UMS regularly hosts master classes for U-M Dance students when professional dance companies come to Ann Arbor.

As part of the New York Philharmonic residency in February 2005, section leaders from the NY Phil led master classes and workshops for U-M School of Music students.

Members of the Soweto Gospel choir mingled after the concert with members of the NETWORK, a UMS initiative that creates an opportunity for the community to celebrate today's leading African and African-American performers and creative artists.

About UMS

Celebrating its 129th season!

One of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, UMS is committed to connecting audiences with performing artists from around the world in uncommon and engaging experiences.

With a program steeped in music, dance, and theater, UMS contributes to a vibrant cultural community by presenting approximately 60-75 performances and over 100 free educational activities each season. UMS also commissions new work, sponsors artist residencies, and organizes collaborative projects with local, national, and international partners.

While proudly affiliated with the University of Michigan and housed on the U-M campus, UMS is a separate not-for-profit organization that supports itself from ticket sales, grants, contributions, and endowment income. Click here for more information on supporting the various programs UMS has to offer.

Did you know...

UMS has commissioned 46 new works, new productions, or reconstructions since 1990, demonstrating a commitment to supporting creative artists and advancing art forms.

UMS has worked in partnership with 54 University of Michigan academic units and nearly 150 faculty members during the past three years, in addition to countless community-based partners.

UMS is a national leader among university-based presenters for engaging students in the arts. Students account for approximately 20% of the UMS audience and attend through special student ticket programs subsidized entirely by UMS. Since 1990, over 200,000 student tickets have been sold, at a collective discount of over $2.5 million.

54% of UMS events over the past three years involved artists making their UMS debuts, demonstrating UMS's commitment to new and emerging artists. In addition, 62% of all UMS presentations featured artists from outside the United States, including significant numbers of artists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Arab World.

UMS has received recognition from leading national foundations, including the Wallace Foundation Excellence Award of $1 million and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Leading College and University Presenters Program award of $750,000.