Category: “Spotlight” Newsletter

by Ron Oshima What comes through immediately in talking with Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Co-Principal Cellist Adela Ramirez is her deep love for classical music. She says, “I just love playing and listening to music. I love coming to rehearsal, learning, and getting better. I think that’s just something I’ve learned from MYSO.” Adela started with

by Ron Oshima Meet Alexandra (Alex) Mueller. She plays the French horn in Senior Symphony and is graduating after four years at MYSO. Having been raised by two musician parents, she says “music is the glue that holds everything together for me. It makes you more aware of the world around you – physically and

by Ron Oshima Autumn Lee, the principal clarinetist in Senior Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, is graduating from MYSO after seven years with us. She told an interesting story about herself when she switched private teachers as a rising freshman. In her first meeting with her new teacher, she admittedly went in with a high opinion

by Ron Oshima David Ibitoye plays viola in Senior Symphony and is graduating after ten years with MYSO. He started as a third grader in Progressions when his teacher nominated him. His parents were so pleased with David’s MYSO experience that they quickly signed up David’s older sister, who played the violin. He goes by

by Michelle Hoffman Read about the amazing things our musicians are doing! Congratulations to Senior Symphony flutist Shreya Girish and violinist Clark Snavely, named finalists in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Stars of Tomorrow Auditions. Shreya and Clark performed as soloists with the MSO on the Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow Concert on May

We’re expanding our Community Partnership Programs to help youth challenged with access to music education because of finances. In 2022-23, we’re growing Progressions–our intensive string training program for third and fourth graders who live or go to school in Milwaukee–by doubling the number of students we serve over the next few years. Also for 2022-23,

by Ron Oshima While Vice President Kamala Harris visited Milwaukee on January 24, her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, visited the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) to highlight the federal COVID-19 relief grants that helped performing arts organizations such as Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) and First Stage keep operating during the pandemic. Emhoff met

by Ron Oshima Did you know that most of the rehearsal spaces in the newly named Mardak/Vandenberg building at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) are built with non-parallel walls? This was intentional to create a cleaner and less “muddy” sound for our musicians by reducing the flutter echo that would happen with reflective parallel

by Michelle Hoffman Read about the amazing things our musicians are doing! Senior Symphony Members to Solo with Madison Symphony Congratulations to Senior Symphony violinists Zak Chen and Clark Snavely, named two of the four finalists of the Madison Symphony Orchestra Bolz Young Artist Competition. Zak and Clark will be featured soloists with the Madison