HOLLAND, Mich. — A free concert featuring the Holland Symphony Orchestra, Deos Ballet and local performers brought an estimated 750-plus people to the West Ottawa Performing Arts Center Saturday, and organizers say the turnout demonstrates a strong appetite for live orchestral music in the Holland community.
The Holland Symphony Orchestra presented its “Music Unites Us” Free Family Concert on August 15. The event was designed to introduce families and first-time concertgoers to the orchestra in an informal, community-focused setting.
Michael Naess, President and CEO of the Holland Symphony Orchestra, called the event a “BIG win” for the organization.
“We had many people thank us for all that we do while exiting the performance hall,” Naess said. “The number of smiling faces was impossible to count, and the applause was deafening.”
The orchestra does not have the staffing resources to scan every paper and digital ticket, so an exact attendance figure was not available. Naess said free concerts typically have a 10% to 15% no-show rate, leading the orchestra to estimate that more than 750 people attended.
The crowd could have been even larger. A bus from Freedom Village that was expected to bring approximately 60 residents did not arrive to pick them up.
Naess said the response from the audience was particularly encouraging because the event brought new people through the doors. The orchestra estimates that more than 154 first-time attendees were at the concert.
“We had a few first-time donations after the concert, and most did not expect the dancers and soloists to be so talented,” Naess said.
The partnership with Deos Ballet out of Grand Rapids was another highlight of the afternoon, with Naess saying the ballet organization was “overjoyed with the artistic excellence of the orchestra and inclusion in our production.”
For Naess, one of the most memorable moments came after the music stopped.
“The positive reaction of the crowd as I thanked them for coming on their way out” stood out to him, he said. He also noted the pleasure of the orchestra’s musicians as they saw the large crowd and had opportunities to perform as soloists.
The response has also given the Holland Symphony confidence that free, family-oriented programming can help expand its audience.
“Free, family-friendly programming is consistently a hit and in large demand,” Naess said.
The concert was made possible through support from The Arthur J. & Kathryn Mervenne Foundation, Corewell Health, Gentex and the Woman’s Literary Club.
Naess said the success of Saturday’s concert has the orchestra interested in doing more events like it, although funding remains a challenge.
“We would love to do three per season — Summer, Fall, and Spring — but finding funding for these events is extremely hard,” Naess said. “One production, including all rehearsals and the performance, usually costs in excess of $50,000.”
The Holland Symphony also sees events like Saturday’s concert as an important part of music education. Naess said cuts in school funding and a shortage of quality music teachers have reduced opportunities for students to participate in orchestra programs.
“For some students, our family concerts and Link Up program are the only contact they have with live orchestral music,” Naess said. “It is critical that we keep finding funding to continue these vital events and programs.”
The orchestra’s regular concerts are also drawing strong audiences. Naess said normal concerts are now averaging between 80% and 86% capacity, despite what he described as a “bare-bones marketing budget.”
He believes Saturday’s turnout shows there is an opportunity to broaden that audience even further.
“The interest is overwhelmingly positive and worth the investment to expand our menu,” Naess said.
While the theme of the concert was “Music Unites Us,” Naess said the orchestra hopes future programming and promotional efforts can bring an even more diverse audience to its performances, including greater participation from Hispanic and African American communities throughout the Holland area.
For now, the biggest lesson from Saturday’s event is that a summer afternoon of classical music can bring a large community together.
“I feel our biggest takeaway is that a free family-friendly classical concert in August can be a big hit, so we will try to continue this tradition,” Naess said.
And his message to everyone who attended was simple.
“THANK YOU,” Naess said. “It was our pleasure performing for you. We appreciate all the donors who helped make this event possible, and we hope more folks will help fund these amazing community events.”
“Live music brings people together and enriches the soul,” he added.
The HSO’s next concert will be held on Saturday September 12th at their current residency at the West Ottawa Performing Arts Center. For tickets and more information about the Orchestra, visit them at https://hollandsymphony.org/
And for more information on the Deos Ballet, visit https://www.deosballet.com/
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