An Evening of Musicianship and Gratitude

When you have been in music as long as Greg Cunningham, Ed. D., the “goose bump moments” get harder to find.

However, for Dr. Cunningham — professor of music, director of bands and instrumental music coordinator at OU — one event always delivers.

OU’s annual Oakland Symphony Orchestra and Oakland Symphony Chorus’s gala season finale at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall is a springtime event that assembles nearly 200 OU students together on one world-renowned stage. Dr. Cunningham and Michael A. Mitchell, D.M.A., professor of music and director of choral activities at OU, co-conduct the night.

For nearly two decades, the concert has offered an unforgettable evening of music, engagement and community. As a signature donor appreciation event, it honors Oakland University’s most dedicated supporters — those whose generosity enriches every corner of campus life. The artistry of the Oakland University Symphony Orchestra set against the grandeur of Detroit Orchestra Hall mirrors the magnitude of donor impact and the transformative power of philanthropy at OU.

Oakland University Credit Union (OUCU) has served as the event’s presenting sponsor for nine consecutive years, helping it to grow into one of University Advancement’s most anticipated annual gatherings. OUCU’s support elevates Oakland University’s presence in the heart of Detroit and brings together OU’s most loyal and generous supporters for a one-of-a-kind experience rooted in shared pride for the university.

Hosting the concert at Detroit Orchestra Hall elevates the evening beyond just a concert. As Dr. Cunningham explains, “There’s an adrenaline that happens when the house is full and the lights go down. It’s like a minor league player getting to play at Comerica Park. You’re playing where the big leagues are. It’s an artistic privilege, and that makes it much more potent in our students’ performance.”

Longtime OU supporters and friends of the Meadow Brook Estate, Donna and Jon Block, attended their first gala season finale this year and could feel the energy radiating from the stage. “I thought it was fantastic, far beyond what we expected!” Jon Block recalls. “The program was terrific because the pieces they picked were rousing. Anyone, even less of a classical music fan, would fare well with the selections.”

Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Mitchell work together every year to select the event’s repertoire. “Our job is not to just be entertaining but to select music that is informative for our students — pieces they can learn and grow from,” Dr. Cunningham explains. “Ultimately the evening is a celebration, and each piece is one that everyone can rally around.”

Dr. Cunningham admits to having a soft spot for pieces in the Germanic tradition that have a big orchestral symphony and climax with a chorus at the end.  
The Symphony No. 2 in C minor by Gustav Mahler, known as the Resurrection Symphony, and Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven are two such pieces that have been performed and provide ample goose bumps among those in attendance.

“With the beautiful acoustic capacity of Detroit Orchestra Hall, it’s an important opportunity to play in a space that is so accommodating. You get a lot back,” Dr. Cunningham says. “It’s important that our students have experience with the big stuff. This is how they learn to manage performance.”

Dr. Mitchell agrees, “This is an unparalleled opportunity for our students to rehearse and perform in a world-class concert hall in the heart of Detroit. It’s a huge part of their educational experience at OU.”

As Dr. Cunningham describes it, OU is the only university with an annual residency at Detroit Orchestra Hall. It is this special opportunity and the university’s support of the event that resonates with both current students and prospective students. He emphasizes that the event serves as a highly effective recruitment tool, drawing the attention of exceptional student musicians who seek this distinctive experience. “I let future students know that you will be known by every faculty member and have their support, as well as the support of the university,” Dr. Cunningham says. “We are able to do great things here. OU should be proud of the amazing opportunities they offer their students.”

The evening includes a donor reception with food and drinks, allowing the audience an opportunity to mingle, as well as to hear OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D., speak.

“We enjoyed the reception and the opportunity to spend time with the community around OU,” Block says. “I was impressed with what a diverse group we are, but we all have an enthusiasm for the university. It was great to share that connection. We would love to attend again.”

For as many years as Dr. Cunningham has been part of this event, he says it is still a thrill to experience firsthand when the musicians walk onto that stage for the first time. "Or even better yet, when leaving the stage each year with a lifelong performing experience that they will remember and cherish forever,” Dr. Cunningham says. “These moments stand out as some of the more rewarding personal experiences of my 31 years of teaching in higher education.”