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Category: Entertainment

Eight-year-old Detroiter Rosie White goes viral for impersonations of Black icons, historical figures

Robyn McKee, or Rosie White as she’s known online, has gained national attention online for her video impressions of Black icons, capturing the attention of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Michelle Obama. One Detroit’s Daijah Moss talks with Rosie, 8, of Detroit and her family about the inspiration, challenges and moments they’ve shared along the way.

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‘The Chinese Lady,’ play about first Chinese woman in America, premieres in Michigan

A fourteen-year-old Chinese girl came to America 190 years ago – said to be the first female Chinese immigrant to set foot here during the 1800s. Now a play, “The Chinese Lady” at the Tipping Point Theatre through March 3, recounts the remarkable life of Afong Moy and her Chinese servant Atung. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota visits a dress rehearsal of the show and talks with the cast.

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One Detroit Weekend: January 19, 2024

Celebrate the 85th anniversary of Blue Note Records at The Majestic Theatre; pay tribute to Prince during a performance at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe; and commemorate Ann Arbor’s bicentennial with a kickoff celebration at Michigan Theater. Plus, check out other live music and upcoming performances. See what else is coming up on “One Detroit Weekend.”

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‘Too Hot To Handel’ returns to Detroit Opera for 20th anniversary performance

“Too Hot To Handel” returns to the Detroit Opera House for its 20th anniversary performance, featuring pianist Alvin Waddles, bassist Marion Hayden, and drummer Dave Taylor. Audience members will also hear Detroit’s oldest choir, The Rackham Choir and solos from singers Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke, and Karen Marie Richardson. Contributor Cecelia Sharpe talks with this year’s performers.

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Jennifer Maisel’s powerfully resonant ‘Eight Nights’ opens ninth season at Detroit Public Theatre

The powerful and timely play follows the life of a Holocaust survivor, across the eight nights of Hannukah over eight decades, from her first night in America after having been liberated from Dachau through to 2016 as she witnesses the treatment of Syrian refugees and the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan got a behind the scenes look at Detroit Public Theatre’s performance.

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African World Festival returns for 40th annual celebration in Hart Plaza

Summer is here, and Detroit’s highly anticipated African World Festival is near. The annual festival celebrates 40 years in the city this year from July 14-16 at Hart Plaza. Festival Director Njia Kai shares what attendees can expect from the festival’s 40th annual year celebrating the arts and culture of the African diaspora.

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Detroit Bass Day marks 9th annual celebration with The Temptations tribute, spoken word poetry

The 9th annual Detroit Bass Day celebrates the 50th recording anniversary of the song “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” made famous by The Temptations, with fifty bass players coming together in front of the Motown Museum to play its iconic bass line. Producer Daijah Moss visits the celebration at the Motown Museum to learn more about the annual gathering and this year’s theme of exploring family life and fatherhood.

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‘Life in Bloom’ host J Schwanke teaches the art of making beautiful flower arrangements

What does it take to create beautiful flower arrangements year-round in Michigan? “Life in Bloom” host J Schwanke invites WRCJ radio host and producer Cecelia Sharpe into his Grand Rapids home for a lesson on flower arranging. Together, they create a two-sided flower arrangement, discuss some common obstacles to flower health, and talk about how viewers can build their own at home.

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Detroit Public Theatre Moves into New Home Near Midtown, Cass Corridor

Following a three-year, $5 million capital campaign, the Detroit Public Theatre has moved into a new home in Detroit, which features a 200-seat black box theatre, a welcoming lobby, bar, drama bookshop and library, rehearsal studio, and more. One Detroit Arts & Culture host Satori Shakoor sits down with the theatre’s co-founders and co-artistic directors about the move and performances coming up.

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12th Annual Detroit Month of Design Shines Light on City’s Past, Present and Future Design Talent

As the 12th annual Detroit Month of Design gets underway, One Detroit Arts & Culture host Satori Shakoor sits down with Design Core Detroit Co-Executive Director Kiana Wenzel for a conversation about the 80 different events, like Eastern Market After Dark, on tap for this year’s festival, ranging from exhibitions, installations, artist talks, tours and workshops. The festival is held Sept. 1-30.

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Fundraising gala celebrates legacy of WGPR-TV 62, America’s first Black-owned TV station

WGPR Historical Society President Joe Spencer and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith join Stephen Henderson to talk about an upcoming fundraising gala celebrating the legacy of WGPR-TV 62, America’s first Black-owned and operated television station. WGPR-TV 62 went on the air in 1975 and launched the careers of several African American media professionals before being sold in 1995.

