The Score | New in Detroit: Anne Parsons Way

How do you get to Anne Parsons Way? Eighteen years leading the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, that’s how. In June, longtime DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons was recognized by the City of Detroit with the addition of a secondary street name, Anne Parsons Way, to the existing Parsons Street next to Orchestra Hall. At the unveiling ceremony, DSO trumpets Stephen Anderson and William Lucas performed a fanfare, and there were remarks by DSO Board Chairman Mark Davidoff, City of Detroit Director of Arts and Culture Rochelle Riley, DSO cellist Haden McKay, and Parsons herself. Parsons retires from the DSO in 2022. Under her leadership, the DSO hired Leonard Slatkin (2008) and Jader Bignamini (2020) as music directors; improved its financial outlook; and expanded its digital initiatives. Parsons led the DSO in developing a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy and a Mission and Values Taskforce, and the DSO added programs including the new Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, a community-driven process to create musical experiences throughout the city, and Detroit Harmony, which will provide an instrument and music education to students and create jobs through workforce partnerships.