September 30,2020 Your Source for Livonia Cultural Happenings
 "Through its concerts, our Livonia Symphony Orchestra has contributed to building Livonia’s
reputation as the center of cultural excellence throughout Michigan."
Livonia Symphony Orchestra hosts the 29th Annual Bob Bennett Golf Outing (not)
I's time to tee it up for the 29th Annual Bob Bennett Memorial Golf Outing. Chip in for the Arts.

Well, actually the outing was postponed in the Spring and then cancelled in the Fall.

According to Charlie Mahoney, pictured here, Chairman of the event, Covid did not stop community support for what would have been another fantastic golf event at Fox Creek Golf Course. "In fact this year the support has continued to grow as our hometown has stood tall in support of our community gem--the Livonia Symphony."
Dan MacIver (pictured above with Mahoney) of Financial and Portfolio Advisors along with Nigel and Joanna Bennett Travis (pictured left) of the Leyton Orient Football Club, the 3rd oldest football (soccer) club in London are again on board as chief sponsors.

There will not be breakfast this year at the Senate, no musicians waiting at the course as golfers arrived. And certainly no networking at the luncheon after an exhilarating round of golf.

But wait a minute. Sponsors are still signing up to support the Orchestra. In addition to the $5,000 each from Dan MacIver and Nigel and Joanna Bennett Travis take a look at those who have said "we will still support the Symphony" at the non-golf event:

Alpha USA, Chuck Dardas
Creighton, McLean and Shea, PLC, John McLean
GFL Environmental, Sam Caramagno
Edward Jones, Robin Whitfield
FridayMusings, Kathy Ventittelli and Bill Joyner
FFP Insurance, Gary DesChenes
Four-M Associates, LLC, Charlie Mahoney
Meakin Associates, Brian Meakin
OHM Advisors, John Hiltz
Wonder Janitorial, Dan Wenderlich

Commissioner Terry Marecki
Mayor Mayor Brosnan
School Board Member Dan Centers
Councilman Robert Donovic
June Kendall
Diane Luoto in Memory of Bud Luoto
Dick and Ann McDowell
Council President Kathleen McIntyre
Paul Michalsen
Dave and Julie Spivey
Dr. Irene Tseng
Councilwomen Cathy White



Arts in Livonia has the support of many community leaders.

Senator Dayna Polehanki expresses that support and endorsement with a quote from Paul Allen, Co-founder of Microsoft, "the arts play a critical role in stimulating creativity."
Health Benefits of attending the Livonia Symphony Orchestra
For the longest time the typewriter never understood why people went to a symphonic concert. But over the years I found myself closing my eyes, not to sleep but rather while picturing a story that went along with the music. As I grew to enjoy the music I became accustomed to watching the conductor and then either one section of musicians or one instrument specifically.

It was amazing. This transformation from tolerance to acceptance to appreciation.

And now I find more benefits of listening to music, specifically symphonic music. Music boosts the immune system, improves sleep quality and strengthens the heart.

It may not be everyone's favorite but classical music has been shown in studies to have some amazing health benefits. Beethoven fights cancer, Mozart helps fights epilepsy and reduces chronic pain.

Classical music has been shown to improve the brain power of babies and improve overall IQ.

It is no wonder that every culture in the world enjoys and appreciates music. So while we realize the hometown benefits of having a Symphony let's also appreciate that by attending concerts and enjoying the quality of music we should realize what it will do to our physical existence.

Excuse me while I change the CD and put on another disc. Hmmm, Beethoven or Mozart. Well, maybe Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, or okay, Chopin.
Orchestras offer an intangible impact of creativity
An Orchestra has an economic impact on a city, from employing musicians and engaging scores of volunteers to bringing patrons out to restaurants or bars on concert days.

But there's also the intangible impact of creativity, collaboration and artistry, which occurs when one hears a performance or when members of an orchestra interact with students. "There's a sense of distinct public value that orchestras bring to a city," says Heather Noonan, vice president for advocacy at the League of American Orchestras. Take that away, and the loss can be felt long after the music stops.
When we exit the pandemic let's make sure the Symphony Orchestra helps define our quality of life

The typewriter: "Livonia is the cultural heartbeat of southeast Michigan and we will not let the pandemic get in the way of keeping the music flowing in preparation for when the sun is shining, the air is fresh and quality of life reaches for the stars at night.

"The pandemic is not an ending. it is just the beginning. Let's propel Livonia's cultural rebound. Together.

"Keep the music flowing."
Livonia: let's meet the principal musicians of our Symphony Orchestra
Volodymyr Shesiuk – LSO Music Director and Conductor for 27 years. Maestro Shesiuk graduated with two master’s degrees – violin performance and operatic and symphony conducting from Lviv State Conservatory in the Ukraine. He was Conductor-in-Residence of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia from 1983-85 and then in 1985, the Kyrgystan government appointed him Chief Conductor of the National Opera and Ballet Theater. In the late 80’s, he immigrated to the U.S. and in 1994, became the LSO Music Director and Conductor. He has conducted more than 100 titles of Opera, Ballet and Operatic scores and also a wide range of Western and Eastern European and American music. 
Svetlana Tsivinskaya LSO Concertmaster. Dr. Tsivinskaya is a robust and expressive concert violinist, and recording artist. Ms. Svetlana grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia and studied at the State Music Conservatory where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in violin performance. After immigrations to the U.S., she played with major orchestras throughout SE Michigan. She earned her doctorate’s degree from Michigan State University and teaches Applied Violin and Viola at Schoolcraft College and privately at home. 
Jui-Chao Wang – LSO Principal Cello – A Taiwan native, Dr. Wang has been with the LSO for 25 years. She earned her degrees from the National Taiwan Normal University, the University of Michigan and her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas in Austin. She was a full scholarship recipient and teaching assistant to the world-acclaimed cello pedagogue, Professor Phyllis Young. She graduated with the highest honor and was a winner of the American Association University Women Fellowship. Besides performing, Dr. Wang has enjoyed teaching/conducting high school orchestras and string pedagogy classes at Wayne State University. 

