Support MYSO

Playathon

The annual Playathon, MYSO's one major, all-program fundraiser, is a music-focused event which raises much needed revenue to support MYSO activities throughout the year.
Each student musician has two pivotal parts to play:
•    First, to learn wonderful music which they will perform at their season-opening concert at which all 10+ MYSO ensembles perform!
•    Second, for the four weeks leading up to the Playathon performance, students go out into the community to seek out donations to help support MYSO.
Prizes are awarded to students who raise the suggested per-student goal.

If a MYSO musicians asks you to donate to Playathon, please say YES!
 

As a MYSO alumni, my daughter was extremely excited and pleased to come back from college last weekend and listen to a couple of the groups at the Playathon.  While not a music major but still active in music at UW Parkside, she was raving to a couple of her fellow orchestra members at school this week about MYSO, the good times she had while involved in her 6 years, and suggested to a couple of them to check out the MYSO website to view various performance dates.  She is so proud that her little brother is now a part of the MYSO family.

- MYSO Parent
 

Annual Campaign

MYSO’s Annual Campaign officially began in 2005 and supports the general operating for MYSO’s strong programming. The campaign runs from October to December.   This year, more than 800 young musicians from southeastern Wisconsin will have life-changing experiences and develop important life their participation in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras. Thousands more will be positively affected when a MYSO ensemble plays at their school or community center. Hundreds from the area will attend special neighborhood concerts held in the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center facility and enjoy an “up close and personal” performance. MYSO’s Annual Campaign is just one way for adults to support MYSO and ensure that children continue to receive the numerous benefits of exposure to music.
 

We also wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful program that you have and for all the love and hard work you put in to ensuring that are children learn and grow. This is Gabrielle's third year at MYSO and we have completely enjoyed the experience. You have set the bar very high.”  MYSO Parent

Fran’s Fund

In June, 2008, community leaders, corporations and educators joined 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 has been dubbed Fran’s Fund in honor of Fran Richman, who celebrated her 20th anniversary as executive director of MYSO in 2008.

The establishment of a scholarship fund in Richman’s name is an appropriate reflection of her goals, in particular her commitment to bringing diversity to MYSO and to insuring that all young people—regardless of circumstance—can have the chance to study music.

Mom says:

My daughter is so blessed to be involved in MYSO, because music keeps her focused and helps her avoid distractions.  At a challenging financial time for our family, MYSO scholarships have made it possible for her to participate. Her music involvement has taught her how to balance her priorities. Because of her MYSO responsibilities, she has learned to focus and concentrate on the task at hand, and this is something that has positively impacted her academics as well. Her grades have improved!

Daughter says:

Music has changed my life. It's something I'm dedicated to--it's something I love to do. MYSO has helped me so much, because it's something that I can do to stay active in something positive. Being involved in MYSO helps me focus all my strengths and emotions into my instrument. It gives me a new way to communicate that is not with my words but with my music.