active group of supporters for Community Engagement. Board members have been known to stand out in the heat of the fair, just to talk with people and share their passion for live music. Being a non-profit in the Village Fair and similar community activities is a way we like to be connected to our community and share what we do during the year.
Any advice for other business owners? If your business is looking for a very unique way to intimately connect with the local client or customer base of Birmingham, Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, or Troy, come talk to us about the creative things we’re doing. The BBSO does a lot more than concerts. We have jazz and classical chamber music groups that play at special events and we offer a myriad of ways businesses can both demonstrate their own interest in supporting local, cultural, educational, and non-profit organizations while sharing what they do with future clients.
What’s in store for the future? The BBSO is currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary and looking forward to the next 40 years. Quite soon, however, we will be increasing our concert programs and continuing the work of our educational programs. We offer four subscription concerts and six robust educational opportunities. In the coming years, we will move to a six concert subscription series plus a summer concert as well as increasing our educational reach. A larger state-based concerto competition, a countywide Teen Council mentor program, a high school and middle school side-by-side performance program, a young people’s concert, and an advanced program for the study of orchestral conducting are a sampling of the educational programs in our long-term plan. We’re a very busy group of people—and that’s one thing that won’t change in the future.
Who would you like to meet or partner with? The BBSO, through its Executive Director, Brandon Faber, its Music Director, John Thomas Dodson, and its Board of Directors, continually works to collaborate and partner with many institutions and businesses in the area. We are always looking to find ways we can better serve our community and support local businesses in mutually beneficial, synergistic ways. Anyone or any business that is involved in the arts or looking to increase its interest in live music has the perfect opportunity to start a conversation with your local orchestra. Please visit our website and reach out – we will gladly make a new introduction. You can also see who you might know on our board of directors by visiting the website and clicking on ‘about.’
Do you partner with a member? Yes, the BBSO has many local partners, some of which include Darakjian Jewelers, BoConcept, Downtown Publications, The Community House, Baldwin Library, Shain Park Realtors, and Raymond James Financial.