Stephen McKenzie – Mr. McKenzie, Principal Double Bass player for the LSO for 24 years, is a retired instrumental music teacher who taught for 34 years in the public schools. He holds degrees in Music Education from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. McKenzie was an orchestra conductor at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for 10 years and is the past conductor of the Royal Oak Symphony. 

Robynn Rhodes – LSO Principal Flutist – Ms. Rhodes is a Michigan native and has performed in orchestras to accompany artists such as Amy Grant and Sarah McLachlan, to performing “We Will Rock You” with members of Queen and “Joy to the World” with Three Dog Night. Ms. Rhodes has been with the LSO for 30 years and loves performing chamber music and has performed in this capacity in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.

Lisa Dills – Principal Clarinetist. A native of Michigan, Ms. Dills attended Eastern Michigan University as a scholarship student in the Honors Program and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Ms. Dills spent most of her career as a teacher and instructor and has been with the LSO for 26 years and Principal Clarinetist for 22 years. 

Heather Hartwick Gladden – Principal Bassoonist. Ms. Gladden, a free-lance musician in SE Michigan, has been with the LSO for 32 years. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Bassoon Performance from Eastern Michigan University and has held principal bassoon positions with the Lake St. Clair Symphony and with the EMU Orchestra. Ms. Gladden also plays the contrabassoon and teaches privately out of her studio. 

Patricia Fisher – Ms. Fisher has been the Principal Percussionist with the LSO for the past 15 years. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and was the second women percussionist to become a member of the United States Army Band in Washington, D.C. that performs for the President and at Arlington National Cemetery. Ms. Fisher also was a member of the Arlington Symphony and the Fairfax Symphony while in the D.C. area. Besides being a classical performer, Ms. Fisher also is a pop, commercial and theater musician. She has been a coach and extra player with the Michigan Youth Symphony since 2010.
LSO Student Outreach Programs
Instrument Collection and refurbishing; Musician Interface and Concert Tickets. 

In 2015, the LSO is kicked off its campaign to bring music awareness into the Livonia and Clarenceville Upper Elementary and Middle Schools. 

We learned children in our schools have an interest in music classes but cannot afford the rental fee for an instrument. In an effort to engage these children, the LSO asked Livonia residents, their families and friends to look in their basement and storage areas for those gently used instrument(s) that someone in  the family may hve played. Instead of letting them take up room and collect dust in a basement or storage area, the LSO asked them to donate then to the LSO Music Awareness Project so a youngster can bring them back to life again by participating in general music classes and maybe even in band or orchestra classes. 

Over its 5 + years, this project was supported by a grant from Worthington Foundation, Community Federal Credit Union Summer of Sharing grants, a major grant from MASCO and a partnership with AlphaUSA. Individual donations beyond instruments also support this effort. 
Since 2015 the Education Outreach Music Awareness project has received and refurbished over 100 instruments and donated them to both Livonia and Clarenceville Schools.

As part of the partnership with AlphaUSA the program established an “Accessories Fund” to help the purchase of reeds and strings and other accessories necessary to keep these instruments in working order.  

The program also brought musicians into the schools to introduce instruments to the students and answer questions about their involvement in music. These programs were presented to encourage students to think about music programs. 
 
And the LSO also provided the schools with tickets to our concerts for their music students and parents to enjoy a concert. Annually, the Music programs are provided with 100+ tickets for students and parents to attend the LSO concerts.
Traditions are a part of our symphony season
The Livonia Symphony performs a patriotic pops concert at the Kirksey Recreation Center every summer. Audiences come early and stay late.

Always popular with our elected officials sponsoring an ice cream social before the concert.
Guest musicians are an integral part of the symphony season including Anthony Bonamici playing the piano.

Livonia native Anthony Bonamici who recently moved to Storrs, Connecticut having lived and worked in Russia for many years.

He is a pianist, composer, teacher, and owns a business building harpsichords.


December 4, 2010 and every Christmas Maestro Shesiuk directs the timeless holiday concert with Angie Hahn’s Academy of Dance.

One year ago the Livonia Symphony lost a friend and benefactor with the passing of Bob Hardies, founder of Financial and Portfolio Advisors.

This year will bring his donations to the Bob Bennett Memorial Golf Outing to $35,000, in what will be the 7th year with Financial and Portfolio Advisors as a corporate benefactor of the golf outing.

We miss Bob Hardies. He gave a lot to the community that many will never know.

We are grateful that Dan MacIver has picked up the gauntlet, as Bob liked to say, and continued his support for the Symphony.

This is a partnership that is and will continue to be special.