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 solo debut with the San Diego Symphony on July 7, performed with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players on June 24, in New York City, and soloed with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra on May 19.
We are pleased to present this year’s Richard Tula Memorial Scholarship to Kasumi Grace Stoll. Kasumi is a rising senior at Shorewood High School. She has been in MYSO for 8 years and is currently in Senior Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. Kasumi won first place in scholarship auditions at Wisconsin Conservatory in 2009 and 2011, won MYSO’s String Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2012, and was a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Bach Double Competition winner in 2016.
Established in 2017, the Richard Tula Memorial Scholarship celebrates the involvement and support of Richard Tula, and his beloved daughter, Chloe. Chloe Tula was a MYSO harpist from 2009-2013, and currently serves as principal harpist of the New World Symphony. The scholarship goes to an exemplary Chamber Orchestra musician entering senior year for whom music has played a significant role in his or her life.
Bassist Sofia Stark has been named winner of the 2019 Tony Lucas Scholarship, which is awarded annually to an outstanding second-year Progressions student. She is the ninth recipient of this scholarship which covers MYSO participation for the next season.
For fifteen years, Mr. Lucas, who works as director of engineering and operations at TMJ4, has volunteered three nights each week to work with our Progressions students, and for nearly thirty years, has quietly helped young musicians reach their potential. He is a real-life role model for our students and families and an invaluable partner to our staff.
Sofia is a fifth grader at St. Marcus Lutheran School and studies with John Babbitt. She will be a member of String Orchestra Central in the fall.
