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About

Surround Sound Salon Concert Series is dedicated to curating musical performances that foster discovery, growth, and memorable experiences. 

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What to expect at a salon concert

A concert in a living room

A salon concert is simply a musical program performed in a home rather than a recital or concert hall. The same pieces might be performed in both places, but the salon concert provides a more intimate setting to experience the music.

Our concerts emphasize opportunities to discover more about the music, the composers and artists, history, art, culture, food, and one another.

Bring food or drink to share if you like, but no need. We'll provide wine and light fare to pair with the programs.

Dress comfortably. 

Surround yourself with music, art, and good company. 

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Surround Sound

Salon Concert Series

About me

Don Atkins

I work where art and business intersect.

 

As a classically-trained pianist and founder of community arts initiatives, I am deeply committed to fostering both personal and social flourishing through education, the arts, and creativity.

 

In early 2026, I started Surround Sound, a creative studio specializing in unique, cultural, experiences. We create custom, art-driven, music-forward programs that help businesses achieve their goals.

 

I studied music at Northwestern’s School of Music and in Vienna, Austria, and hold an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business.

 

Over nearly two decades, I’ve developed and led arts programs and events across Southern California, Washington, DC, and southeast Michigan, all focused on uniting communities through music and art:​

 

  • Seasons salon concert series (MI)

  • Curated dinner concerts pairing art song with multiple courses of food and wine or beer (DC)

  • Five annual Festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols, reimagining the century-old Cambridge tradition with new art forms (DC)

  • Symphony and Song Nights, creating intimate gatherings to enjoy a symphony followed by sing-alongs (DC)

  • A music appreciation program for youth at a shelter for runaway or displaced children (CA)

 

​Based just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, I serve as a board member for the Brooklyn Art Song Society, New York's leading presenter and commissioner of art song.

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© 2025 Surround Sound Salon Concert Series.

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