The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras welcomes back two illustrious alumni this weekend to teach its 5th and 6th masterclasses in an ongoing series that has already wowed observers. This weekend, due to demand, each virtual event will be free and open to public observers with registration required in advance.
On Sunday, Derek Powell, a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC, will coach four WYSO violinists in a two-hour masterclass event.
Powell’s experience includes performing as concertmaster with the New World Symphony under the baton of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and as a violinist with the Army Strings, as well as his current experience with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Derek Powell, Violin Masterclass
Sunday, January 10th, 5:30-7:30 pm CST
Advanced registration required. Register here!
This will be followed on Monday evening with a bass masterclass coached by Scott Pingel, Principal Bass with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Scott Pingel was a trumpet player in his WYSO days with a side love for electric bass. Pingel switched to concert bass as an undergraduate at UW-Eau Claire, continued studies at the Manhattan School of Music, and played with the New World Symphony and the Charleston Symphony before joining the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra as Principal Bass in 2004. He recently created buzz by playing with Metallica in a packed house with the San Francisco Orchestra.
Scott Pingel, Bass
Monday, January 11th, 6:30-8:30 pm CST
Advanced registration required. Register here!
What is a Masterclass?
A masterclass presents a one-on-one opportunity for a student musician to learn from a guest artist with an audience invited to observe the process. In previous masterclasses in this series, the audience has learned instrument performance techniques and musical interpretation tips—and heard amazing personal stories shared by a variety of guest artists who professionally play music around the world. With the masterclasses presented in an intimate Zoom setting, the audience learns along with the student— and it is amazing to see the sudden growth in a student’s musical prowess as a masterclass proceeds.
Click here to explore the entire series of Amazing WYSO Virtual Masterclasses!
Read Jake Stockinger’s Blog Post here!