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Detroit All-Star Garage-Rock Punk Revue Returns for 4th Annual Festival, Expands to Two Days

Detroit’s All-Star Garage-Rock Punk Revue returns for its 4th year, expanding to two days this year. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan caught up with the show’s organizer, Smitt E. Smitty of the 1980s Detroit band Figures on a Beach, as well as iconic WDET ‘Radios in Motion’ DJ Michael Halloran and musician Gary Reichel of Cinecyde, to discuss the show and how it captures Detroit’s punk music history.

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African World Festival Celebrates 39th Anniversary With Return to Detroit’s Hart Plaza

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History’s 39th annual African World Festival celebrates its 39th anniversary with a return to the location where the festival got started: Detroit’s Hart Plaza. One Detroit contributing producer AJ Walker takes viewers to Hart Plaza on Detroit’s riverfront for a look at how the 39th annual African World Festival played out in 2022.

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Can Detroit become an international fashion city? Detroit brand Deviate Fashion thinks so

When it comes to fashion, not many people think of Detroit among the cities where the design industry thrives. Detroiters may know it here, but one Detroit-based fashion brand, Deviate Fashion, started with the goal to put Detroit on the map as a fashion city around the world. One Detroit Associate Producer Will Glover talks with the Deviate Fashion co-founders about their mission and message.

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African World Festival Returns to Downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History’s signature summer event, the African World Festival, returns this year to downtown Detroit July 15-17, but this year the festival will be held at a new location: Hart Plaza. Festival Director Njia Kai sits down with American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson about this year’s activities and what attendees can expect from the family-friendly festival.

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Detroit Symphony Orchestra Announces 2022-2023 Season Lineup, Featuring New Commissions, Piano Soloists, Strings Performances

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) returns for its 45th season with a lineup of A-list composers and performers set to take the Orchestra Hall stage later this year. WRCJ Producer and Host Peter Whorf talks with DSO President and CEO Erik Ronmark about what’s ahead for the DSO’s 2022-2023 season and the relationships the symphony has built with artists over the years.

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Detroit Public Theatre Performs ‘Detroit ’67’ Production Based on Detroit 1967 Riots

As the Detroit 1967 riots began, a revelation was brewing in the city, and what rose from the ashes of the rebellion has ultimately shaped the city and how it functions today. In Dominique Morisseau’s production of “Detroit ’67,” the questions of race, social justice and progress that took center stage during the 1967 riots turn inward to see how the civil disturbance intertwined and impacted the lives of one African American family.

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‘Boys Come First’: Aaron Foley’s Debut Novel Follows Three Millennial Gay Black Friends in Detroit 

What does it look like on the inside of a friendship between three millennial gay Black friends in Detroit? In recognition of Pride Month, producer AJ Walker sits down with journalist and author Aaron Foley to talk about his new novel, including the controversial social, political and humanistic topics he covers and what he believes makes his characters different than those in other novels.

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Portraying X: Davóne Tines discusses Detroit Opera residency, his role as Malcolm X

Stephen Henderson sits down with Tines to talk about his residency and his role in portraying Malcolm X in composer Anthony Davis’ “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” before the show. Plus, Tines shares how he got involved in singing and music at an early age, and the barriers he’s had to face as an African American man coming up in a predominately white space.

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WRIF’s D.R.E.A.D. Card: Detroit’s First Loyalty Program for Rock Music Lovers

One Detroit senior producer Bill Kubota and “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City” host Erik Smith sit down with several former members of WRIF Radio to hear more about the radio station’s rise to popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s and examine how it became one of the most well-known Detroit rock radio stations still to this day.

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Thornetta Davis Discusses COVID’s Impact on Musicians, Jeff Daniels Collaboration

Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis sits down with One Detroit’s Christy McDonald to talk about the challenges that many musicians, like herself, have had to navigate for the first time through the pandemic. Plus, she shares how it felt to work with iconic artists Gladys Knight, Bob Segar and Etta James, as well as record a song, “I Am America,” with actor and singer Jeff Daniels.

