When eighth grader Anna Lindgren steps into the rehearsal hall at Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, she doesn’t arrive with just one instrument–she brings two. As one of MYSO’s dedicated young musicians, Anna has embraced both the standard B-flat clarinet and its smaller E-flat counterpart, demonstrating the kind of musical versatility that MYSO nurtures in its students.
“The B-flat clarinet plays much lower parts more with the other instruments, but the E-flat tends to be more like a piccolo and play those type of countermelodies,” Anna explains with the confidence of someone far beyond her years.
In our latest podcast episode, Anna shares how her MYSO journey has transformed her musical abilities and extended far beyond the notes on the page. After five years of clarinet study, she found herself craving more challenging repertoire and a community of equally passionate musicians–something her school band program alone couldn’t provide.
“I say that we’re playing music that would be much harder than the regular music,” Anna tells friends curious about her MYSO commitment. “We’re always learning new things about music…I’m just growing in my music.”
Perhaps most revealing is how Anna’s musical training has enhanced other aspects of her life. “My focus has gotten a lot better,” she shares. “I’ve gotten way better at being able to just focus in on what I’m doing in class and at MYSO.”
The impact of belonging to what Anna calls “a serious group” has inspired ambitious future plans, including a potential double major combining her love of music with aspirations in audiology or physical therapy.
For nearly 70 years, MYSO has provided young musicians like Anna with opportunities that extend far beyond performance skills. As she eloquently puts it: “I’ve never really experienced playing with a really serious group before MYSO. I’ve just learned so much from the experience, and it’s so nice to know other people in the group who are as excited about them.”
Tune in to our latest podcast episode to hear Anna’s beautiful clarinet performances and learn more about how MYSO continues to shape the next generation of musicians, thinkers, and leaders.
Listen, follow, and subscribe to the MYSO podcast on Spotify or anywhere else you stream.