October 11th speaker, Joseph Striplin with Jim Hoekwater
Published on 10/12/2022
Joseph Striplin (shown here with Jim Hoekwater), violinist and conductor of the Grosse Pointe Symphony, spoke at our October 2022 meeting.
Joseph Striplin began his musical studies in the Detroit Public Schools and is a graduate of Cass Technical High School where he played violin and viola in the symphony orchestra. He continued his studies at Wayne State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education. During this time he studied violin with the late Detroit Symphony Orchestra violinist, Jack Boesen.
After WSU Striplin launched his professional career as a music teacher for three years in the Detroit Public Schools. Before returning to Detroit in 1972 as a violinist with the DSO,,he was with the Metropolitan Opera National Company Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony.
Maestro Striplin’s formal conducting studies began under the guidance of Valter Poole and continued with instruction from Gustav Meier of the University of Michigan. He has been guest conducted the Lyric Chamber Ensemble and the Wayne State University Summer String Orchestra. In 1994, Striplin was honored to conduct the Savannah (Ga.) Symphony during its ninth annual Black Heritage Week, where he was also involved in lectures and discussions. Subsequently, he was invited back as a guest conductor during the Savannah Symphony’s season. In 1996, he concluded ten years as Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, the DSO’s pre-professional training orchestra. Striplin retired from the DSO in 2021. In addition to continuing to direct and conduct the Grosse Pointe Symphony, Striplin concentrates on conducting and performing chamber music with his accomplished pianist wife, Dana. Joe and Dana reside in Ann Arbor.
The idea of forming an orchestra in Grosse Pointe was born early in 1953, the first rehearsal was held at Pierce Junior High School in January 1954, the first concert was given on March 7th, 1954, at Parcells Junior High School.
The Orchestra has had four conductors - Wayne Dunlap, Henri Nosco, and Felix Resnick, who took over as in 1959 and served for fifty years. Beginning with the 54th season, Mr. Striplin assumed the position of conductor and musical director.