Flint Institute of Music

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Flint Institute of Music
AbbreviationFIM
PredecessorFlint Community Music Association
Musical Performing Arts Association
Formation1971;52 years ago (1971)
Type NGO
Legal statusNonprofit corporation
HeadquartersDort Music Center
Location
Region
Genesee County, Michigan
President and CEO
Rodney Lontine
Director, Flint School of Performing Arts
Davin P. Torre
Producing Artistic Director, Flint Repertory Theatre
Michael Lluberes
Music Director and Conductor, Flint Symphony Orchestra
Enrique Diemecke
Website thefim.org

The Flint Institute of Music, also called the FIM, is located in the Flint Cultural Center in Flint, Michigan. It is ranked as the 8th largest community music school in the United States. [1] The FIM is made up of The Flint Symphony Orchestra, Flint School of Performing Arts and Flint Repertory Theatre; as well as the Whiting Auditorium and Capitol Theatre. The Flint Institute of Music offers lessons, classes, ensembles, and camps for all levels for ages 3 years to adults. Students perform in the dance and performance ensembles such as Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra, Flint Youth Ballet Ensemble, Flint Youth Theatre, Dort Honors Quartet, Imrpov Squad, among several others. The Flint Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Enrique Diemecke, performs a full season of classical concerts as well as free Music in the Park concerts at Genesee area parks in the Summer season. Additionally, the FIM sponsors the Holiday Pops concert every holiday season, featuring the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Flint Festival Chorus and local choirs. FIM's production of the Nutcracker ballet has been a local tradition for over 30 years.

Contents

The FIM is also home for the annual William C. Byrd Young Artists Competition.

Background

The Community Music Association was founded by J. Dallas Dort in 1917. The United Way in the 1920s underwrote the chorus and symphony. Dort's home was acquire by the Flint College & Cultural Development Committee of Sponsors in 1958 for the Flint Board of Education's Flint Community College for the music needs of the community. An all in one music building that would start with College-preparatory school students work up to a degree was being developed. [2] Flint Youth Theatre was founded in 1957 as [3] the program of the Bower Theatre, completed in 1958 as a part of the Flint Cultural Center plans. [2]

History

Organizers drew up article of incorporation for the Flint Institute of Music in 1966 with its first purpose of a capital campaign for a new music school building then the school with a community service division. In 1969, construction began on the Dort Music Center, which was to be an addition to the Dort home instead the home burned in a fire. The music center was completed in 1971. [2] William C. Byrd was appointed FIM director and conductor of the Flint Symphony Orchestra in 1966. In 1971, he began the Young Artist Competition. [4]

In 1971 the Community Music Association of Flint along with several other musical organizations, including Musical Performing Arts Association, merged to the newly formed Flint Institute of Music. [2] [5] Also, Mott College's music classes and community music programs moved in 1971. [2] In 1974, Byrd died while conducting a pops concert on a hot summer evening in Wilson Park. That year the Young Artist Competition was renamed in his honor. [4]

An Ireland concert tour took place in April 2014 by the Flint Youth Symphony Orchestra. [6] In August 2016 Rodney Lontine was appointed as the new CEO of Flint Institute of Music. [7] In 2017, Flint Youth Theatre held its first New Works Festival. [3]

On August 13, 2018, Flint Youth Theatre was expanded into Flint Repertory Theatre, or “The Rep”, a professional nonprofit regional theatre. Flint Youth Theatre would continue as a program of its education department. The Rep will begin offering a “Signature Series” with titles to be announced at the Rep’s season announcement party on August 22.

Components

each of these performance groups rehearses mid-September through early May weekly then have concerts at The Whiting at area schools


Buildings

Events

Series

Musicals and plays
Music

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References

  1. ↑ "Flint Institute of Music". Michigan. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dennison, Cheryl (May 1, 2018). "Rich in Culture History of the Flint Cultural Center, Part II". My City Mag. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Flint Youth Theatre Will Become Flint Repertory Theatre". American Theatre. Theatre Communications Group. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Ketchum III, William E. (January 25, 2013). "Flint Institute of Music, St. Cecilia's Society prep 42nd Annual William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ Spurgeon, Alan L. “The Community Music Association in Flint, Michigan, 1917-1920.” The Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education, vol. 16, no. 1, 1994, pp. 29–42. JSTOR
  6. 1 2 Atkinson, Scott (August 20, 2013). "Flint Institute of Music holding auditions for various youth groups". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Meet Rodney Lontine President and CEO Flint Institute of Music". My City Mag. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  8. 1 2 3 Terrell, Ashley G. (May 6, 2015). "Flint Institute of Music presents 2015 Jazz Series and Chamber Music Series". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Gagnon, Ben (August 30, 2018). "Flint Youth Theatre expands, becomes Flint Repertory Theatre". The Flushing View. View Newspapers. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  10. ↑ Ketchum III, William E. (February 14, 2013). "Flint Institute of Music to host Black Classical Music Family Festival". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  11. ↑ Atkinson, Scott (October 4, 2012). "Students to compete for solo spots at Flint Institute of Music". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
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