Closing Out the 2024–2025 Season with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra

A photograph of an orchestra onstage shot with a wide angle lens framed with interior lighting

What a way to wrap up the 2024–2025 season! The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s season closer, led by Music Director Earl Lee, was a powerful and moving experience. Lee took the podium to conduct an incredible program featuring musica pyralis by Katherine Balch and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5—a beautiful way to end the season.

A photograph of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra onstage during their May MainStage

This performance also marked a personal milestone: my first time photographing inside the historic Hill Auditorium! The venue is absolutely stunning, offering so many unique angles and perspectives—including a rare opportunity to shoot from behind the stage, which allowed me to capture forward-facing shots of the conductor in action.

A photograph of conductor Earl Lee onstage during a concert performance.

A photograph of musicians onstage looking at sheet music during a concert.

A behind the scenes photograph showing the musicians onstage and the audience listening at Hill Auditorium

Following the concert, I had the chance to attend the Afterglow, a special gathering for donors and season subscribers. It’s a wonderful tradition that allows attendees to connect with the orchestra’s musicians and staff in a more relaxed and intimate setting.

A woman smiling in the audience while attending the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Afterglow

Conductor Earl Lee holding a microphone and speaking to an audience during the Afterglow for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, especially marketing director Willie Cornish, who so kindly responded to my first email weeks ago and gave me the opportunity to photograph the last MainStage concerts for the season. I’m so excited to continue documenting the magic when the new season begins in September!