the way in bringing vari-
Teddy Abrams
ety programming to the
will conduct.
symphony, an approach
fostered by his late parents:
Felix Slatkin, a violinist and
conductor, and Eleanor
Aller Slatkin, a cellist.
Community-performed
concerts and international
webcasts — along with the
introduction of works by
contemporary composers
— have been hallmarks of
this honoree’s actions.
“I grew up in a musical
environment that embraced
pretty much every genre
of music as long as it was
good so my programming
important way to show the quality of
usually reflects that background,”
our orchestra to a wider audience,”
Slatkin says in looking forward to
says Penny Blumenstein, also board
the variety of the gala lineup. “I was
chairman of the Joint Distribution
the one who suggested that my wife
Committee, board member of the
compose [the ‘Shenandoah’ arrange- Jewish Fund and an affiliate of the
ment], and I even contributed the
Washington Institute and AIPAC.
first and last few bars.”
“My mother, Lee Bernstein, was a
Parsons, who has established
trained concert pianist. She instilled
friendships with the honorees, knew in me a love for classical music. It
Slatkin before joining the DSO.
seemed natural for me to find a way
She met him in 1980 while fulfill-
to incorporate that with my volun-
ing an internship at the Minnesota
teerism,” she says.
Orchestra, where he served as
The Blumensteins, both of whom
artistic music director. She went on
have studied and played piano,
to work at the National Symphony,
extended their DSO involvement
where he was later music direc-
with a personal dimension.
tor. During her employment at the
“Harold and I have particularly
Boston Symphony, he regularly guest enjoyed being with the symphony
conducted.
on their visits to Florida,” Penny
The Blumensteins have been an
Blumenstein says. “We arranged golf
important presence in Parsons’
outings and liked seeing them in
sphere since she came to Detroit.
a relaxed setting outside of a work
Penny Blumenstein, a DSO trustee,
environment.”
was part of Parsons’ early interview
The gala concert is the culmina-
process.
tion of the DSO’s Downtown and
“The orchestra is so lucky that the neighborhood season, and it kicks
Blumensteins love music and this
off the summer season. Each Heroes
orchestra, and it’s all meant so much celebration is planned to be both
to their lives as well. Harold was
unique and centric to the honorees.
involved with the Save Orchestra
“Teddy was chosen as conductor
Hall [campaign when there was
because he was Leonard’s first assis-
a call to tear it down], and they
tant conductor,” Parsons says.
both have a history of coming to
“Leonard brought back the posi-
Orchestra Hall,” Parsons says.
tion of assistant conductor and
The Blumensteins join Slatkin in
emphasized that this position
having a wide interest in music as
should be limited to a certain num-
reflected in the gala concert pro-
ber of years and be an opportunity
gram.
to identify and
“We are honored to be chosen to
help develop young talent. Teddy is
be Heroes of the DSO for this year
the poster child for that because
and pleased to share this evening
he has gone on to a very successful
with Leonard, who has taken our
music directorship in Louisville.
DSO out to the community in an
He was a community ambassador,

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Heroes Gala and Benefit Concert begins
the performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at the Max M. and Marjorie
S. Fisher Music Hall in Detroit. The formal dinner starts at 8:30 p.m.
Concert-only tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at dso.org or by
calling (313) 576-5111. For information about the black-tie gala, visit
dso.org/heroes or call (313) 576-5120.

Dining

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June 21 • 2018

49