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UMS, University of Michigan, Philadelphia Orchestra Premiere ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in Concert

The unique music of John Williams’ orchestrations from the 1971 film “Fiddler on the Roof” is finally coming to the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium theater stage for a first-ever live performance. Before taking the stage, One Detroit’s Arts & Culture team sat down with key members from the upcoming performance to find out what audiences can expect from the concert and hear how the message of “Fiddler on the Roof,” continues to apply today.

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2/14/2022: One Detroit – Fiddler on the Roof, Charles H. Wright, Velvet Peanut Butter & Aaron Lewys

The University of Michigan, University Musical School and The Philadelphia Orchestra team up to bring a unique ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ concert performance to the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Then, explore the life and legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, founder of the Museum of African American History. Plus, from “Detroit Remember When: Made in the Motor City,” viewers take a nostalgic trip back to learn about the rise and fall of the Velvet Peanut Butter company. In closing, singer/songwriter Aaron Lewys performs his song “Stop Wasting My Time” for Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.

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Remembering Bill Bonds: Detroit’s Most Opinionated Newsman

One Detroit’s Bill Kubota and Detroit Public Television Senior Vice President and host Fred Nahhat give a nod to Bill Bonds, the late reporter who wasn’t afraid to be opinionated. The duo remember Bonds’ legacy and discuss what he might have said about the state of Detroit and our nation today. 

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2/10/22: One Detroit – Critical Race Theory, Michigan Childcare, Workplace DEI, Bill Bonds

One Detroit’s Bill Kubota meets with Detroit artist Jonathan Harris to talk about his viral painting ‘Critical Race Theory’ and the conversations its sparking across the globe. Then, One Detroit’s Will Glover connects with BridgeDetroit reporter Nushrat Rahman to discuss the high childcare costs in Michigan and the financial assistance available to families. Plus, learn how diversity, equity and inclusion have progressed in the workplace since the death of George Floyd and remember the late newsman Bill Bonds, who would have turned 90 years old this month.

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Dance Theatre of Harlem finds inspiration for ‘Higher Ground’ performance at Motown Museum

One Detroit’s AJ Walker met up with the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Motown Museum where Resident Choreographer Robert Garland and dancers previewed parts from their “Higher Ground” performance. Walker talked with Garland and senior dance member Lindsey Donnell about the inspiration they found, the reason for choosing Wonder’s music as a basis for their performance, and the parallels tropes they see from Wonder’s music in causes like Black Lives Matter today.

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Trey Simon performs “The Impossible” for Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove

Trey Simon performs one of his most notable singles,  “The Impossible,” for Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove. Simon, who has roots in blues music, has crafted a unique identity for himself over the course of his musical career, and some esteemed accolades have come to follow. Simon has opened for the likes of Patti LaBelle, Andra Day and Andy Grammer, and he was nominated for his first Detroit Music Award in 2020. 

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2/07/22: One Detroit – Dance Theatre of Harlem, Wearable Artist Virgil Taylor, Architect Minoru Yamasaki

One Detroit’s AJ Walkers met up with the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Motown Museum to check out a preview of their upcoming ‘Higher Ground’ performance, which pays tribute to Stevie Wonder’s music. Then, Metalwork artist Virgil Taylor takes viewers inside his art studio to show some of the latest wearable art pieces and the ancient inspiration behind his works. Plus, hear more about Detroit’s architectural history and the impacts architect Minoru Yamasaki left with his designs in the Motor City.

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1/31/22: One Detroit – Deidre D.S. Sense, Asbury Park Film, DSO In-Person, Amaryn Olmeda

One Detroit’s Will Glover talks to veteran Detroit hip-hop artist Deidre D.S. Sense about her latest album and quarantine concert series. Contributor Stephen Henderson talks with filmmaker Ken “Legend” Williams about the impact of his new film, ‘Asbury Park.’ One Detroit’s Christy McDonald talks with Erik Ronmark of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra about the orchestra’s plan to welcome audiences in-person again. And violinist Amaryn Olmeda performs Mozart’s ‘Concerto for Violin No. 3’ 

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1/27/22: One Detroit – Thought-Provoking Conversations on the Creative Arts

This week, One Detroit takes a look back at the interesting people and thought-provoking conversations we’ve had on the show. Marvel comic book author Saladin Ahmed meets with One Detroit editor Chris Jordan for a captivating conversation around his latest Spider-Man series and the role of representation in comics. Then, senior producer Bill Kubota talks with Ray Gray, one of Michigan’s longest-serving inmates, upon his release from prison. Plus, associate producer Will Glover chats with acclaimed actor CCH Pounder about her new art collection and exhibit titled “Queen.”

