Lansing mayor Virg Bernero, who gave a speech before the concert began, said the concert was one everyone could enjoy.

“It’s phenomenal,” Bernero said. “The concert is something everyone can love and what a great place to do it at Adado Riverfront Park.”

The symphony performed “Music of the ‘80s,” a choice LSO director and conductor Timothy Muffitt said was chosen by the public.

“We gave the people of Lansing three choices: a Michael Jackson Tribute, a Rolling Stones Tribute and a Music of the ‘80s Tribute,” Muffitt said. “Music of the ‘80s took the prize.”

The LSO was able to fund the free concert through the “Sense of Place” grant received from the City of Lansing.

Bernero said the grant’s purpose was to bring arts and culture back into the community by making it affordable and accessible.

“The symphony for most is a very expensive proposition,” Bernero said. “The idea is to make arts and culture for everyone by improving and increasing the accessibility and we’re doing exactly that.”

Ava Ordman, a LSO trombone player and associate professor of trombone at MSU said this was the first time the symphony put on a Summer Pops Concert series and they held their first and only practice the day of.

“It’s not easy,” Ordman said. “I’ve been playing trombone for 50 years, so I’m pretty used to this.”
With a large majority of the orchestra made up of MSU faculty, Ordman said she found playing with her colleagues to be the most fun.

“For me the coolest thing about it is the chance to see all my colleagues play some music,” Ordman said. “It’s a great opportunity to get together over the summer, have some fun and make some music.”

Silva Parent, a Lansing resident, said she frequently goes to LSO concerts and loves to hear them play.

“(The concert was) wonderful because it (was) outdoors and it kicked off the summer season,” Parent said. “I (was) so excited to hear them because everything they play is good.”