Bridget Fraser shares the history of Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, in it's 53rd year. Dr. Marvin Rabin showed up at UW in 1966 to start a string education program in Wisconsin. One of the first things he did was to establish WYSO. He travels around WI and train teachers on how to play a string instrument. It was a strong movement. He also started Boston and Central Kentucky Youth Symphony Orchestra. He passed away in 2013. He never missed a WYSO concert in 53 years.
Many alumni go on to hold professional positions all around the world. Many of the kids become music educators. They become leaders in whatever their chosen field is. They are driven, motivated and challenged. Discipline, perseverance, value of hard work and team work.
Today there are 5 orchestras and 533 members.
Three full orchestras, 2 string orchestras, chamber music program, harm program.
Full orchestras: Youth, Philharmonic, Concert
String orchestras: Sinfonietta, Opus One
The kids can also participate in ensembles. The kids show up at 8am and participate in ensembles then full orchestra. They give up all other extracurricular activities. Chamber is optional.
110 schools, some as far as Stevens Point, Viroqua and northern Illinois.
Financial, library, music, publicity requires a fair amount of man power.
Conductor for each orchestra and ensemble, coaches who work with the kids in smaller groups.
Sometimes guest artists will come and work with the kids.
Endangered Instruments are those that are hard to fill. French horn, bassoon, bass. Any kids can go to WYSO on Saturday mornings and get some free coaching.
2007: Madison Music Makers
offered free or no cost music lessons for kids who couldn’t afford an instrument or instruction. It wasn’t self sustaining, so they came to WYSO and asked for help taking on the program. The board made a commitment and legally acquired the program. They still offer free classes and instruments to kids. It’s now called WYSO Music Makers. They’re building it to make it a solid program and will open it up to more enrollment.
75% qualify for free/reduced lunch. 19% teen teachers who receive stipends from grant. They’re just a little older than the kids they teach.
High school WYSO kids become mentors for the Music Makers kids.
Top Level WYSO will play side by side with the Chamber Orchestra for a free concert at Overture Hall.
Partnership with UW in kind support make WYSO. The practice space and Mills Hall performance hall are opened up to WYSO. WYSO is very grateful to be guests in their building.
Bridgette just got back from Peru with their oldest youth orchestra. Can’t drink the water, hard to breath (altitude). 5-concert tour. They played at a boys orphanage, some schools, and turned hundreds of people away. Halls held 800-1,200 people. People in Peru are hungry for this kind of music. They’re talking about their trip for 2019 next week.
They are committed to keeping tuition affordable. Very little funds from Wisconsin (Arts Board); some from Dane County for concerts; not a lot. They don’t want it to become an elite program. They offer scholarships for tuition and lessons.
The kids come and do holiday music in small groups.
Fr more information check our their website: https://www.wysomusic.org