About the Orchard Lake Philharmonic

The Orchard Lake Philharmonic is a community orchestra conducted by Norman A. Logan, that meets weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 pm at Nardin Park United Methodist Church in Farmington Hills, MI and West Bloomfield Middle School in West Bloomfield, MI.

The orchestra first met in September 2007 at St. Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake, Michigan. We had rehearsals in the old gym which gave us some interesting competition for space, since the gym was still being used. Thirteen musicians were at that first rehearsal of the, then called, OLPS Community Orchestra. We had six violins, two violas, and a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and a french horn. Any Madonna University student could play with us and take orchestra for credit.

At the end of our first year, the Oakland Community College chairman of the music department sought us out to make us the resident orchestra for OCC. Not only could OCC students take orchestra for credit, but rehearsal space for the orchestra was provided at the Orchard Ridge campus in Farmington Hills.

In 2009, the name was changed to OLPS Symphony Orchestra as this orchestra was the only group under the Corporation name. By 2010 the rehearsal space at OCC wasn't big enough anymore, moving rehearsals to West Bloomfield High School.

Since 2009, we have rented rooms in the West Bloomfield School district and during Covid, at Birmingham United Methodist Church. After Covid, we now have rehearsals in the West Bloomfield Schools and Nardin Park United Methodist Church. Our concerts are at St James Catholic Church in Novi, Nardin Park UMC in Farmington Hills and St Theresa of Lisieux in Shelby Township. We perform three programs by ourselves and two programs with Nardin Park’s Chancel Choir for their Christmas and Easter celebrations.

In 2015, the organization became Orchard Lake Philharmonic with a new logo.