She shepherded the orchestra through a bitter six-month strike and then worked to ensure that it flourished after what many considered a near-death moment.
Parsons guided the DSO through a tumultuous period of nearly two decades that included the Great Recession, Detroit’s bankruptcy, a half-year long strike by musicians and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anne Parsons, who was named president emeritus of the orchestra in late 2021, shared her diagnosis in November 2018 and had been undergoing treatments since that time.