Artists with Disabilities to Join with Detroit Symphony Orchestra Musicians for a Free Evening of Art, Music. and Creativity on July 21, 2026!

Photo courtesy of Gesher Human Services | Sharon with her artwork!

Gesher Human Services will celebrate the talents of participants in its Creative Expressions arts enrichment program with a capstone event on the evening of Tuesday July 21 at Temple Beth El (7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills MI 48301). The event is free and open to the public. Creative Expressions offers individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or those who are living with serious mental health diagnoses, the opportunity to explore a variety of fine arts, photography, poetry, music and more. In addition, artists in the community, such as those from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), work with participants to provide additional enrichment opportunities. The capstone program will begin with a gallery art walk at 5.30 p.m. which will include kosher hors d’oeuvres, and this will be followed by a musical performance at 6 p.m. in partnership with DSO musicians.  At 7 p.m. art will be available for sale and dessert will be served. To register for the capstone event, go to geshermi.org/event or click here.

One talented artist who will be highlighted at the capstone event is poet Jo Banooni.

With the generous support of the Applebaum Family Compass Fund, through an initiative called “Advancing Creative Microenterprises for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Severe and Persistent Mental Illness”, Banooni has been able to grow their business, Three Little Letters Press. Their debut autobiographical poetry collection, Three Little Letters, will be published this summer. Through this work, Banooni uses their voice to advocate for individuals living with borderline personality disorder (BPD), raising awareness and actively challenging stigma.

Artwork to be displayed at the evening will include large-scale collaborative paintings, collages and weaving projects, individual works of art, photographs and much more. Art can be purchased to support the Creative Expressions program. The musical performance will feature 20-25 Creative Expression musicians in conjunction with around four DSO professional musicians.

Gesher Human Services CEO Paul Blatt said that art was a beautiful way for clients to express themselves,

and many were now very passionate about using their artistic skills. “While some aspects of everyday life may be challenging, the Creative Expressions program provides an opportunity for clients to showcase their spirit and creativity and discover talents they may not have been aware of,” he said. “In some cases, this talent is now leading to business ventures, which provides an important sense of self-worth.”

Director of Community Engagement at the DSO Clare Valenti said that one of the most rewarding aspects of the collaboration between Creative Expressions participants and DSO musicians was seeing how music offers a space where everyone can contribute their unique voice. “Our musicians are honored to perform alongside the talented artists in the Creative Expressions program, and we look forward to celebrating their creativity, dedication and artistry with the community,” she explained.

To learn more about the Creative Expressions Program go to  shopcreativeexpressions.com. For more information on Gesher Human Services go to www.geshermi.org.

About Gesher Human Services

Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization providing a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home, and in the community. It is dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through workforce development, career mobility, behavioral health, inclusion programming, and residential services that serve all metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community. The organization works with job seekers, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and the broader community to provide the skills, support, and equitable opportunities necessary for people to succeed. Gesher draws on over 110 years of combined experience to facilitate equitable employment opportunities and enhance mental health outcomes for Metro Detroiters. With a network of almost 500 employees and volunteers across more than 25 locations in southeast Michigan, Gesher delivers a continuum of services and support that directly impacts the lives of nearly 34,000 individuals and families annually. More information at www.geshermi.org.

About the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

The acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep connection to its city. Led by Music Director Jader Bignamini since 2020, the DSO makes its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, offering a robust performance schedule that features classical, pops, jazz, and family concerts, plus community performances. Enrico Lopez-Yañez was named Principal Pops Conductor in 2023, trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as the orchestra’s Fred A. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair, and Tabita Berglund began her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor in the 2024–25 season. A dedication to broadcast innovation and technology began in 1922, when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a live radio broadcast of a concert and continues today with the groundbreaking Live from Orchestra Hall series of free webcasts.

The DSO’s distinguished history of recordings—many led by its renowned music directors—spans nearly a century, beginning with the orchestra’s first 78 rpm singles with Ossip Gabrilowitsch released on the Victrola label in 1928. A steady recording output has continued since then, with highlights including more than 20 releases with Paul Paray for Mercury’s Living Presence series, and 27 under the baton of Neeme Järvi, mostly on the Chandos label. In the 1970s, the DSO took part in the historic Black Composers Series for Columbia Records led by its then-Associate Conductor Paul Freeman and later made several acclaimed recordings with Antal Doráti for the Decca label. More recently, under the direction of Leonard Slatkin, the DSO recorded music by Rachmaninoff, Copland, and John Williams for the Naxos label, earning its first GRAMMY® nomination in 2017 for Copland’s Third Symphony / Three Latin American Sketches. The first recording with Jader Bignamini, of Wynton Marsalis’s Blues Symphony, was released in March 2025 on the Pentatone label.

Since its first school concerts a century ago, and particularly since the founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to students, teachers, and families in Detroit and surrounding communities. The DSO remains committed to expanding its participation in the growth and well-being of Detroit through programs like its Detroit Neighborhood Initiative—cultural events co-created with community partners and residents—and Detroit Harmony, a promise to provide an instrument and instruction to any student in the city who wants to learn. With unwavering support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact lives through the power of unforgettable musical experiences.