Classical Brunch Returns With 'Strongest Season Yet'

Ushered in by an early taste of fall, the 2012-13 season of The Community House's Classical Brunch series kicks off this Sunday in Birmingham.

Presented in part with WRCJ 90.9 FM, the series spotlights classical music and Detroit's best musicians with six Sunday morning concerts, served with a side of brunch.

"Classical Brunch holds a unique place for me," said Sandi Reitelman, founding chair of Classical Brunch. "Where else can I go to hear really beautiful music in a pretty setting, along with such nice brunch?"

"I am proud to be a part of this, and proud of our success, now that we are entering our third season," she added, noting she's grateful for returning artistic director, Robert deMaine.

The principal cellist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), deMaine has served as Classical Brunch's artistic director since its inception. deMaine has also played with the New York String Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi's All-Star Mahler Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, among others.

In 2004 and 2008, deMaine was the recipient of the Detroit/Motor City Music Award for Best Classical Instrumentalist.

"I expect that this season's series will be our strongest yet," with six programs in place," deMaine said. "I am thrilled that Classical Brunch is becoming an increasingly important cultural offering in our community. As in the past, our artists represent the best of Metro Detroit, with many from the ranks of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra."

A catered brunch is available at all concerts. Ticket pricing includes:

• $35 adult ticket (concert and brunch)
• $12 child ticket (concert and brunch)
• $50 patron tickets (with preferred seating)
• $15 tickets (concert only)
• $75 for series of three concerts
• $125 for series of three concerts (with preferred seating)

For ticket information and reservations, call The Community House at 248-644-5832 or visit www.tchserves.org. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Performances begin at 12:15 p.m.

2012-13 concert schedule

Sept. 23: Theodore Oien on clarinet, Alexander Mishnaevski on viola and Pauline Martin on piano perform a program featuring works by Mozart.

Nov. 4: Trois Vuillaumes is an exciting string trio program featuring Adam Stepniewski, Caroline Coade and deMaine as they explore the fascinating figures in violin-making history, as well as a large-scale work by Beethoven. On Nov. 3, the same group will perform a special children's concert version of Trois Vuillaumes at The Community House.

Dec. 16: Karl Pituch and three more horn players from the DSO will perform the program, Holiday Horns, with music from both the Christian and Jewish traditions. A special children's concert version of this performance will be held Dec. 15 at The Community House.

Jan. 13: Young concert artist and Ann Arbor native Benjamin Beilman performs alongside deMaine in duos from Ravel, Kodaly and Handel-Halvosen.

Feb. 17: Yooshin Song, the new concertmaster of the DSO, will perform with Detroit-area pianist Pauline Martin.

March 17: Pianist Peter Takacs and deMaine will perform an all-Beethoven program. The pair are currently recording Beethoven's complete works and will be performing together throughout the U.S. during the 2012-13 season.