Community Calendar

Flint Symphony Orchestra

Enrique Diemecke music director and conductor
Elena Ariza cello
2025 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition Winner

Program
Antonín Dvořák Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 140, B. 191
Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony, Op. 58

The restless yearning of Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony and the rich voice of Dvořák’s cello concerto together explore the poignant beauty of longing, loss and redemption—where the darkness of sorrow is complemented by the sweetness of light.

Cellist and Julliard doctoral fellow Elena Ariza appears with the FSO as winner of the 2025 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition, sponsored by the St. Cecilia Society. The competition, begun by long-time FSO conductor William C. Byrd, has been awarded to young musicians since 1970, and has been an invaluable contribution to the careers of the many winners who’ve gone on to achieve impressive musical success.

Who lives in Hilberry Gateway under the sea? The SpongeBob Musical! Dive into this vibrant underwater adventure for all ages, where friendship (and a splash of optimism) saves the day. SpongeBob and his friends must come together to protect their home when a volcano threatens to destroy Bikini Bottom. Featuring original songs by music legends like Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and Panic! At the Disco, this musical blends humor, heart, and spectacular high-energy performances. With famous characters and music, this family-friendly show promises an unforgettable journey of courage, community, and the power of positivity.

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: BasBlue, Detroit, MI
Website: https://basblueus.com/summit/

BasBlue, a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing professional growth and economic mobility for women and non-binary individuals, will host its annual Bold Women Summit on March 31, 2026.

Now celebrating its fifth anniversary in Detroit, BasBlue continues to create accessible, inclusive space for leadership development, entrepreneurship readiness, wellness, and civic engagement. The Bold Women Summit reflects that mission at scale — delivering the caliber of a major regional conference within an intimate setting designed for meaningful connection.

The 2026 keynote speakers include celebrated fashion designer Tracy Reese and Robin Terry, whose leadership journeys span creativity, entrepreneurship, cultural legacy, and civic impact.

The Summit convenes entrepreneurs, early- and mid-career professionals, creatives, civic leaders, and emerging Gen Z changemakers for high-impact conversations focused on bold leadership and tangible action.

BasBlue serves more than 600 members annually, with a strong commitment to accessibility through its Trailblazer Scholarship program, which provides more than 100 women each year with complimentary memberships.

Tickets and additional information are available at https://basblueus.com/summit/.
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This exhibition features artwork created by 28 students enrolled in Northville High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Art experience. In the program, students developed problem-solving skills and proficiency as artists by exploring and experimenting in a variety of contemporary practices and media. For the program’s culmination, the students install a selection of their best works in our galley, each with thoughtfully written object labels.

Michigan high school seniors: Looking for college money and a way to make a difference in your community?

LAFCU is now accepting entries for its 2026 Write to Educate Essay Contest, awarding $20,000 in college scholarships—plus $2,000 donated to Michigan charities chosen by student winners.

Four students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to a Michigan college or university and select a local nonprofit to receive a $500 donation from LAFCU. No minimum GPA. No financial-need requirement. No LAFCU membership required.

Students simply submit a one-page essay responding to this year’s prompt, focused on identifying a community issue and proposing a solution. Submit entries by March 31, 2026. For more information: www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was one of the most influential works of the American Revolution. The first edition was published on January 10, 1776, with an initial print run of just 1,000 copies; but within weeks demand soared. The students of Andy Murphy’s POLISCI 495 course co-curated the exhibition “Revolutionary Paine” to document the whirlwind caused by its publication. On view at the Clements January 16-May 8, weekdays from 12-4 pm.

In Accommodating the Republic: Taverns in the Early United States, Kirsten Wood explores how Americans' use taverns in their pursuits of happiness helped flesh out the evolving meaning of citizenship in the young United States. In this talk, she looks at the years following the Revolutionary War, when Americans continued to use their neighborhood taverns as sites for gathering and political mobilization. The scope and significance of practices that had been so central to the revolutionary struggle shifted in the early republic, as Americans wrestled with the promise and problems of republican self-government. Although the mid-nineteenth-century temperance movement would soon frame tavern-going as the habit of dangerously shiftless men, in the republic's early decades, entrepreneurial, improvement-minded men—and some women!--went to taverns to raise capital, promote innovative businesses, practice genteel sociability, and put republican self-government into practice.

Who lives in Hilberry Gateway under the sea? The SpongeBob Musical! Dive into this vibrant underwater adventure for all ages, where friendship (and a splash of optimism) saves the day. SpongeBob and his friends must come together to protect their home when a volcano threatens to destroy Bikini Bottom. Featuring original songs by music legends like Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and Panic! At the Disco, this musical blends humor, heart, and spectacular high-energy performances. With famous characters and music, this family-friendly show promises an unforgettable journey of courage, community, and the power of positivity.

This exhibition features artwork created by 28 students enrolled in Northville High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Art experience. In the program, students developed problem-solving skills and proficiency as artists by exploring and experimenting in a variety of contemporary practices and media. For the program’s culmination, the students install a selection of their best works in our galley, each with thoughtfully written object labels.

Storytime with Programs Director, Janice Wilks! Every Wednesday from 10:30am – 11:30am Storytime will be followed by activities designed for children with developmental differences. We will never tell your child to hush or stop wiggling. Physically-distanced with stringent health and safety protocols being followed. Takes place at our office: 2505 Ardmore St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Every family leaves with a free book and a snack! If you plan on attending, please RSVP with the form below so we can make sure there’s enough goodies to go around.