This is MYSO’s regional string training program, with 160 players who rehearse in small groups at four satellite sites, in central, north, south and west Milwaukee-area locations.  In addition, they periodically come together in various combinations downtown, for joint rehearsals.  For concerts, the satellite groupings combine to perform as two large orchestras. Most students in this group are in grades 3-6.

Music Directors

Dr. Denice Haney

Dr. Haney came to Wisconsin in 1994 from Colorado, where she was an Assistant Professor of Music and Orchestra Director at Western State College. Prior to that, she served as Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony Guild Junior Strings Orchestra and was Director of Orchestras for the Madison School District in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Haney holds a performance degree in viola from Chapman University in Orange, California, with teacher certification, plus Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Arizona State University. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra in Quito, Ecuador, Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra, Waukesha Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Bel Canto Chorus, Skylight Opera, Bach Chamber Choir, Les Artistes and Syrinx. Presently she teaches in the Elmbrook School District, maintains a small studio of private students, performs in various concert settings, and enjoys spending time with her teen son. Each August Dr. Haney holds a free four day sightreading camp for young string players in conjunction with the annual New Music Reading Seminar for Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area orchestra directors.

Lyda Osinga

Ms. Osinga began playing violin via the Suzuki method when it first came to the United States from Japan. By the time she graduated from high school, she played violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, electric bass in the jazz band, and cymbals in the marching band; receiving the John Philip Sousa band award for her efforts. Lyda has a bachelor of music from West Virginia University and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in performance and pedagogy. Her teachers have included Shinichi Suzuki, William Starr, Margery Aber, Kay Collier-Slone, John Kendall, and Patricia D’Ercole. She was the director of the community music schools for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the University of Memphis, where she provided teacher training, lessons for students of all ages, and other special music classes in Dalcroze eurythmics, Orff Schulwerk, and Kindermusik. Moving to the Milwaukee area has given her the opportunity to teach in the Wauwatosa, Elmbrook, West Allis, and Shorewood School Districts.  She also had the privilege of conducting MYSO’s Progressions orchestra for a year. She is an adjunct professor at Wisconsin Lutheran College and teaches privately in her home. She has performed with the Kettle Moraine Symphony, the Waukesha Symphony, the Concord Chamber Orchestra, the Madison Symphony and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Her family consists of a daughter in college, two sons on cello, another son on violin and an attorney husband.

Lynn Trinkl

Ms. Trinkl is a cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Viola. She also holds a master’s degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. Lynn received her music education certification from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has also studied at the Aspen Music Festival. She has been a string sectional coach for the Wisconsin State High School Honors Music Project and has taught for the Waukesha, West Allis and South Milwaukee School Districts, as well as maintaining a private studio. During summers, Lynn has served as Assistant Director and Counselor Coordinator for the Wisconsin String Teachers Elementary Orchestra Camp. Lynn has also performed with several local groups, including the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, the Waukesha Symphony and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. A Madison resident, Lynn enjoys spending time with her young family, Nathan 9, Joey 7, and Samantha, 2. As a MYSO/MFY alum, Lynn hopes her children can someday enjoy and benefit from MYSO as much as she did as a young musician.

Coaches

Matthew DeYoung

Violinist Matthew DeYoung was a member of MYSO from 1998-2006. He is currently a 3rd year student at UW-Milwaukee. MYSO is delighted that he is joining us again this year as Coach at MYSO’s String Orchestra-West.

Ashley Dobner

Cellist and MYSO alum Ashley Dobner is a 2007 graduate of Waukesha West High School and currently attends Marquette University. We are happy to welcome her back to MYSO in her role as Coach for String Orchestra.

Melissa Jastrow

Melissa Jastrow received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from UW-Milwaukee with emphasis on strings and general music. In the past she has taught in the Waukesha and West Allis public school systems. Currently, Melissa is teaching violin and viola lessons in her private studio so that she can be at home with her three daughters Emily, 9, Jessica, 7, and Mae, 4. During the summer, Melissa serves as Assistant Director and Counselor Coordinator for the Wisconsin String Teachers Elementary Orchestra Camp. And, yes, the rumor is true; Melissa is a MYSO (then MFY) alum!

Erin Kennedy

Erin began her work with MYSO in 2008.  She is a integral part of the MYSO String Orchestra coaching staff.

Jared Synder

Cellist Jared Synder is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he is studying cello performance and political science. He began his undergraduate degree at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he received the Naumburg scholarship and the Edward W. Noble Foundation scholarship. Previously, Mr. Snyder was the cellist of the former Sphinx Quartet, giving performances and master classes in the United States and abroad. Those performances included several different concerts in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, teaching and performing on the island of Bermuda and performing with the world-famous Guarneri String Quartet.
In 2001, at the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Competition in Miami, Florida, Mr. Snyder was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts by the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, he performed in Washington DC’s famed Kennedy Center and was awarded a gold medal by the President of the United States. Mr. Snyder has taken first place in the Milwaukee Symphony Young Artists Competition, the Madison Symphony Competition and most notably the 2000 Junior Division winner of the National Sphinx Competition for African-American and Latino musicians. He has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, L’Orchestre Nationale de Leogane (Haiti), Battle Creek Symphony, Madison Symphony, Brookfield Chamber Ensemble in Carnegie Hall and on National Public Radio’s From the Top. He also has appeared on CBS-TV 60 Minutes, and has performed for such music legends as violinist Isaac Stern and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Mr. Snyder has given solo and chamber recitals in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Appleton and Seattle.
In addition to being an avid performer, Mr. Snyder has given master classes at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Merit School of Music in Chicago and the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has traveled to Haiti with several other volunteer teachers/performers from the U.S. offering lessons, master classes and solo appearances for underprivileged children across Haiti. With the former Sphinx Quartet, Mr. Snyder was on faculty as a resident quartet member at the Sphinx Performance Academy of the Walnut Hill School of Music in Massachusetts.  Mr. Snyder was a multi-year summer student of the Meadowmount School of Music and the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp, where he was principal cellist for three years as well as a concerto competition winner.
Mr. Snyder began his cello studies at age eight and went on to become principal cellist of MYSO’s Senior Symphony for three years. With MYSO he performed Shostakovich’s first cello concerto in Milwaukee and on tour in Quebec in 1999. Mr. Snyder has long since been out of the orchestra roster of MYSO, but has returned to MYSO as a coach for MYSO’s String Orchestra. His past instructors include: Hans Jørgen-Jensen, Stefan Kartman, Joel Krosnick, Darrett Adkins, Cassel Grubb, Melissa Kraut, Johanne Perrone and Suzanne Hayworth.

Kevin Stewart

String Orchestra Central coach Kevin Stewart played bass in MYSO for six years. A 2008 graduate of Cudahy High School, this fall he is studying music education at UW-Milwaukee. MYSO is very pleased to have Kevin on the MYSO staff.

Brittany Szaj

2007 MYSO grad Brittany Szaj was a member of MYSO for 5 years as a violinist and currently attends Wisconsin Lutheran College. We are happy to have her back for a third season as String Orchestra Coach.