Central Michigan University Director of Orchestral Studies Keith Dodson leads the East Lansing Symphonic Orchestra through a rehearsal. (Courtesy of David Rosin)

East Lansing, Okemos, Central Michigan University Students to Team Up for Collaborative Concert

Three orchestras. Two choirs. One unforgettable night of community bonding through music.

Five musical groups will come together for a special collaborative concert on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the East Lansing High School auditorium. The performers include the Central Michigan University (CMU) orchestra and choir, the Okemos High School (OHS) orchestra and choir, and the East Lansing High School orchestra.

The idea for the concert first came in September from Keith Dodson, director of orchestral studies at CMU. He reached out to David Rosin, who teaches orchestra at ELHS, and Justin Valla, director of the OHS orchestra. Together, they began planning what has become a bold musical experiment.

The show will bring together over 150 students from three schools performing together after just one combined rehearsal, a practice session that is scheduled to take place just 45 minutes before showtime.

Central Michigan University Director of Orchestral Studies Keith Dodson leads the East Lansing Symphonic Orchestra through a rehearsal. Dodson proposed a collaborative concert for ELHS, OHS and CMU back in September. (Courtesy of David Rosin)

Trust has been key throughout the process. While learning new music quickly is nothing new for these students, the sheer scale of this collaboration has added a layer of logistical challenges and excitement. The directors credit their shared passion and a mutual belief in their students’ abilities to enjoy themselves and put on a successful show.

“There’s a lot of trust going into this,” Dodson said in a phone interview. “And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I personally know that Justin and David are exceptional musicians who can get the job done.”

Rosin emphasized that the goal of the concert isn’t competition—it’s connection.

“We’re not competing against each other. We’re making art together,” Rosin said. “I think that’s really healthy and important. So much of society is focused on winning and losing, but this is just about creating something together.”

The repertoire reflects that spirit. Rosin’s students will perform the unedited version of The Barber of Seville by Rossini, along with Finlandia by Jean Sibelius—a poem whose themes of unity perfectly mirror the heart of this partnership. 

On the choral side, CMU Director of Choral Activities Amon Eady will lead his choir in We Shall Walk Through the Valley by American composer Undine Smith Moore.

“It’s a song about peace and walking through the valley,” Eady explained. “It’s easy to learn, and it feels especially relevant for this time in history.”

He also noted how meaningful this experience is for the high school students, pointing out that his CMU choir members were in the high school students’ shoes just a few years ago. A few OHS singers participating in the concert will be joining the CMU choir as freshmen next fall.

Support for the project has extended all the way to the top, with CMU’s director and dean of the School of Music fully backing the initiative. It’s a rare kind of collaboration, and one that everyone involved hopes to see more of in the future.

“To me, it’s the spirit of collaboration—on the widest scale—that excites me,” Dodson said. “I’m eager to see what the future holds for more partnerships like this one.”