Mille Grazie, An Evening of a Thousand Thanks
On September 16, 2007, Rackham Symphony Choir honored Suzanne Mallare Acton's tenth anniversary as Artistic and Music Director, with Mille Grazie: An Evening of a Thousand Thanks. Proceeds from the fundraiser established the Suzanne Mallare Acton Artistic Fund which will benefit talented young singers and help bring important new works to the community.

The Armed Man: A Concert for Peace
In March 2007, Rackham Symphony Choir presented Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man: A Concert for Peace. This multimedia presentation features Karl Jenkins' moving oratorio, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and was accompanied by an original film commissioned by Rackham Symphony Choir.

Gianni Schicchi and Spotlight on Opera
In November 2006, Rackham Symphony Choir joined the principals of the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan and Bloomfield-Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for a concert presentation of Spotlight on Opera. The performance was held at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts with Suzanne Mallare Acton conducting.

Jump, Jive, Swing and Sing
In September 2006, Rackham Symphony Choir kicked off the 2006-2007 season with Jump, Jive, Swing and Sing, original show featuring the music of George Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, Fats Waller and others. The performance featured the Rackham Ensemble Singers, Rackham Symphony Choir and The Fats Waller Revue with Detroit jazz luminaries Marion Hayden on bass, Alvin Waddles on piano, Charlie Gabriel on saxophone and clarinet, and Dave Taylor on drums. The Fats Waller Revue was conceived by Alvin Waddles and began touring earlier this summer to enthusiastic response.

Voices of Light
In March 2006, Rackham Symphony Choir presented Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light to a near-capacity audience at the historic Redford Theatre. The performance feature a 30-piece orchestra, 8 soloists and the 70-member Rackham Symphony Choir accompanying the simultaneous projection of Carl Dreyer's silent film masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Too Hot to Handel - Chicago
Rackham Symphony Choir was invited to premier Too Hot to Handel at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL in January 2006. Read more about this memorable performance.

L'Elisir d'Amore (Elixir of Love)
In November 2005, Rackham Symphony Choir joined the Verdi Opera Theatre and Bloomfield-Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for a concert presentation of Donizetti's comic opera L'Elisir d'Amore. The performance was held at the Ford Performing Arts Center in Dearborn and featured Scott Ramsay, Dino Valle, Eva Evola, Kim Swan and Steven Hendricks with Suzanne Mallare Acton conducting.

The Holocaust Cantata: Songs from the Camps
In March 2005, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed the Michigan premier of Donald McCullough’s Holocaust Cantata at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The sold-out performance was part of the grand opening activities and the first musical performance at the center.

Too Hot to Handel
The Rackham Symphony Choir performed the Michigan Premier of this soul-stirring, hand-clapping interpretation of Handel’s Messiah. Since the first performance shook the rafters of the Little Rock Baptist Church in 2002 this performance has been performed each year and is quickly becoming a holiday tradition with annual performances at the Detroit Opera House.

La Traviata
In November 2004, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed Guiseppe’s Verdi’s classic, La Traviata at the Dearborn Center for the Performing Arts. La Traviata was presented in partnership with the Verdi Opera Theater.

Reluctant Dragon
In 2003, Rackham Symphony Choir presented the Michigan Premier of John Rutter’s The Reluctant Dragon. at Detroit Institute of Arts. The performance was presented in collaboration with life-sized puppets from PuppetArt under the direction of Igor Gozman.

African Sanctus
In February 2001, Rackham Symphony Choir presented the Michigan premier of David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus. Composer David Fanshawe presented a pre-concert lecture and co-conducted the recordings of traditional African music in accompaniment with the Rackham Symphony Choir’s presentation of his ground-breaking work.

Cavalliera Rusticana
In November 2002, the Rackham Symphony Choir presented Cavalierria Rusticana at the Dearborn Center for the Performing Arts in collaboration with the Friends of the Opera of Michigan and featuring guest soloists Annie Walker, Gyeong Yeo Kim, Quinto Milito, Suzanne Hanson and Rebecca Engelhard.

Yizkor Requiem
In March 2003, Rackham Symphony Choir presented Thomas Beveridge’s Yizkor Requiem. The requiem is an artistic fusion of the Catholic requiem mass and the Jewish service of remembrance.

Viva! Verdi
In 2001, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed Viva Verdi at the Detroit Opera House. The performance features a selection of opera favorites by Giuseppe Verdi.

Opera Gala
In 2004, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed Opera Gala with the Verdi Opera Company. The choir performed crowd-pleasing favorites such as Va Pensiero, The Anvil Chorus, Toreador and Brindisi (the drinking song) from La Traviata.

Handel’s “Messiah”
For many years, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed Handel’s Messiah as an annual tradition at many venues in the Detroit area.

Michigan Opera Theater Performances
Rackham Symphony Choir members are often invited to join the Michigan Opera Theater chorus in performances at the Detroit Opera House. In 2005, members of the Rackham Symphony Choir will be joining MOT for the worldwide premier of Margaret Garner at the Detroit Opera House. Past performances include Carmen, Otello, Aida, Die Fliegender Hollander and Peter Grimes.

The Planets
In 2002, the women of Rackham Symphony Choir performed The Planets with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall.

Grand Opening of the Detroit Opera House
The Rackham Symphony Choir was invited to perform at the grand opening of the Detroit Opera House in 1996. The grand opening celebration included guest performers Luciano Pavarotti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Elizabeth Parcells, Helen Donath, Leona Mitchell, Marcello Giordani, Jane Eaglen, Allesandra Marc, Irina Mishura, Pablo Elvira and featured performances from Aida with the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by John DeMain.

Voices of Light
In 2000, the Rackham Symphony Choir performed Richard Einhorn’s, Voices of Light . This stunning choral and orchestral work is presented in a theater setting with a projection of Carl Dreyer’s 1927 silent film masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.”

Amahl and the Night Visitors
In 2001, the Rackham Symphony Choir presented the 50th Anniversary production of Amahl and the Night Visitors at Detroit’s Music Hall. Composer Gian Carlo Menotti attended this unforgettable performance.

An Affair to Remember I, II and III
Each year, Rackham Symphony Choir performs a fundraising concert, An Affair to Remember, presented by the Rackham Madrigals. Past performances have included Gershwin favorites, medleys of love songs and songs of classic films. This night of fun and fundraising is an annual tradition for our ever-growing base of loyal supporters. Click here to make a donation to Rackham Symphony Choir.

Carmina Burana
In 1999, the Rachkam Symphony Choir performed Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts