Designation Detr@it Twitter Coming To Detroit ech giant Twitter is coming to Detroit. The company an- nounced that its first Michi- gan location will be based in the M@dison Building, owned by Rock Ventures LLC, the umbrella entity formed to provide operational coor- dination, guidance and integration of Dan Gilbert's portfolio of companies, investments and real estate. San-Francisco-based Twitter's Detroit office will house a team of employees whose primary focus will be helping marketers and advertising agencies in Detroit leverage Twitter's Promoted Products suite of advertis- ing products. Twitter expects to hire more employees over time as it grows its Detroit presence. "Detroit's emerging mix of auto- motive and digital cultures made it a natural location for Twitter's new- est office," said Adam Bain, Twitter's president of global revenue. "We're excited to work face-to-face with the city's most established brands and happy to play a role in Downtown Detroit's digital renaissance." Rock Ventures' full-service property management firm, Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC, helped recruit Twitter and brokered the company's lease. In the last 18 months, Rock Ventures and Bedrock has helped nearly 40 new-economy companies find a home in Downtown Detroit. "Twitter coming Downtown is exact- ly the kind of innovative company Detroit needs to advance our vision of becoming one of the most exciting high-tech and Web-centered corridors of growth and activity found any- where," said Gilbert, chairman of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans, and majority owner of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. "Twitter chose Detroit because of the city's growing, young and energet- ic environment. This is further proof that the country is starting to wake up and take notice — if you want to cre- ate a thriving, growing tech business, Downtown Detroit is one of the best places to be," Gilbert added. ❑ Maestro Slatkin working with Civic Youth Ensembles students in the Music Box. Fisher Foundation Gives S 500,000 To DSO T Donation enables Detroit Symphony musicians to work one-on-one with young students. he Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation recently made a $500,000 gift to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra that will allow DSO musicians to work directly with young people in the community. "Detroit needs the DSO now more than ever," said Marjorie S. Fisher, co- founder of the foundation with her late husband, Max M. Fisher. "Our family is deeply committed to ensuring the next generation of children and families in the Detroit region has access to vibrant cultural programs." The Fisher Foundation gift will fund a variety of initiatives, including Civic Youth Ensembles Sectionals, Inspira- tion Days, the inaugural Avanti Summer MusicFest and educational electives for students participating in the Interlo- chen 50th Anniversary Tour. Each one of these initiatives gives young musi- 4 April 19 a 2012 cians the unique opportunity to learn personally from DSO's talented musi- cians in small, intimate groups. "We are more than grateful to the Fisher Foundation for its continuing commitment to the DSO," said DSO Music Director Leonard Slatkin. "Bring- ing music to the young people of our community is vital to this organization and Marjorie Fisher's continued vision is to be applauded by all." "We are so pleased to acknowledge the Fisher Foundation's support of the DSO's commitment to music educa- tion, training and access," said Anne Parsons, DSO President and CEO. "While our DSO musicians have long been engaged in these activities on an individual basis, this program offers a unique opportunity to increase the partnership of the passions and talents of our artists with the interests and needs of our community." Two cornerstone initiatives that will be funded by the Fisher Foundation gift are sectionals for young musicians par- ticipating in the Civic Youth Ensembles program and Inspiration Days. More than 600 young musicians partici- pating in the Civic Youth Ensembles program have already received person- alized coaching from DSO musicians. Instrumental sectionals were held in October, January and March. Many DSO musicians have welcomed the opportunity to work directly with students in preparation for their ensem- ble performances at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. Also, DSO musicians have been leading weekly chamber music coaching sessions for a group of young musicians in the Civic Orchestra. Several "Inspiration Days" were led by DSO musicians during March and will continue through April and May. "Inspi- ration Days" are visits by DSO musicians to classrooms and ensembles of young musicians. These particular "Inspira- tion Days" are connected to the DSO's Power of Dreams early string training program. During one of these sessions, DSO musicians speak about their lives, demonstrate their instrument, discuss their inspiration for becoming a musi- cian and answer questions from the audience. Sessions, benefiting students ages 8-17, take place at Wayne State University and University Prep Academy High School in Detroit. The gift from the Fisher Foundation also makes possible two new collabora- tions. On March 22, 200 students from Interlochen Arts Academy performed a free concert at Orchestra Hall as part of the academy's 50th Anniversary Tour. Those students participated in a series of elective seminars created and led by DSO musicians. Topics included "Auditioning for a professional orches- tra," "The business of a professional musician" and "Yoga for musicians." A "jazz jam Session" was also offered to interested students. The other new program will be the Avanti Summer MusicFest, planned for July 16-21 at Derby Middle School in Birmingham. This DSO musician-initi- ated project, developed and supported by the DSO and Save Our Symphony, will serve 140 diverse students from Metro Detroit. In addition to a Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Music concert featuring DSO musicians, the program will include instrumental instruction for high school students, culminating in a performance at Orchestra Hall on July 21 where students will share the stage with their DSO mentors. L-J SPONSORED SECTION BY: QuickenLoans Engineered to Amaze'