Stephanie Sokol for The Oakland Press
Milford’s Central Park will see an orchestra of proceeds this week, with the presentation of “Prelude,” the first movement in a series of fundraising events for the city’s new AMP performance stage.
With 10 shows in the Milford Music in the Park summer concert series, the village needed a more permanent location to host the FYI: “Prelude” will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 30. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased atwww.milfordamp.org/support/the-prelude. For more information, contact The Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce at 248-685-7129, or emailJoell@huronvcc.com.events.
“We’re very excited about (the new amphitheater),” Barnette said. “Milford Township runs the summer concert series on a weekly basis, and we get about a thousand visitors a week. We’ve had to borrow the stage from Oakland County every week, so it’s been on the community wish list for a while.”
The new stage will accentuate the shape of the land, with curved grass seating in the tree-lined area to “preserve the natural open ambiance of the site,” according to Barnette. She said construction is tentatively set to begin in spring 2014.
Milford residents are enthusiastic about the new project, according to Jack
Shubitowski, planning committee member from Huron Valley State Bank. Among other donations, he said one woman wrote a $10,000 check toward the purchase of the stage.
Progress for AMP relies on donations to make construction possible. Sponsorship categories, for the stage, follow a musical theme, with Maestro, Concert Master, First Chair and Second Chair donation group levels.
“We gathered community input as to what type of project they would like to see, and they identified this need,” Shubitowski said. “It’s amazing how quickly the community has come together and rallied around this project.”
At the “Prelude,” kickoff fundraiser sibling duo “Empty Canvas” will paint and perform for guests. The artwork created at the event will be auctioned off, Shubitowski said.
Milford’s Tavern 131 will provide food, while Pine Ridge Market will supply beverages.
In addition to entertainment, a model of the new amphitheater will be on display, with the architect on-site to discuss the project.
“I am most looking forward to talking with others that are passionate about the AMP in Central Park, and hearing from the local architect about his inspiration for the design,” Shubitowski said.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the AMP stage project.
“I think this is definitely one of those icing on the cake improvements that people move to the village for,” Barnette said.
Stephanie Dennis 
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