MYSO Alumni
Keeping In Touch
Whether you were a member of Music for Youth (MYSO’s name prior to 1988) or MYSO, we have impacted thousands of alumni who are leading successful and productive lives, not only in the greater Milwaukee area, but scattered around the country and the world. Alumni, we would love to hear from you! We hope you will share with us what you are doing now and what impact your MYSO/MFY experiences have had on your life.
Share with us what you’re doing now using the link below.
CELEBRATING NOTABLE ALUMNI
Joan DerHovsepian
Principal Viola
Houston Symphony
“MYSO cemented my love for orchestral and ensemble playing and was of immense value in honing my instrumental skills. My MYSO years revealed that amazing experiences are possible when everyone of us shares a common artistic goal. This was powerful for me at the time and still inspires me today.”
Stephanie Mortimore
Principal Piccolo, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Chair, Met Orchestra Committee
“My time in MYSO helped shape not only my musicianship but also my sense of leadership and responsibility as part of a community. I learned how to prepare at a high level, listen closely, communicate clearly, and work toward a shared goal. Those skills have been essential in my career — not only while playing in the orchestra pit, but also in representing my colleagues and leading negotiations for our contract. The discipline, communication skills, and teamwork I developed at MYSO continue to guide me every day, both in music and in the leadership responsibilities that come with a professional career.”
Julian Rhee
Concert Violinist
IMG and VC Artist
“I remember first walking into MYSO nervously at 8 years old and immediately being enveloped in an environment full of warmth, passion, and genuine connection. MYSO kindles and nurtures the most powerful core elements of music in each and every student and creates a space that builds perhaps the most important experience for any young musician: community.”
Tabby Rhee
Viola
New York Philharmonic
“MYSO truly felt like home. It was shaped by the most heartfelt music-making and genuine friendships – memories I will cherish forever.”
Wyatt Underhill
1st Violinist, Assistant Concertmaster
75th Anniversary Chair
San Francisco Symphony
“MYSO is a fun, enriching and inspirational place to make lifelong friends, both the human kind and the musical kind. There are many great pieces in the orchestral literature that I played for the first time in MYSO, and that fond recollection is still the first place my mind goes when I see another Appalachian Spring, or Mahler 1, or Dvorak 7 (to name but a few) coming up in our season. I am also still in touch with many colleagues in orchestras across the country who are MYSO alums, and, whenever they come up in conversation with non-MYSO friends, I am always proud to say, “We were in youth orchestra together.”
Lieutenant Commander Tom Wester
Surface Warfare Officer
US Navy
“My time playing trumpet in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra was foundational to my development as a leader. The discipline of deliberate preparation and the necessity of teamwork in execution taught me how individual excellence, aligned with a shared purpose, creates results far greater than the sum of its parts.”
Making an Impact
We have heard countless stories from alumni of the ways in which their experiences and the lessons learned in MYSO/MFY positively impacted work-ethic, self-confidence, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, and a long-standing affinity to the joys of music.
Please come and visit us at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC). You are welcome to stop by a rehearsal, visit old friends, and get a tour of MYAC.
Also, you can also stay involved through volunteering or supporting MYSO with a donation.
ALLEGRO ASSOCIATION
The Allegro Alumni Association celebrates the lasting impact of MYSO. Every student who graduates from the program automatically becomes part of this alumni community. The Association honors and engages alumni who help share the impact of MYSO with the next generation of young musicians. Watch for upcoming events and opportunities to stay engaged with the MYSO community.
Stay up-to-date with Alumni happenings, and “like” Alumni of Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra/MYSO and Music For Youth/MFY on Facebook.
HELP MAKE MYSO AMAZING
Sign up for our dedicated Alumni email list and stay up to date on all the latest news about current students, programs, staff and instructors. Want to get involved?