Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra, Making Music for Over 25 Years
(Michele Prud’homme, April 22, 2021)
The Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) is an all-volunteer community orchestra that has been active in the greater Royal Oak area for over 25 years.  The mission of ROSO is to offer motivated, amateur and semi-professional musicians from Royal Oak and surrounding communities an opportunity to perform symphonic music, to foster music education for both youth and adults, and to contribute to the enhancement of performing arts in the Southeast Oakland County community. The orchestra is made up of 60+ members from a wide range of professions and ages united by a shared love of orchestral music.
ROSO is led by music director and conductor, John McLaughlin Williams, a GRAMMY award winning conductor and internationally acclaimed violinist.  Maestro Williams has broadened the orchestra’s repertoire in recent years by including pieces by lesser-known composers from diverse backgrounds in addition to popular classics.
Each year the orchestra sponsors a Young Artist Competition, giving high school students the opportunity to be a featured soloist with the orchestra.  Starting in the 2019-2020 season, ROSO partnered with the Interlochen Arts Academy to provide scholarship opportunities for all youth that applied for the competition.
Since the pandemic prevented the orchestra from providing audiences with the regularly scheduled concerts, ROSO hopes to present a concert in May featuring the 2020 Young Artist Competition winners.  The Fall 2021 post-pandemic premier will feature some special performers and will include music honoring the front-line responders.
Please join the ROSO Facebook page and check the website for further developments.   www.royaloakorchestra.com