UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Plastic food isn’t just for children’s play kitchens anymore. The Plastic Bag Store, an art exhibit exploring single-use plastics, offers produce, meat, prepackaged meals and toiletries, all made entirely from reclaimed single-use plastic. The Plastic Bag Store is part of No Safety Net, a larger exhibit from the University of Michigan’s University Musical Society. In addition to plastic waste, the exhibit explores the transatlantic slave trade, erotic love letters from bygone days and the concept of envy. Read more from The Ann Arbor News:Several streets being closed during upcoming Kamala Harris visit to Ann ArborSnowstorm trend: Storm shifting north, changing outcome for Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson, FlintPolice identify man killed by train in Ypsilanti

YPSILANTI, MI - The Ypsilanti Freighthouse will double as a stage this year through a new city partnership with an arts presenter at the University of Michigan. And residents now have a chance to shape the schedule. “We want to prioritize programming and access for Ypsilanti residents. For several years following a resident-led restoration effort, the Freighthouse, a rail depot dating back to 1878, has served as a city community center and events venue. UMS is asking residents to RSVP to the forum via an online forum, and will provide free pizza and refreshments.

Transport yourself into the world of an artist who makes everything out of single-use plastics through Feb. 5.

Watch the UMS Choral Union and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra perform Handel's "Messiah" at Hill Auditorium in December.

Jim Leija is seeking his third term on the AADL Board of Trustees.

YPSILANTI, MI - A renowned performing arts presenter that regularly hosts music, theater and artists from around at the world at the University of Michigan will be taking up residency twice a year in a historic building in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town beginning in 2023. UMS works primarily in Ann Arbor and on the University of Michigan’s campus, but also holds arts programming in Dearborn, Flint, Detroit and Ypsilanti, according to VanBesien. The organization wants to identify what events it might host through dialogue and public meetings with residents, Harris told Ypsilanti City Council. “Who knows, the sky is the limit.”The performing arts group, which has collaborated with local Ypsilanti organizations like the Corner Health Center and Riverside Arts Center, hopes to serve as a platform for local musicians and artists, Harris said. The events will be prioritized to Ypsilanti residents, according to an agreement city leaders inked with UMS in May and amended on Tuesday.

The National Arab Orchestra (NAO) will be returning to Ann Arbor this year, featuring the renowned singer Abeer Nehme's first appearance in Michigan, and

The National Arab Orchestra (NAO) will be returning to Ann Arbor this year, featuring the renowned singer Abeer Nehme's first appearance in Michigan, and

ANN ARBOR, MI — Several local organizations from the Ann Arbor Film Festival to the University Musical Society are receiving National Endowment for the Arts grants. A total of $289,297 in federal funding is going to seven creative-economy organizations in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn. Recipients include:Ann Arbor Film Festival, which received a $20,000 media arts grant. University Musical Society, which received a $40,000 presenting and multidisciplinary works grant. The NEA has awarded 44 direct grants totaling nearly $1.2 million throughout the 12th District over the past six years, according to Dingell’s office.

Learn traditional West African Dance moves at UMS' upcoming workshop this weekend.

UMS announced new safety measures as COVID cases rise ahead of new season.

All Seasons Ann Arbor is located at 4600 All Seasons Circle.

All Seasons Ann Arbor is located at 4600 All Seasons Circle.

ANN ARBOR , MI -- The board of the University of Michigan’s University Musical Society will be co-led by women for the first time, the society recently announced. Following its most recent election, the board will now be led by Lisa D. Cook, a professor of international relations and economics at Michigan State University, and Rachel Bendit, a local attorney and philanthropist. Although the board has been chaired by women in the past, Cook and Bendit are the first set of co-chairs for the board. “I’m very much looking forward to the coming season.”Bendit is a former student of University of Michigan. The newest class of board members is also comprised entirely of women, although the board at large is mixed gender.

Season kicks off in November and runs through April 2022 with events at Hill Auditorium and other Ann Arbor venues.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- The University Musical Society is back for its 143rd season with live and virtual performances. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was unable to host live performances last year, opting for virtual performances instead, officials said. But live performances are making a comeback from November through next April, a slightly smaller timeframe than previous years due to the ongoing pandemic, officials said. UMS will continue to provide digital programming for concerts and educational events at no charge, for those who may not yet feel comfortable in a public setting, officials said. To be added to the mailing list, contact the UMS Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 or visit their website.

Yo-Yo Ma will join six U-M students and three Michigan-based artists from Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint for the project.

ANN ARBOR, MI - A live theater production filmed and produced by University Musical Society during the COVID-19 pandemic is now available online for free on-demand screening. Filmed by acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce and co-star Charlie Robinson after a three-week quarantine by its entire creative team at a theater in Detroit, “Some Old Black Man” returns for free online viewing through March 12, with registration. The play was not presented to live audiences but was filmed in Detroit for online viewing after three weeks of rehearsals in Ann Arbor. Themes of social justice and intergenerational conflict make “Some Old Black Man” a fitting title for our times, UMS noted, when the reality of more togetherness unveils some of the tensions underlying even the closest of relationships. READ MORE:Librarians, archivists, curators seek to unionize at University of Michigan3 venomous spiders cause closure of University of Michigan libraryCauliflower oatmeal?

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, has announced that $120,000 in National Endowment of the Arts grant funding will go to seven recipients in the 12th Congressional District. During the last five years, the NEA has awarded 37 direct grants throughout the 12th District, totaling nearly $899,000 and impacting more than 452,900 residents, according to a news release from Dingell’s office. Current grant recipients are:Ann Arbor Film Festival, which received a $20,000 media arts grantDzanc Books, which received a $10,000 literary arts grantAnn Arbor Teen Center, which received a $20,000 visual arts grantThe Ark, which received a $10,000 folk and traditional arts grantUniversity Musical Society, which received a $30,000 multidisciplinary works grantUniversity of Michigan, which received a $10,000 literary arts grantUniversity of Michigan Museum of Art, which received a $20,000 museums grant“Arts and culture don’t just inspire creativity in people of all ages, they help power our local economies and bring joy to countless families,” Dingell said in the release. “With this federal funding, we will help local programs strengthen the arts and open doors of opportunities for so many of our neighbors. I look forward to working with these local cultural institutions as they utilize this funding in the weeks and months ahead.”Read more from The Ann Arbor News:FoolMoon festival goers can light up Ann Arbor, support local businessesAnn Arbor OKs St. Patrick’s Day street closure for Conor O’Neill’s pubKids can sign up for free cooking, nutrition classes with St. Joe’s Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR – The University Musical Society has announced that all in-person events have been canceled through April due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Ticketholders can choose to receive a full refund, a UMS gift certificate that’s good for the next five years or donate the purchase price of their ticket to UMS. With this latest update, we are disappointed to inform you that UMS will not hold any live performances through April 2021. While we are saddened by this news, we believe that the health and safety — of both our artists and our audiences — is the top priority right now. For more information on how to contact UMS to receive a refund, gift certificate or to donate your tickets, click here.

The event, which is being livestreamed, is only open to UM students, staff, faculty, alumni and donors, officials said. Ford School Dean Michael Barr will moderate the event, which features questions from UM students. https://t.co/l3DGb3DQNp — Michael Barr (@Michael_S_Barr) October 14, 2020“UM and Ford School students care deeply about our democracy and about the urgent work of building a racially just society,” Barr said in a statement. “I’m excited to host this conversation between our students and the brilliant Noah, who speaks with such honesty and clarity about racism, social movements, and public policy. Questions about the event should be directed to the UMS ticket office at 734-764-2538.

ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan’s University Musical Society and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy will be hosting a free, interactive event with Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, on Tuesday. The event is open to members of the U-M community as well as supporters and event attendees of UMS and the Ford School. The discussion with the outspoken comedian and author will be moderated by Michael Barr, Dean of the Ford School of Public Policy, with questions from U-M students. “U-M and Ford School students care deeply about our democracy and about the urgent work of building a racially just society,” Dean Barr said in a statement. “I’m excited to host this conversation between our students and the brilliant Trevor Noah, who speaks with such honesty and clarity about racism, social movements, and public policy.

ANN ARBOR – The University Musical Society has announced its fall events which include socially distanced outdoor workshops and free digital performances for the community to enjoy. From digital artist residencies to in-person events, here’s what you can look forward to this season with UMS. Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-MasonDigital Premiere: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. with live Q&A with the artists after the concertSheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason. Both artists will join UMS audiences in a live chat on Facebook after the digital premiere. Pierce’s UMS residency will explore social justice, anti-racism, and the Black canon of performance work.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The University Music Society at the University of Michigan has kicked-off its 142nd season with a lineup of digital presentations, a virtual book launch and outdoor movement workshops. While many live concert events have been postponed or altered into digital performances due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the UMS has continued to provide programming for the community. The digital premiere will be at 2 p.m. on Sept. 5 but will be on-demand through the UMS website until Sept. 30. Sept. 12 & Sept. 26Two outside movement workshops will be offered by the UMSs popular You Can Dance series. Due to Michigan public safety guidelines, the UMS has translated its concert with the Takcs Quartet into a free digital performance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Community engagement and artistic growth are the subject of a new memoir by University Musical Society president emeritus Ken Fischer. In the recently released memoir, Everybody In, Nobody Out: Inspiring Community at Michigans University Musical Society, Fischer reflects on 30 years of leading UMS and his work to diversify and expand programming. During his tenure as UMS president, Fischers efforts saw the building of UMS engagement with the surrounding communities and the University of Michigan, which made the musical society a model for performances, talent and community enrichment. Under Fischers tenure, the UMS received a 2014 National Medal of Arts, the nations highest public artistic honor. Celebrating its 142nd season, UMS is one of the oldest arts presenters in the United States having started in 1879.

Mich Tickets are now on sale for the University Musical Societys 142nd season, along with new safety protocols for in-person performances. UMS has released a list of strategies they will be using to help enforce social distancing at their live venues. Some of the changes concert-goers might see in the upcoming season are capacity reductions, timed entries and exits, and shorter performances without intermissions. To address the cancelled events, and even when performances return to live venues, UMS will be offering refunds or exchanges for tickets this season, no questions asked. Like what youre reading? For more information on buying tickets for UMS events you can visit ums.org or call the ticket office at 734-764-2538.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Modified in-person events and digital events are among the changes recently announced by the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan for its 2020-2021 season. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), travel restrictions and tour cancellations, many in-person performances have either been canceled or rescheduled. Instead, UMS audiences will be able to connect with performers through digital presentations, outdoor workshops, digital artist residences and modified in-person events. Digital presentations will be produced and streamed online for UMS audiences. Through a digital platform, artists will be able to casually interact with audiences, offer mini-performance experiences, make digital art and offer a look inside their creative process.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Performance Playground offers a free, online resource for children interested in learning new artistic skills at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, the new learning platform has skill-building units for children and teenagers aged five to 13. Each unit is lead by professional teaching artists and focuses on different types of performing arts. Skills will be in the field of music, theater, dance, and visual arts and will make connections to everyday life. Find units on the Playground Performance website.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - On Sept. 15, immerse yourself in "Amadeus" through a University Musical Society performance live in downtown Ann Arbor. Conducted by Jeffrey Schindler and accompanied by Louis Nagel on the piano, the musicians and vocalists will debut the music of "Amadeus Live" for the first time to Ann Arbor audiences. Tickets range from $19 to $75, but students, children (ages 3 to 12), seniors and large groups are offered discounted prices. The performance and movie combination begins at 2 p.m. For more information visit the University Musical Society page. Hill Auditorium is located at 825 N. University Ave.All About Ann Arbor is powered by ClickOnDetroit/WDIV.