GM Foundation Grants $400,000 to DSO for 2014 Southern Florida Tour

DETROIT, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is headed south for the winter thanks to a $400,000 grant from the GM Foundation.

The Orchestra, led by Music Director Leonard Slatkin, will perform with Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn and Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist Olga Kern during a tour of Southern Florida that will take place from Feb. 25 to March 4, 2014.

"Touring, domestic or otherwise, is an imperative part of sharing this orchestra's art with a broad and diverse audience," said Slatkin. "Thanks to the generosity of the GM Foundation, the DSO will be on the road for the third time in a year. We're really looking forward to seeing our friends in Florida again."

Over the last decade, the GM Foundation has donated more than $84 million to support Detroit nonprofit organizations and cultural institutions. This includes nearly $2 million to help the DSO bring its performances to Detroit, and to New York's Carnegie Hall where the orchestra performed in May 2013.

"The GM Foundation is committed to showcasing the best of Detroit to stakeholders across the country," said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard. "The DSO is one of the city's finest jewels and this tour will build upon Detroit's national reputation of having the finest musicians and live entertainment."

Performances will include Gould's Spirituals for Orchestra in celebration of the composer's 100th birthday, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 (featuring Olga Kern), Brahms Violin Concerto (featuring Hilary Hahn), Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (featuring Olga Kern), and three pieces by Ravel: Mother Goose Suite, Pavane for a Dead Princess and Bolero.

The tour is comprised of the following venues and dates:

• Kravis Center For The Performing Arts of West Palm Beach, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. and Feb. 26, 2 p.m.
• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami, Feb. 28, 8 p.m.
• Indian River Symphonic Association at Vero Beach Community Church, March 2, 7:30 p.m.
• Sarasota concert Association, March 3, 8 p.m.
• Philharmonic Center for the Arts of Naples, March 4, 8 p.m.

Violinist Hilary Hahn's probing interpretations, technical virtuosity, and commitment to new music have brought her love of classical music to a diverse audience. At age 33, her international fame and recognition, including two Grammies, multiple Diapason "d'Or of the Year" and "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik" prizes, seven Echo Klassik awards, and the 2008 *Classic FM / Gramophone* Artist of the Year, are a testament to her talent and drive.

Olga Kern, the striking young Russian Gold Medal winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - whose performance of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 made her the first woman to achieve this distinction in more than 30 years - made her New York City debut in Carnegie's Zankel Hall in May, 2004. Eleven days later, she returned to New York to play at Carnegie again, this time on the stage of the Isaac Stern Auditorium at the invitation of Carnegie Hall. Kern is a magnetic performer with one of the most prodigious piano techniques of any young pianist.

About General Motors Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.  Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM.  The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About the DSO
The internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra, which celebrated its 125^th anniversary in December 2012, is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the world's foremost musical artists, and an unwavering commitment to Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called "America's Music Director" by the Los Angeles Times, became the 12th Music Director of the DSO during the 2008-09 season and acclaimed conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik was appointed Principal Pops Conductor in November 2012. The DSO's performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People's, Neighborhood concerts, and collaborations with chart-topping musicians from Smokey Robinson to Kid Rock.  A commitment to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series.  Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, one of America's most acoustically perfect concert halls, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact and serve the community through music.  For more information visit dso.org or download the free DSO to Go mobile app.

SOURCE General Motors Foundation