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Acclaimed Actor CCH Pounder Discusses Inspiration for Art Exhibit ‘Queen’

Award-winning actor Carol Christine Hilaria (CCH) Pounder is known for her roles in TV and movies, but did you know she’s also an avid art collector. Her curated exhibit titled “Queen,” a mixed-media exhibit displaying paintings, sculptures and more showcasing Black womanhood, beauty and empowerment, was featured at the Charles H. Wright African-American Museum. During the exhibit, One Detroit’s Will Glover caught up with CCH to talk about the culmination of her 45 year career as an actor, the inspiration for collecting the artwork in her exhibit, and the growth of Black representation in public art spaces. 

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Art for Life’s Sake: Discussing Art’s Importance During the Pandemic with Deborah Rutter

Arts Engine Host and professor of Arts Leadership and Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan Aaron Dworkin sits down with John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Deborah Rutter to talk about the ways the John F. Kennedy Center has pivoted, with its Couch Concerts and Arms Across America livestreams, to still provide artistic programming during the pandemic. Rutter shares her suggestions for how artists can continue to promote themselves and their work during tumultuous times, as well as her opinions on the responsibility of arts organizations to foster relationships with diverse audiences in their local community.

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1/24/22: One Detroit – Albert Kahn, Heidelberg Project, Pandemic Performances, African Drumming

Transport back in time to before Detroit was known as the motor city to learn about the lasting legacy architect Albert Kahn left in Detroit after crafting the Highland Park Ford plant, the Fisher Building and more. Then, One Detroit’s Will Glover catches up with the Heidelberg Project, a three-decade long arts project in east Detroit, to hear how the organization continues to fare during COVID. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Deborah Rutter shares how performances have changed since the pandemic began, and the importance of art in the human experience. Plus, we end the episode with a special Detroit Performs: Live From Maygrove performance of “Could You Love Me” by local folk artist Matt Watroba.

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The History of Detroit’s Celebrated Boxing Scene

Detroit’s rich history of boxing around the city has produced numerous champions including Joe Louis, Thomas Hearns and Hilmer Kentry to name a few. Whether at the famous Kronk Gym, where it originally sat on McGraw Avenue in Detroit, or at the city’s Golden Gloves Tournament, Detroit has been a training ground for some of the best amateurs and professionals in the sport of boxing. American Black Journal Producer Marcus Green reports on the sport’s early days in Detroit and how it embedded itself into the city’s story.

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1/17/22: One Detroit – Tylonn Sawyer, Mario Moore, Michigan Photography, Thank You Christy

This week on One Detroit, Arts & Culture: One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with Detroit contemporary artist Tylonn Sawyer about a new Northwest Detroit mixed-use development being named in his honor. Then, the team checks in with silverpoint artist Mario Moore about his new exhibition at the David Klein Gallery. Plus, a book of Michigan photography, and we saw thank you to One Detroit Managing Editor and anchor Christy McDonald on her last episode.

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30 Year Friendship Paves Way for Common Chords Nonprofit

When Reverand Robert Jones Sr. and Matt Watroba, a former teacher, connected 30 years ago, they found something special when they began creating music. Audiences reacted positively to their camaraderie on stage, which led the two to create the Common Chords nonprofit. One Detroit producer Sarah Smith met up with Jones Sr. and Watroba at the reverand’s church, Sweet Kingdom Baptist in Detroit, to hear more about Common Chord’s mission and vision for the organization’s future.

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DDC Dances keeps moving 40 years after its start

Forty years after four Detroit dancers set out to create a professional contemporary dance studio in the city, DDC Dances studio has continued to move and groove through the decades. Owned and operated by founding member Barb Selinger, DDC Dances still succeeds at choreographing beautiful, deep performances. One Detroit producer Sarah Smith caught up with DDC Dances members while they practiced for their upcoming show, “Stomping Ground,” a reflective dance that will touch on topics like mental health, climate change and more.

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1/11/22: American Black Journal – Black Leaders Detroit, Workplace DEI, Dance Theatre of Harlem

Host Stephen Henderson talks with Black Leaders Detroit Founder Dwan Dandridge about leveling the playing field for Black-owned businesses and organizations through financial support. Then, Stephen discusses what progress has been made to workplace diversity and what areas are still lacking with marketing consultant Mark S. Lee. Plus, the Dance Theatre of Harlem makes a visit to the Motown Museum in Detroit before the upcoming premiere performance of “Higher Ground.”

