MYSO Tidbits
by Michelle Hoffman Read about all the amazing things our musicians are doing! Congratulations to Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Clark Snavely who was named winner of the Madison Symphony Orchestra 2019 Fall Youth Concerto Competition. Clark performed the first movement of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole with the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Madison’s Overture Hall. Violinist Zak Chen was recently named winner of the MYSO 2019-20 Senior Symphony Concerto Competition. Zak will perform Ravel’s Tzigane as featured soloist with the Senior Symphony in Uihlein Hall of the Marcus Center on January 25. Zak began his violin study at age four and studies…
Musicians Share Perspectives on Ireland Tour
by Michelle Hoffman This summer 89 Senior Symphony and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra musicians embarked on a cultural and performance tour of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We were delighted to read the inspiring and engaging personal accounts of three musician bloggers. From their descriptions of the rich history and scenic beauty of Ireland, to the stories of bonding and camaraderie, to the powerful accounts of creating music and connecting with their audiences, they made us feel as though we were right there with them. We are happy to share their portrayals of the most central aspect of the…
December 03, 2019
The Journey from MYSO to Olympic Gold
by Ron Oshima Composer, computer scientist, educator, lawyer, musician, physician, recording engineer…these are some of the careers that MYSO alumni typically pursue. Olympic Gold medalist never appears on that list…but it eventually did for Gwen Jorgensen, Olympic Gold winner in the triathlon in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Gwen became the first American triathlete, man or woman, to win an Olympic Gold medal. I had the chance to speak with Gwen’s sister Liz, and mother Nancy, about this incredible journey. Liz Jorgensen graduated in 2001 from Senior Symphony as a violist, while her sister Gwen graduated in 2004 as a…
December 03, 2019
Margery Deutsch Announces Retirement at MYSO
As we enter this new season, there is a major development to share with our MYSO family in the coming year. It is surely bittersweet to inform you that now in her 34th season with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), Margery Deutsch has announced her plans to retire from her role as Music Director of Senior Symphony, the flagship orchestra, at the end of the 2019-20 season. In consultation with the board chair and a small advisory group of board directors, we are delighted to announce that Ms. Deutsch will transition into the first Music Director Laureate in MYSO's…
September 03, 2019
MYSO on BBC Radio Ulster
Listen to the BBC Radio Ulster interview of Linda Edelstein (Executive Director), Carter Simmons (Artistic Director), Margery Deutsch (Music Director), and musician Livia Romanov. They were interviewed by John Toal at the Ulster Hall in Belfast during rehearsal on July 16, prior to their evening performance. Click here to listen. Just fast forward to the 26:06 mark to begin listening to the 6-minute interview. You'll hear the spirit of the tour come through loud and clear with our MYSO speakers. Enjoy!
August 15, 2019
Margarete and David Harvey Making an Impact
by Ron Oshima For decades, Margarete Harvey has been a source of leadership and support for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), having served two nine-year terms on the board. She was introduced to MYSO when her daughter Matthea joined MYSO as a flute player in the mid-1980s. Each year, Margarete and her husband David present the Margarete Harvey scholarships, given to MYSO students in their junior or senior year of high school, who started out in our entry-level Progressions* program as third graders and stayed with MYSO. It’s a recognition of the students’ hard work and perseverance in their…
August 13, 2019
Student Composer Looks to the Future with Music and Artificial Intelligence
by Michelle Hoffman Cellist Isabelle Kramar has had “random melodies floating through her head” for as long as she can remember. She was grateful to be a part of the Downey Creation Project this year to help her harness those melodies. A pianist since age four, her compositions have come together through piano, where she says, “all the instruments of the orchestra are available to her.” Her first formal composition, The Infinite Waltz, was premiered by the Metropolitan Symphony this spring. She was awarded first place in the 2019 WSMA Composition Project for the piano solo version of the piece.…
August 13, 2019
Student Makes Conducting Debut
by Ron Oshima At 8:05 pm on Saturday, May 18, sophomore Maliq Veal, guest student conductor, strode to the podium to take his bow before leading the Wind Ensemble through Caesar Giovannini’s Fanfare 2000. Maliq was then the principal trombonist of the Wind Ensemble and a trombonist in the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. This fall, he’ll be a junior at Ronald Reagan High School and play in our Senior Symphony. He joined MYSO in 2016 as an eighth grader, encouraged by his middle school band director, Michelle Miller. How did this conducting appearance happen? “My mom liked to play classical music…
August 13, 2019
MYSO Tidbits
by Michelle Hoffman Read about all the amazing things our musicians, alumni, and staff are doing! 1999 grad Kevin Bate has been awarded the position of principal cello of the Nashville Symphony. Bate joined the orchestra in 2015 and served as both assistant principal and acting principal cello previously. 2013 grad Meghan Murphy is one of 41 national recipients of a Watson Fellowship for a year of independent travel and research. She plans to head to India, Norway, Azerbaijan, Ireland, and Mexico to study and explore musical traditions that incorporate violins and violin-like instruments. 2018 grad Julian Rhee made his…
August 13, 2019
Pathways to Success Raises $190,000!
We are pleased to announce Pathways to Success, our signature fundraising event that showcases our work to nurture, challenge, and inspire young minds through music, grossed over $190,000 to support our financial aid programs, impacting countless young musicians. We owe thanks to many people, ranging from our host committee members and sponsors to our performing students and their parents, our teaching artists, an army of volunteers, and everyone in between. Thank you!
August 13, 2019
Receive our newsletter
Find joy, passion, and inspiration at MYSO.