May 13, 2008 11:54 PM Eastern Time 

Honda's ASIMO Robot Conducted Detroit Symphony Orchestra in “Impossible Dream”

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday night May 13 Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot brought attention to the newly established The Power of Dreams Music Education Fund for Detroit youth at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) by conducting the orchestra as it performed “The Impossible Dream” to open a special sold-out concert featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Honda, which is contributing over $1 million to the DSO to establish The Power of Dreams Music Education Fund, hopes ASIMO’s appearance will draw attention to the DSO’s music education programs, and particularly the DSO’s effort to encourage and support involvement of children in Detroit. The fund will provide music education, including beginner string lessons, to under-served Detroit children. The public can make a gift to support this program and register to win a new Honda Accord by logging onto www.detroitsymphony.com.

ASIMO, which is designed to help people and will someday assist the elderly and disabled in their homes, will also demonstrate its unique capabilities for hundreds of area school children on May 14 prior to a master class in Orchestra Hall, where a select group of music students will receive personal music instruction from Yo-Yo Ma. In attendance will be students from the Detroit School of Arts (DSA), Detroit Renaissance and Cass Technical high schools, as well as from schools across metro Detroit and Windsor, Canada.