Learning. Leading. Acting. Responding to COVID-19, racial injustice and economic hardship.
Music in Difficult Times
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. - Plato
Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart. - Pablo Casals
I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it. - Igor Stravinsky
Without music, life would be a mistake. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours. - Elton John
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this Grand Valley State University Orchestra site. I hope that you will browse the entire site and learn more about our exciting ensembles. Our concerts are free and open to the public and we know that you will be enriched by listening to them.
Henry Duitman, conductor
Audio performance of Moldau by Smetana, October, 2019.
Bartok - Village Dance from 'Two Pictures'
Highlights from a December, 2019 concert.
An October, 2019 performance at Grandville High School.
From an April, 2019 concert. [13 minutes]
Complete Performance [13 minutes]
February, 2017
Concert Clips [6 minutes]
RECENT AUDIO RECORDINGS
Audio files from the October, 2018 Side by Side Concert at Grand Haven High School
Finzi, Five Bagatelles with faculty clarinet soloist, Gary June. Carol Prelude
Vaughan Williams, English Folksong Suite. Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3
MOZART
Overture to 'Idomeneo'
SIBELIUS
Karelia Suite, movement I
PUCCINI: Gianni Schicchi
Tenor Aria
Soprano Aria (Italian)
Soprano Aria (English)
Final Duet
GOUNOD Faust - Ballet Suite
Movement I
Movement II
Movement III
Movement IV
Movement V
Movement VI
Movement VII
FAURE Requiem
with GVSU University Arts Chorale
I Requiem
II Offertory
III Sanctus
IV Pie Jesu
V Agnus Dei
VI Libera Me
VII In Paradisum
Henry Duitman joined the GVSU Music Department in the fall of 2008. With the orchestra he has initiated a yearly Side-by-Side Concert with outstanding Michigan high school orchestras and String Leadership Day which allows excellent high school and college students to collaborate with faculty and members of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The first GVSU String Leadership Camp was held in August, 2016. This was a highly successful three-day event focusing on chamber music for high school students. Camp dates for 2017 are August 14-16.
Besides the 60 member Symphony Orchestra, other string ensembles at Grand Valley State University include the Chamber Orchestra, a select group of the finest string and wind players. In addition to performing at concerts, this ensemble provides music for university and community events. Recently they performed in London, UK in May of 2013.
Each year a few of the finest players perform with the highly-regarded GVSU New Music Ensemble led by Professor Bill Ryan. Those with an interest in Early Music may perform on authentic Baroque instruments in the Early Music Ensemble led by Professor Pablo Mahave-Veglia.
The Faculty String Trio consists of Artist-Faculty members, Gregory Maytan, Paul Swantek, and Pablo Mahave-Veglia. During the last several years this versatile ensemble has visited several dozen high schools throughout the state of Michigan, providing mini-concerts and coaching sessions for string orchestras and quartets. Directors may contact Henry Duitman to schedule this free service at their school.
