AWSO Annual Conference - June 20-21, 2008 - Manitowoc, WI

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the AWSO Annual Conference in Manitowoc. The conference is scheduled to not conflict with the League of American Orchestras (formerly American Symphony Orchestra League) annual conference in Denver, Colorado June 10-15, 2008. As you can see, it will be another beautiful setting on Lake Michigan. More.....

2008 Conference Brochure (pdf)

Congratulations to the Racine Symphony for hosting an excellent 2007 conference. Pictures from the conference are available via this link. (click on the thumbnail to see a larger image). The conference is also featured in the August newsletter.

New: Green Bay Symphony Orchestra Awarded Midori Residency

Midori’s Orchestra Residencies Program has announced its two winners for the 2009-2010 season: the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and Area Youth Orchestras and the Green Bay Symphony and Youth Orchestras. Beginning in spring 2009, violinist and educator Midori will spend five to seven days with each group, working with the young musicians, performing with the adult orchestra, and participating in education and community-engagement programs. The winners were selected by a small panel of judges who were involved with youth orchestras. The ORP was developed by Midori to help support American youth orchestras through meaningful musical experiences and by building relationships with the local professional symphony. The annual program is open to any U.S. youth orchestra and its affiliated adult orchestra whose combined budgets do not exceed $4 million. Applications are available at the ORP’s website on November 1 and must be submitted by February 15.

Master Schedule of concerts by AWSO member organizations

This schedule shows the concerts of AWSO member organizations for the 2007-2008 season. Refer to the member organization website for details about time, place, and program. Next time you are traveling around Wisconsin, perhaps this schedule will encourage you to add a concert to your plans. Just looking at the combined schedule shows the wealth of concerts in Wisconsin, in all parts of the state, and throughout the year. Please note the names of the organizations have been shortened by omitting the words "symphony" and "orchestra". Thus, for example, the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra is noted simply as "Green Bay", however the Green Bay Civic Orchestra is noted as "Green Bay Civic".

Please call any omisions or errors to the AWSO webmaster

News from past AWSO President, JoAnne Krause

I would like to share the news that the current issue of Symphony magazine has a Milwaukee connection, that of PianoArts National Biennial Competition and Music Festival.

The cover story "Young Artists Make their Moves" features PianoArts 1999 first place winner, Elizabeth Joy Roe.  She definitely is one rising star!  Elizabeth, a Julliard grad, has returned to our city frequently for PianoArts presentations-the most recent in May of 2007 as the Anderson/Roe duo. She serves on the PianoArts Advisory Board. Please go to www.symphony.org or www.americanorchestras.org to read the online article.

Also check out www.pianoarts.org to learn more about PianoArts and its 2008 Competition and Festival June 19-24. The twelve semi-finalists from all over the United States begin with rehearsals and training on the 19th.  Events for the public open with the June 20th recital featuring our 2006 winner, Michelle Naughton of Madison (now at Curtis), and close with the Finals and Award concert with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on June 24th.

You also have the opportunity to enjoy "double" amazement at the piano when Michelle and her twin sister, Christina, are guest artists of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra on March 15th...( a little plug, as PianoArts and Sheboygan share a Music Director).  Go to their website for complete details.

JoAnne Krause,  PianoArts President and Past President of AWSO
             

Suggestions are welcome. Please send comments to the AWSO webmaster