OCTOBER 21 • 2021 | 13
ments. Beyond the students
themselves, that benefits both
the symphony and the city.
”
THE JOY OF MUSIC
Kulish and Nyman were orga-
nizing outdoor activities for
youngsters at Detroit parks
when they decided they wanted
to add indoor activities to their
projects. They chose musical
opportunities because of the
enjoyment they valued on a
very personal level.
For Kulish, collecting instru-
ments for Detroit Harmony
began before October as he
learned of a violin that was
not being used and was able to
obtain it. His interest moved
along to his son, who has
promised two trumpets that are
no longer the preferred instru-
ments of his own sons.
“When I was in elementary
school in Southwest Detroit,
they were teaching instru-
ments,
” recalls Kulish, CEO
at Cormorant Co. in West
Bloomfield, a DSO director
emeritus and a grandson of a
cantor.
“My family didn’t have the
money to buy an instrument for
me, but I had been given a har-
monica. I took the harmonica
to school when I was in fourth
grade and asked the teacher
if somebody could teach me.
They took me into the music
class, and they taught me. I play
to this day.
”
Nyman, owner
of Professional
Property
Management in
Birmingham, lis-
tened to the DSO
before trying his
own skills.
“I never had the
opportunity to play an instru-
ment as a kid, but from the first
time I was taken to the sympho-
ny, I fell in love with classical
music and later all kinds of
music,
” says Nyman, also active
with the Anti-Defamation
League.
“Last year, I started to take
piano lessons believing it’s never
too late. It’s something I always
wanted to do, and I’m hoping
a few young people will get a
spark from any instrument that
basically changes their lives.
”
Damien
Crutcher, whose
instrumental
interests were
launched at Cass
Technical High
School, is man-
aging director of
Detroit Harmony.
After earning a bachelor’s
degree in music education at
Michigan State University and
a master’s degree in conducting
at the University of Michigan,
he became director of bands
and orchestra at Southfield-
Lathrup High School, music
director and conductor of the
Farmington Community Band
and founder of Crescendo
Detroit, a nonprofit providing
instrumental training for stu-
dents ages 5-18.
‘TRANSFORMATIVE’
FOR CHILDREN
“Getting 2,500 instruments into
the hands of Detroit students
and enrolling them in a music
program will be transformative
for these kids,
” Crutcher says.
“I’m looking forward to the
day when all students in Detroit
feel what it’s like to play that
first note on an instrument.
”
An associated program
outcome would be economic
development in Detroit with
employment for teaching art-
ists, instrument restorers and
transportation providers among
others.
Among the sites where
instruments can be donated
are the Max M. and Marjorie
S. Fisher Music Center
in Detroit, Farmington
Community Band in
Farmington Hills, Marshall
Music Co. in West Bloomfield
and PNC Bank in Novi. A
map of collection sites
is available at dso.org/
community-and-
learning/detroit-harmony.
Major support for the ini-
tial stage of Detroit Harmony
comes from the Max M. and
Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
Foundation. Program enthu-
siasts are being sought to host
an event, provide a drop-off
site, spread the word, pick up
instruments and purchase an
instrument to donate.
As Kulish and Nyman
enter into volunteer efforts,
Kulish remembers two former
classmates, one a Holocaust
survivor, at Detroit’s Central
High School.
The classmates were
instrument students, one on
bass and one on trumpet.
Both became members of the
Cleveland Orchestra.
“Detroit schools can produce
players like that,
” he says. “
As for
me, I think of how important
the harmonica has been. Over
many hours, I could relax
and play, and it’s been very
soothing.
”
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DAY WHEN ALL STUDENTS IN
DETROIT FEEL WHAT IT’S LIKE
TO PLAY THAT FIRST NOTE.”
— DETROIT HARMONY’S DAMIEN CRUTCHER
Damien
Crutcher
George
Nyman
Harold Kulish
still plays the
harmonica.