This is MYSO's 52nd year of offering highest level of training in ensemble musicianship to motivated young people from diverse backgrounds across southeastern Wisconsin.
Students with varied levels of instrumental skills benefit from the broad range of MYSO experiences, all created to foster talent, build character and enhance lives by nurturing an enduring love of music.
MYSO’s offerings feature:
MYSO Progressions, an introductory string training program directed toward City of Milwaukee populations which have previously been under-represented in MYSO
MYSO Jazz Studies, consisting of classes and small combo opportunities for middle and high school students, with a special focus on City of Milwaukee students
MYSO Calypso, a steel band formed through a partnership with Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and Milwaukee Public Schools
Senior Symphony—MYSO’s flagship ensemble is a full symphony orchestra made up of very advanced players, generally in upper grades of high school. It has long been recognized as one of the nation’s top youth music ensembles, hailed for artistic excellence both nationally and internationally.
This summer, MYSO will send 100+ members of Senior Symphony to China for a 12 tour, including a performance on the Great Wall.
Philharmonia—This full symphony orchestra provides musicians with experience in preparing a great variety of shorter works from the romantic to post-modern periods; comprised generally of younger high school musicians.
Chamber Orchestra—A subset of the Senior Symphony, this is a very advanced group organized to play standard chamber orchestra repertoire—not played by the symphony orchestras.
Sinfonia/Junior Symphony Orchestra—A large, intermediate-level string orchestra whose members are generally in middle school and early high school. In the spring, selected wind players from the Junior Wind Ensemble augment this group to form the Junior Symphony Orchestra, playing full orchestra literature.
Junior Wind Ensemble—An intermediate-level wind ensemble comprised of woodwind, brass and percussion players in grades 6-9.
String Orchestra—A string training program, which meets in four smaller groups at regional sites around the area (Central, North, South, and West). About one-third of the rehearsals take place at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, where the groups rehearse as two large orchestras; concerts are also performed as two large orchestras.
Flute Chorale—A multi-part flute choir that plays standard flute choir repertoire and arrangements of orchestral repertoire. Members are generally in middle school or early high school.
Chamber Flute Ensemble—An advanced multi-part flute choir that works on cutting edge, advanced flute choir repertoire and more sophisticated arrangements of orchestral repertoire.
MYSO’s extensive schedule of rehearsals, performances, outreach initiatives and enrichment opportunities also includes a large chamber music program, theory and composition classes, free masterclasses, workshops, competitions and much more
NEXT CONCERT
Front Page: Next Concert
Honor Recital
Sunday, April 27, 2008
2:00pm
Youth Arts Hall, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut Ave
Spring Concert I Saturday, May 10, 2008
1:00pm
Jazz Finale Concert and Honors Reception Sunday, May 11, 2008
3:00pm Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut Ave Featuring all 11 MYSO Jazz studies combo's
Spring Concert II Saturday, May 17, 2008
7:00pm
Spring Concert III Sunday, May 18, 2008
2:00pm
Progressions Spring Honors Concert
Thursday, June 5, 2008
5:30pm
Fran’s Fund (see below), created in conjunction with the celebration of Fran Richman’s 20th season as executive director of MYSO, will receive a gala kickoff at “Franissimo!,” a benefit dinner event on June 1st. For details, please see the invitation. If you are interested in attending, please call Michelle Hoffman, 414-267-2950, ext. 2864. OR print out this invitation reply card, and send it to:
MYSO
c/o Fran's Fund gala
325 W. Walnut Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
LATEST NEWS
Front Page: Latest News
It is time to register for TEAM MYSO for the 2008 UPAF Ride for the Arts!
The ride benefits the United Performing Arts Fund, one of the nation's largest united arts funds, serving all of Southeast Wisconsin. In addition to raising and allocating operating funds for 37 groups in our area, UPAF is valuable to the community by serving as a community wide resource for developing the excellence, reputation and impact of our performing arts. The ride is the culminating event of UPAF's annual campaign. MYSO could not exist without the support of UPAF, and we want and need to help them as much as we can in this effort.
Community leaders, corporations and educators are joining forces to launch a major community initiative aimed at enabling more children from families in need to benefit from the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s community partnership programs and the core large ensembles.The new initiative will be called Fran’s Fund in honor of Fran Richman, who is celebrating her 20th anniversary as executive director of MYSO.
The establishment of a scholarship fund in Richman’s name is an appropriate reflection of her goals. She is committed to bringing diversity to MYSO and to insuring that all young people—regardless of circumstance—have the chance to study music.Over the last three years, Richman has led the establishment of four Community Partnership Programs that are helping fill the gap created when the public schools were forced to cut back on music and arts education. Approximately 200 young people, the majority from inner city schools, are now enrolled in these pioneering programs, and a number of others have happily graduated into more advanced MYSO ensembles.The unique programs include:
Progressions.An intensive string training program for City of Milwaukee third and fourth graders
Jazz Studies.Classes and small combo opportunities for middle and high school students, with a special emphasis on City of Milwaukee youth
Calypso.A steel band program formed in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Schools
Boys & Girls Club Partnership.Special music instruction activities including an introductory jazzprogram designed for members of the Clubs, most of whom are from the inner city
These Community Partnership Programs have been so successful that we now have to address the organization’s ability to support these young graduates of these programs—along with other young musicians with significant financial need—in their desire to move upward through the MYSO system.A new fund of more than $2 million will be needed, the income from which will help cover the costs of supporting young musicians (see below). Fran’s Fund, which has the full support of the MYSO Board of Directors, will receive an appropriate kickoff at an event on June 1st called Franissimo!, at which we expect to announce that the fund has already raised $250,000! The MYSO Board is proud to join this community initiative by committing designated funds to match your gifts from this evenings tribute to Fran.The impact on the lives of the young people who participate is tangible and dramatic, measured not only in the development of their musical skills but also in self-reliance, team skills, improved academic performance and self image.
We have recently mailed the April - May newsletter to all families. Please feel free to begin reading now! CLICK HERE here to download a PDF of the April-May newsletter.
Playathon Major Donors: MYSO is proud to acknowledge the many corporations, organizations, and businesses who generously gave $250 or more (!!) to the 2007 Playathon. Please visit the PLAYATHON page for more information on these wonderful groups.
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