10 Concerts & Events
Summer 2023
Built by Akropolis in 2017, this festival uses new music wind power to bring people together.
It features world premieres in collaboration with local and national artists and Detroit youth, concerts for businesses and essential workers, pop-up shows in public spaces, K-12 outreach, public performances, and a school year-length residency at three Detroit high schools.
2023 Festival Collaborative Composer
Omar Thomas
Composer Omar Thomas is this year's featured festival collaborator. As a part of the 2023 festival, he was commissioned by Akropolis to create a new reed quintet work titled "Moods & Attitudes" that will be premeired at the festival this summer. Omar will also join Akropolis at one of their final visits to the 3 Detroit high schools they are currently in-residence in, sharing his story and working with Akropolis' young composers.
About Omar Thomas
Hailed by Herbie Hancock as showing "great promise as a new voice in the further development of jazz in the future," educator, arranger, and award-winning composer Omar Thomas has created music extensively in the contemporary jazz ensemble idiom. It was while completing his Master of Music Degree that he was appointed the position of Assistant Professor of Harmony at Berklee College of Music at the surprisingly young age of 23. Following his Berklee tenure, he served on faculty of the Music Theory department at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Now a Yamaha Master Educator, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at The University of Texas at Austin.
Detroit High School Student Compositions
Since 2017, Akropolis has helped over 40 Detroit students write pieces of music, which they premiere and record during Together We Sound. You can listen to these composition here.
The following students worked with Akropolis in the 22/23 academic year and will have their new piece performed and recorded during the 2023 Together We Sound Festival!
Detroit School of Arts Student Composers:
Kaliyah Harris, Roland Stegar, Kamaya Fulton, Marissa Nelson, Ashton Samuel, LeAndre, Donnivin
Cass Tech Student Composers:
Isabella Lindo, Alyssa Washington, Jordan Pratt, Jordan McDonald, Morgan, Taylor
MLK High School Student Composers:
Daouda Kane, Sam Bullock, Electra, Jeremy, Malijah
2023 Concerts & Events
Educational Concert: Detroit School of Arts feat. Omar Thomas
10:40 AM
This is the culminating visit of Akropolis’ year-long residency with the music students at DSA! At this presentation, Akropolis will showcase the compositions created by DSA high school students this year for their fellow music and arts classmates. Videos of these premieres will be released online throughout the summer!
As a part of this year’s residency, composer Omar Thomas will join Akropolis on this culminating visit.
Educational Concert: Cass Tech High School
10:15 AM
This is the culminating visit of Akropolis' year-long residency with the music students at Cass Tech! At this presentation, Akropolis will showcase the compositions created by Cass Tech high school students this year for their fellow music and arts classmates.
As a part of this year’s residency, composer Omar Thomas will join Akropolis on this culminating visit.
Educational Concert: M.L.K. Jr. Senior High School
2:15 PM
This is the culminating visit of Akropolis’ year-long residency with the music students at MLK High School! At this presentation, Akropolis will showcase the compositions created by MLK High School students this year for their fellow music and arts classmates.
As a part of this year’s residency, composer Omar Thomas will join Akropolis on this culminating visit.
Educational Concert: John R. King Performing Arts Academy K-8
8:00 AM
Akropolis joins the K-8 students from John R. King for an interactive concert focused on how you can make music a part of your life at home this summer!
Educational Concert: Bates Elementary
1:30 PM
Akropolis returns to Bates Elementary for an educational concert for these hard working K-5 students, teaching them about music, storytelling, and creative expression!
*This event features guest bass clarinetist Shannon Orme of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Workplace Concert:
Fair Food Network
11:30 AM
On June 6th, Akropolis will perform for the hard working staff at Fair Food Network in Detroit as a part of our Lunch and Listen series.
Fair Food Network began in 2009, based on the idea that food has the potential to strengthen local economies, nourish communities, and change our shared systems for the better. When we start with food, we find common ground. We can build lasting partnerships. And we can find new ways to address long-standing inequities.
Workplace Concert:
Google Detroit
12 pm Concert
On September 27, Akropolis will perform for the hard working staff at Google Detroit as a part of our Together We Sound Festival inside “The District Detroit”. The first Google location in Detroit is located in the office building adjacent to Little Caesars Arena on Henry Street. Google occupies 30,000-square-foot on two floors and has about 100 employees. The newly-built space features interior décor showcasing the history and landmarks of the Motor City.
Workshop and Concert with Living Arts Detroit
Location: Ford Resource and Engagement Center in Southwest Detroit, 2826 Bagley St
Concert time: 7 pm
Free music workshops 6 pm & 8 pm
FREE
Akropolis is excited to be a part of Living Arts Detroit Kresge Back to School Series, giving a free concert on September 27 at 7 pm at the FREC in downtown Detroit. Before and after their performance, they will also be giving free music workshops at 6 pm and 8 pm.
Why Together We Sound
Thank You to Our Festival Sponsors & Funders
