A $172,000 gift of percussion instruments, facilities and programming funding from an Anonymous donor set the WYSO Percussion Ensemble up for success on the eve of WYSO’s move out of the UW Humanities Building. The Percussion Ensemble performs during regularly scheduled concerts and is also featured in the WYSO Percussion EXTRAVAGANZA! which is an annual...
In the Spring of 2020 it became obvious that a Scholarship Fund would need to be created for WYSO families suddenly impacted by Covid-19. Two lead gifts of $20,000, one from Diane Ballweg, and one from an Anonymous donor. The goal of the gift is to support families facing economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, providing peace of mind that...
Coe and Paul Williams saw the need for a fund to support in-state touring by WYSO Orchestras. With an initial gift of $10,000, the fund created opportunities for Opus One, Sinfonietta, Concert Orchestra, and Philharmonia Orchestra members to travel on a coach bus to statewide destinations. This provides the ability to perform concerts in schools, and...
Gifts to the James R. Smith Guest Artist fund provided WYSO students the experience of working in masterclasses and alongside professional musicians in concerts. Pinnacle events included the Nancy Goeres/Michael Rusinek Fall Concert experience as well as the series of virtual master classes offered in the 20-21 season.
At the beginning of August, 2020, expenses for WYSO were starting to climb through the roof. The public Health Madison and Dane County requirements for small group gatherings meant that WYSO needed to divide 5 large orchestras into 40 small ensembles, each with its own “conductor,” A $10,000 gift of stocks from Randall Diamond in support of WYSO’s creative...
Violin, National Symphony Orchestra Violin Masterclass Sunday, January 10th, 2021 5:30-7:30 pm CST WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed. Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance. A WYSO Alumnus, Derek Powell is a versatile violinist and recording artist, as comfortable on-stage performing alternative styles as he is...
Acting Concertmaster, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Violin Masterclass Sunday, December 13th, 2020 6:00-8:00 pm CST WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed. Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance. Ilana Setapen is currently the Acting Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the assistant concertmaster of the Grant...
Conductor, English Symphony Orchestra and Cellist Cello Masterclass Sunday, December 6th, 2020 8:00-10:00 am CST WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed. Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance. Kenneth Woods is currently the Principal Conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra— and, in addition, is a cellist, author, Artistic...
Principal Violist, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Viola Masterclass Sunday, November 22, 2020 8:00-10:00 am CST WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed. Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance. Praised by the New York Times for her “probing introspection”, and by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a star” with “a voluptuous...
Principal Cello, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Cello Masterclass Saturday, November 21, 2020 6:00-8:00 pm CST WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed. Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance. Increasingly recognized for her “arresting performances” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) and “honestly self-revealing playing” (The Broad...
Gift of Percussion
Gift of Music
Gift of Touring
Gift of Experience
A Timely Gift of Stocks