Ian Ding is leaving Detroit for Minneapolis.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will have to dance to different drummers when and if its current labor dispute is settled. The orchestra's entire percussion session has departed for good. The DSO's season was canceled in late February, several months into a strike by musicians. Principal percussionist Jacob Nissly is going to the Cleveland Orchestra. Principal timpanist Brian Jones heads to the Dallas Symphony. And Ian Ding, who's been the DSO's assistant principal percussionist for eight years, is moving to Minneapolis. No, not to join the Minnesota Orchestra, but to end the long-distance nature of his relationship with his fiancee, Gina DiBello, below, principal second violnist at the MO. Ding, 34, who's also known in Motor City for his involvement with the contemporary music collective New Music Detroit, will pursue freelance work in the Twin Cities, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Gina DiBello of the Minnesota Orchestra
