DEARBORN – Dearborn Symphony invites audiences to experience the power, beauty and playfulness of the natural world through music at “Forces of Nature,” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Michael A. Guido Theater in the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, 15801 Michigan Ave.
The program brings together works inspired by nature and the imagination, including Beethoven’s “The Creatures of Prometheus Overture,” Debussy’s “Fêtes” from “Nocturnes,” Saint-Saëns’ beloved “Carnival of the Animals,” and Mozart’s “Symphony No. 41, Jupiter.”
At the heart of the program are pianists Erika Tazawa and Eric Jenkins, who join Dearborn Symphony for “Carnival of the Animals.” The colorful work showcases the piano duo in a musical menagerie that captures the character of a variety of animals with humor, elegance, and remarkable musical detail.
Tazawa, who relocated to Detroit in 2025, brings a diverse career as a pianist and conductor to the Dearborn Symphony stage. She currently serves as conducting faculty and director of Choral Activities at Wayne State University, where she works with students in the university’s choral and conducting programs. She is also active as a pianist and advocate for contemporary music, bringing her experience across orchestral, operatic, choral and new-music settings to her work in southeast Michigan.
Jenkins recently relocated to the Detroit area and brings extensive experience as a pianist, vocal coach and collaborative musician. He has worked with singers and instrumentalists in recital, opera and chamber music, and currently continues his work as a collaborative pianist and coach in the Detroit music community. His career has included extensive involvement with opera and emerging artists, including work with The Atlanta Opera’s 96-Hour Opera Project, which supports BIPOC composers and librettists.
The concert also marks a new community partnership between Dearborn Symphony and the Detroit Zoo, bringing an additional dimension of discovery to an evening inspired by the natural world. Zoo representatives will be on hand at the concert with activities and opportunities for audiences to learn more about the animals featured in “Carnival of the Animals” and the zoo’s work.
“‘Carnival of the Animals’ is one of those pieces that can delight an audience on the surface while revealing something new with every listen,” said Steven Jarvi, music director and conductor of Dearborn Symphony. “Pairing it with the beauty and power of Beethoven, Debussy and Mozart makes for a program that has something for everyone.”
Ticket prices range from $30 to $40 for adults and $12 to $17 for students. Tickets are available by calling the Symphony office at 313-565-2424 or the Michael A. Guido Theater box office at 313-943-2354. Go to dearbornsymphony.org for more information.
The Dearborn Symphony has partnered with local restaurants for “Dinner and a Concert.” The restaurants offer a 20 percent discount to symphony ticket-holders on concert nights. Reservations are recommended at Dearborn restaurants Mint 29, TRIA at The Henry, Roman Village, and Antonio’s Cucina Italiana in Dearborn Heights and Canton.
Season sponsors include Dearborn Sausage Co. and North Empire with additional support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Dearborn Symphony, under Jarvi’s leadership, has been named “Outstanding Community Orchestra” six times by Detroit Music Awards and is a contributor of the arts in Dearborn and the Downriver community.