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1/10/22: One Detroit – Common Chords, DDC Dances, Detroit Style Pizza

This week on One Detroit, Arts & Culture: A music nonprofit bringing people together, a dance studio still grooving four decades later, and the origins of Detroit style pizza. One Detroit producer Sarah Smith talks with Common Chords, a music nonprofit created by two local friends, about the organization’s mission. Plus, she talks with DDC Dances founder Barb Selinger about the dance studios continued success 40 years later. Then, One Detroit’s Bill Kubota takes a deep dive into the origins of Detroit style pizza, and where all the cheese went.

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12/27/21: One Detroit – Hudson’s Holidays, Matthew Shepard Legacy, Glass Blown Ornaments

On this week’s episode of One Detroit Arts and Culture, the Detroit Historical Museum takes Detroiters back in time with its Hudson’s Holidays exhibit; One Detroit’s Zosette Guir talks with University of Michigan Choir Conductor Eugene Rogers about the choir’s “Considering Matthew Shepard” performance; and Epiphany Studios Owner April Wagner shows viewers how to blow their own glass ornaments just in time for the holidays.

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‘Who Killed Vincent Chin?’ Inducted into Library of Congress’ National Film Registry

The Detroit Public Television-produced 1987 documentary “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” received the ultimate honor this week when it was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry and named one of the 25 most influential films this year. The documentary focuses on the brutal murder of 27-year-old Detroiter Vincent Chin in 1982, and the galvanizing effects it had to springboard the Asian American community into political action.

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Friendship Circle’s Holiday Market Supports Special Needs Artists

Filled with bright notebooks, fun T-shirts, water bottles and more artistic creations, the Friendship Circle’s Soul Studio Holiday Market gives special needs adults the opportunity to be creative and share their work with the public. The One Detroit team took a trip to check out what’s included in this year’s holiday market, as well as the studio’s latest exhibit, “Community Ties.”

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ArtLab J hosts 10th Annual Winter Gala 

One Detroit’s Arts + Culture team gets a behind the scenes look at home dancers from ArtLab J in Detroit are preparing for the non-profit dance organization’s upcoming 10th annual Winter Gala, themed ‘You Are Beautiful.’ The organization has connected individuals of all ages and abilities through the power of dance since 2012.

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‘Once Upon A December Eve’ Returns Live & Online

It’s a metro Detroit holiday tradition that goes back to 2007 — Alice McAllister Tillman’s “Once Upon A December Eve” performance returns for the holiday season. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota caught up with Tillman to discuss her musical upbringing with her family, how the holiday tradition started, and what viewers can expect from this year’s show.

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University of Michigan Choir Performs “Considering Matthew Shepard”

One Detroit’s Zosette Guir sits down with University of Michigan Chamber Choir Conductor Eugene Rogers to discuss the choir’s recent performance of the oratorio “Considering Matthew Shepard.” Matthew Shepard was a 19-year-old gay college student attending the University of Wyoming who was brutally murdered. The choir’s performance displays a musical response to Shepard’s death, the hate crime, and his legacy.

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Interlochen Celebrates 30 Years of Growth, Diversity

The Interlochen Center for the Arts hosts more than a dozen performances to celebrate the organization’s growth from a summer music program to a global arts and education institution. One Detroit’s Christy McDonalds talks with Interlochen President Trey Devey to discover how completing a 30-year campus master plan has helped the organization evolve.

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Bonded Art Exhibit Brings More Than 20 Local Artists to Beacon Park 

One Detroit’s Will Glover caught up with Beacon Park Manager Meg Heeres and ‘Bonded’ art exhibit organizer and artist Jonathan Harris to talk about the importance of community gatherings during challenging times and the exhibit’s message of bringing the city and regional residents together around art.

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Puerto Rican Musician, Activist Ozzie Rivera Reflects on a Lifetime of Music and Culture

Ever since well-known Detroit historian, educator, musician and activist Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera was a child, he grew up immersed in traditional Puerto Rican music and culture. One Detroit’s Bill Kubota sat down with Ozzie Rivera to talk about the origins of his passion for music and celebrating culture, memories of drum circles in Clark Park and his outlook on salsa’s longevity.

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