2025-2026 Season announcement
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings Announces 2025–2026 Season: Hear | Here
Detroit, MI — Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) announces its 2025–2026 season, Hear | Here, a 12-concert series inviting audiences to experience chamber music with fresh ears and renewed presence. Launching September 28 at the historic Hosmer Building, this season continues DCWS’s legacy of musical excellence and innovation while centering the powerful relationship between sound and place.
Hear | Here reflects DCWS’s mission as a musician-driven organization committed to creating meaningful musical experiences. Each performance is crafted by professional artists who share the music they are most passionate about, presented in venues that foster connection between audience, artist, and place. The season features a wide range of repertoire—from timeless masterworks to bold contemporary premieres—offering a welcoming entry point for longtime patrons and those newly curious about chamber music.
“This season is an invitation to truly listen, to be here and experience chamber music in a way that’s personal, surprising, and deeply connected to our city,” says DCWS President Maury Okun. “Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply curious about what chamber music can offer, our concerts are designed to welcome every listener and show that this art-form belongs to all of us.”
The season’s annual Impact Brunch fundraiser will take place on October 12 at the Heathers in Bloomfield Hills. This event brings together DCWS musicians and supporters to celebrate the upcoming season and build momentum for the year ahead. The concert lineup spans three signature series: Nightnotes, Structurally Sound, and Signature Series.
Nightnotes Series
A longtime audience favorite, Nightnotes transforms Hagopian World of Rugs in Birmingham into an informal concert space that breaks down the barrier between artist and audience. This season’s highlights include the premieres of two new works commissioned through the Resonate Project, a multi-year initiative exploring the African Diaspora through contemporary American chamber music. Learn more at detroitchamberwinds.org/programs/resonate.
Structurally Sound Series
Structurally Sound concerts celebrate the spaces that surround the music. Performances at the Hosmer Building and the Detroit Repertory Theatre will highlight the architectural and cultural history of metropolitan Detroit, creating immersive experiences where music and setting are in conversation.
Signature Series
The Signature Series captures the heart of DCWS—community, artistry, and tradition. Highlights include Holiday Brass, a beloved annual tradition featuring the area’s top brass musicians with high school and community choirs, and Mahagonny Songspiel by Kurt Weill, presented in partnership with the Detroit Opera Resident Artists. DCWS will also perform Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring as part of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Friday Night Live series.
Additional Community Involvement
DCWS continues its commitment to emerging artists through a longstanding collaboration with the University of Michigan and Oberlin College and Conservatory. This season, an ensemble from Oberlin will perform a newly commissioned work by a U-M composer as part of the young composer-in-residence and young ensemble-in-residence program.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the 2025–2026 season are now available at detroitchamberwinds.org. General admission is $32, with senior discounts at $27 and student tickets at $10. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 248-559-2095, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For the full season schedule and concert details, visit detroitchamberwinds.org/performances.
About Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) is a musician-driven nonprofit that showcases the premier musical talent of our region through innovative and exceptional chamber music performances. Each concert features distinctive repertoire in unexpected venues, creating immersive experiences that connect audiences more deeply with the music. Through educational engagement and strategic collaborations, DCWS expands access, fosters curiosity, and strengthens community impact.
Since its founding in 1982, DCWS has brought together top musicians—many from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Opera—and respected educators from institutions such as the University of Michigan. With over 80 premieres, five commercial recordings, and over 500 performances across the United States and Switzerland, DCWS continues to push the boundaries of the art form while honoring its traditions.