[NFBMI-Wayne-County] FW: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com
donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com
Wed Jan 28 17:03:48 UTC 2026
From: Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:56 AM
To: donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com; 'Sam Rau' <samdrau at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
Hi there,
Hoping your 2026 is off to a great start! I've confirmed that we can go on stage after the open rehearsal on 5/14 if desired. I should also have our Assistant Conductor and a couple musicians available to do a meet & greet during the rehearsal's 15-minute break. And before rehearsal, folx can explore various musical instruments (touch, hold, play) and the newly designed 3D model of our stage. Braille programs will be available.
Thinking the schedule will be as follows:
9-9:45am - pre-rehearsal experience (instruments and stage model)
9:45am - find seats in the hall
10am - rehearsal begins (conductor will have a microphone so that you can hear their remarks and direction to the musicians)
15-minute break - meet & greet with assistant conductor and/or musicians
12:30-12:45pm - onstage tour
12:45-1pm - feedback opportunity (optional, but it would be great to get people's thoughts on the experience)
How does all of this sound? Still checking into audio description.
When you have an idea of number of attendees, let me know.
Best,
Kiersten
<https://tickets.dso.org/support/membership>
Kiersten
Alcorn
<https://pronouns.org/> (she/her)
Manager of Engagement & Accessibility
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
t: <tel:(313)%20576-5122> (313) 576-5122
e: <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> kalcorn at dso.org
|
w: <https://www.dso.org/> www.dso.org
a: 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48201
<https://www.facebook.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.instagram.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.youtube.com/@detroitsymphony>
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/detroit-symphony-orchestra/>
_____
From: Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> >
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2025 10:22 AM
To: donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> <donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> >; 'Sam Rau' <samdrau at gmail.com <mailto:samdrau at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
Hi Donna,
Happy Monday! That's fine to open it up. We've had hundreds of people at open rehearsals before, so there isn't really a limit. I'd just want to have an accurate picture of how many folx to expect in advance.
Best,
Kiersten
<https://tickets.dso.org/support/membership>
Kiersten
Alcorn
<https://pronouns.org/> (she/her)
Manager of Engagement & Accessibility
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
t: <tel:(313)%20576-5122> (313) 576-5122
e: <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> kalcorn at dso.org
|
w: <https://www.dso.org/> www.dso.org
a: 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48201
<https://www.facebook.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.instagram.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.youtube.com/@detroitsymphony>
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/detroit-symphony-orchestra/>
_____
From: donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> <donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> >
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2025 4:19 PM
To: Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> >; 'Sam Rau' <samdrau at gmail.com <mailto:samdrau at gmail.com> >
Subject: RE: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Hi Kiersten,
Our next chapter meeting is December 6. I would like to open the opportunity to others around the state who are blind. Is there a limit on the number of participants?
Thanks and blessings,
Donna
From: Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> >
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2025 3:14 PM
To: donnabutterfly50 at sgmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at sgmail.com> ; 'Sam Rau' <samdrau at gmail.com <mailto:samdrau at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
Thanks, Donna and Sam. When is the next chapter meeting?
We'll hold May 14 for you since it sounds like it will work out.
Sam, I appreciate your initial thoughts on the description. I definitely think there's people at the DSO who would be open to describing. I'll also do research on what kind of technology other theatres or performing arts venues use for this purpose.
Have a lovely weekend,
Kiersten
<https://tickets.dso.org/support/membership>
Kiersten
Alcorn
<https://pronouns.org/> (she/her)
Manager of Engagement & Accessibility
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
t: <tel:(313)%20576-5122> (313) 576-5122
e: <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> kalcorn at dso.org
|
w: <https://www.dso.org/> www.dso.org
a: 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48201
<https://www.facebook.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.instagram.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.youtube.com/@detroitsymphony>
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/detroit-symphony-orchestra/>
_____
From: donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> <donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> >
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2025 11:23 AM
To: 'Sam Rau' <samdrau at gmail.com <mailto:samdrau at gmail.com> >; Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> >
Subject: RE: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Hi Kiersten,
I echo all that Sam has said. I believe that May 14 would be a fine date. We can talk to our members at our next chapter meeting and gage the interest.
Thanks for working on this,
Donna
From: Sam Rau <samdrau at gmail.com <mailto:samdrau at gmail.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 5:19 PM
To: Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> >
Cc: Donna Posont <donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com <mailto:donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: DSO Open Rehearsal Experience
Sounds excellent; I can't wait. Personally I don't mind making a day out of it ′I'm pretty sure Donna feels the same′. I don't think we need to worry about the order of things as long as we experience everything. I think say that exploring the model of the stage should give an idea of where everyone is and how the performance comes off. Let's try exploring the model, and if there's feedback that actually going on the stage makes a huge difference then we can look at that ′I don't know yet what's essential and what's just nice to experience′. Donna maybe you have a clearer picture of what else should be included? We've got plenty of time to prepare. :′
About the audio description... I wonder if you have a little microphone and headphones, or some other way that we can hear the voice during the performance. I know my Mom would love to experience this, and she's open to describing things, however I wonder if we can work out the audio. I think it would be nice if, in the event the Dso doesn't have anyone available, you guys can have a way for someone in the group to describe things. This isn't ideal as we don't want people to think they have to bring a describer with them, but it's a workable solution. I can maybe talk to some people and start thinking about a system that will work for you, and maybe even add to it when we get the audio description on your side. Just food for thought at this point; I'm sure there's a simple solution.
Thanks again Kirsten for your work on all of this. We're happy to help however we can; I appreciate you including us in this process. Be well.
On Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM Kiersten Alcorn <kalcorn at dso.org <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> > wrote:
Hi Donna and Sam,
I've finally heard back, and it looks like Thursday, May 14 at 10am would be available for a group from the NFB to attend an open rehearsal with us. Wednesday, May 13 is also an option, but the 14th is preferred.
The program for both dates is titled "Baroque Fireworks" and features the following pieces:
Garrop, 'Spectable of Light'
Handel: 'Music for the Royal Fireworks'
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major, "London"
The description for the program is: "Written for Baroque orchestra, Stacy Garrop’s Handel-inspired concert opener features bursts of musical color and leads perfectly into Music for the Royal Fireworks. Musical pyrotechnics continue in the jubilant trumpet line of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and conclude with Haydn’s beloved final symphony. Dame Jane Glover conducts this spectacular program."
Rehearsal runs from 10am-12:30pm with a 15-minute break about halfway through rehearsal.
Before rehearsal begins, we can have some of the additional experiences we've chatted about: instrument exploration--touch/feel/play some instruments, exploring the model of the stage--an improved version based on your feedback, etc.
At the break, we could have our Assistant Conductor and/or a couple musicians come to meet with everyone—chat and answer questions. After the rehearsal, we could all go on stage to explore it. If exploring the stage before rehearsal would be more beneficial, I could check into the feasibility of that.
I'll definitely try to see how we might do audio description for this.
The conductor will have a microphone, so you'll be able to hear their comments to the orchestra as they work throughout rehearsal.
What length of experience would be best for the group? With potential additional experiences before and after the 2.5 hour rehearsal, the entire event could be four hours long...not sure if that's too much?
Let me know if either May 14 (or May 13) work for the group, and if you have initial thoughts on the plan I've laid out, let me know. Open to all ideas and suggestions.
Best,
Kiersten
<https://tickets.dso.org/support/membership>
Kiersten
Alcorn
<https://pronouns.org/> (she/her)
Manager of Engagement & Accessibility
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
t: <tel:(313)%20576-5122> (313) 576-5122
e: <mailto:kalcorn at dso.org> kalcorn at dso.org
|
w: <https://www.dso.org/> www.dso.org
a: 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48201 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3711+Woodward+Ave,+Detroit+MI+48201?entry=gmail&source=g>
<https://www.facebook.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.instagram.com/detroitsymphony/>
<https://www.youtube.com/@detroitsymphony>
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/detroit-symphony-orchestra/>
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